Search found 456 matches

by skepticus
31 Mar 2020 16:07
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service
Replies: 3927
Views: 433337

Re: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service

OnlyMyOpinion wrote: 27 Mar 2020 12:06 This article notes that most online brokerages are having demand-related problems, not just TDDI:
https://business.financialpost.com/inve ... irus-panic
Another 'market' risk to consider these days I guess.
It's a sad day when TD can't do the job it's supposed to do. Especially during the current market upheavals. It does make me question their reliability.

Today, I phoned three times. Twice, after going through the usual rigamarole of voice recognition and birthdate, I was told to try phoning later as TD was experiencing technical problems. On the third attempt, the phone went dead during the process.
by skepticus
12 May 2019 11:01
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: CRA website down--again
Replies: 3
Views: 943

Re: CRA website down--again

Hello P-I,

I like your positive attitude.

BTW, CRA has taught me it's best that taxpayers, myself included, get over the idea that CRA's website will ever provide us with the maximum service possible. Incidents like the one mentioned upthread, delays in posting relevant information to Myaccount, etc will always be something we'll have to accept and factor into our plans. Meantime, a good round of golf reminds us there are more important things than the CRA and it's "service". :)
by skepticus
11 May 2019 12:32
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: CRA website down--again
Replies: 3
Views: 943

CRA website down--again

"As a result of systems maintenance, this service will not be available from 11 pm on Friday, May 10, 2019, until 6 am on Monday, May 13, 2019 (Eastern Time)".
by skepticus
25 Mar 2019 13:43
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Kicking CRA's sorry ass
Replies: 8
Views: 752

Re: Kicking CRA's sorry ass

OnlyMyOpinion wrote: 25 Mar 2019 12:56 Yes, actually I haven't been able to access the site since ~noon yesterday.
I suppose someone noticed this morning when they showed up at the office.
At least they took prompt action (i.e. we'd better send out a tweet).
Ahem.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/cra-si ... -1.5070203
by skepticus
25 Mar 2019 12:03
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Kicking CRA's sorry ass
Replies: 8
Views: 752

Kicking CRA's sorry ass

I’m going to do my taxes today.

Sure, tax filing is complex and incomprehensible.

But dammit, I won’t let CRA defeat me. I’m going to kick it’s sorry ass.

I still haven’t received CRA’s hard-copy forms yet.

No problem. I’ll file digitally.

That’ll teach them they can’t get the better of me.

First stop: Myaccount at CRA

CRA: "This service is not available at this time”.
by skepticus
25 Apr 2017 00:19
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: High interest rates for savings, GICs and MMFs (2017)
Replies: 463
Views: 46471

Re: High interest rates for savings, GICs and MMFs (2017)

Okanagan wrote: 24 Apr 2017 20:13
skepticus wrote: 24 Apr 2017 18:19 Would anyone deposit/keep their money in Oaken, given recent unfavourable revelations?
I don't think there should be a problem as long as you keep under the 100K CDIC limit.....I am locked in for a 5 yr GIC so I have no choice but would still put additional funds in within CDIC limits.
Hi Okanagan,

In the event of Oaken going bust...if an investor needed the money right away I recall Bruce Cohen mentioning several years ago that his banking institution failed, and it took CDIC many months to return Bruce's money to him. Presumably no interest was paid out during this period, so it was a lost earning opportunity.

Too bad that you're locked in. Still, I'll bet your getting a decent interest rate for these five years.
by skepticus
24 Apr 2017 18:19
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: High interest rates for savings, GICs and MMFs (2017)
Replies: 463
Views: 46471

Re: High interest rates for savings, GICs and MMFs (2017)

Would anyone deposit/keep their money in Oaken, given recent unfavourable revelations?
by skepticus
29 Jul 2016 23:34
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Call the phone company
Replies: 46
Views: 6775

Re: Call the phone company

Telus imposes a stealth penalty. I have a top-up plan with Telus (I pay Telus money up- front, and the company deducts the cost of each call and text from this amount). Recently, I happened to discover that if I cancel my plan, Telus keeps whatever money is left in the account. However, Telus doesn’t disclose this to customers when they sign on. The information is no displayed on the company's website, and it doesn't offer the plan's terms and conditions to customers. I phoned Telus about this and a representative admitted customers who use this plan don’t know exactly what they’re getting into. But he dismissed the idea of providing customers with terms and condtion, saying that nobody ever reads them. He added that it’s up to the customer...
by skepticus
10 Jul 2016 23:22
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Canadian Banks
Replies: 1889
Views: 233287

Re: Canadian Banks

Both of my sons have experienced that during their "short" stints 'selling' mutual funds in their respective bank branches. Just like anywhere else, there are bank 'financial advisors' who have their clients best interests at heart trying to put together the best portfolios to suit their clients, and there are those who want to optimize fees to help meet branch goals. We've had many discussions about that inherent conflict of interest re fudiciary duty and is the reason why both got out of that aspect of the business as quickly as possible. The real truth is somewhere in between, but I'd stop short of blanket statements saying bank financial advisors are predatory. @AltaRed I commend your sons for taking the high road. The fact t...
by skepticus
07 Jul 2016 11:55
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service
Replies: 3927
Views: 433337

Re: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service

And this today at 11.55 eastern time.
URGENT: Order Entry in the New WebBroker

Due to a technical issue, Order Entry is currently unavailable in the new WebBroker. To ensure that your trading is not disrupted, all clients have been temporarily placed in current WebBroker.

We are committed to restoring complete functionality in the new WebBroker as soon as possible.

Thank you for your patience.
by skepticus
07 Jul 2016 11:01
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Canadian Banks
Replies: 1889
Views: 233287

Re: Canadian Banks

Not sure why you feel that the quote from Hallam is predatory] I explain by invoking the arguments of Buffett, Bogle and many other heavy-weights, i.e. buy low-cost index funds--they'll serve most investors best. So when a bank steers neophyte--and trusting--clients away from low-cost products toward higher cost funds, that's predatory. To reinforce my point about predation, I return to the final part of the quotation upthread written by Hallam. : Three years later, a different representative from the same bank phoned my mom. “Your account is too risky” , he said. “Come on down to the bank so we can move a few things around for you ”. With 50% of her investment in bonds, the account wasn’t risky at all—but it wasn’t profitable for the bank
by skepticus
06 Jul 2016 10:47
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Canadian Banks
Replies: 1889
Views: 233287

Re: Canadian Banks

Hi All,

Indeed most information in that Hallam quotation is not new--especially to members of FWF.

But I posted it because it is rare that you read smoking gun evidence like that--i.e. a bank employee admitting predatory practises..

What is new to me, however, is the fact that the salespeople have so little training in finance.

I might ask that if it is unethical for banks to prey on customers, how ethical is it for us to own shares of banks and profit from their predatory practises? I raise this question not in an accusatory tone, but as a philosophical question. (PS I own bank shares).
by skepticus
06 Jul 2016 01:10
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Canadian Banks
Replies: 1889
Views: 233287

Re: Canadian Banks

You already knew that banks don’t have your best interests in mind. Personal finance author Andrew Hallam’s suspicions were confirmed when he took his mother to a bank to buy some index funds. The sales person eventually admitted what tricks the bank had up its sleeve to extract money from trusting clients.. First,we get a feel for the client. The bank suggests that if the client does’t know much about investing we should put them in a fund of funds, for example a mutual fund that would have a series of funds within it. It tends to be a bit more expensive than regular mutual funds. This sales job only works with investors who really don’t know what they’re doing. If the investor seems a little smarter we offer them individually our in-house...
by skepticus
21 Jun 2016 21:06
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: Putting your eggs in two baskets
Replies: 21
Views: 2528

Re: Putting your eggs in two baskets

Hi Wallace,

Thanks for joining the discussion and explaining your rationale. I like how your idea gives you more independence. But if I'm not prying, would you mind telling us how you've split your portfolio. For example ...do you keep your RRSP in one institution and your non-registered account in the other? How much extra work does your split portfolio require?
by skepticus
21 Jun 2016 12:02
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: Putting your eggs in two baskets
Replies: 21
Views: 2528

Re: Putting your eggs in two baskets

Under normal circumstances, there's usually less cause for worry. But as Donald Rumsfelt famously said. "Stuff happens". And with hackers, hovering crises and son on, stuff could well happen--just when you're not expecting (that's usually when stuff happens, right?). In Flash Boys , Michael Lewis says that Goldman Sachs' computer trading system is "slow and clunky", rather than one smoothly integrated system (*see quotation below). If Goldman-Sachs has a wobbly system like that, what are the chances your brokerage does too? And during a panic, when many clients are accessing the site, could it withstand the pressure, or would the site crash? Would you be able to access your assets? ..."bulky, inefficient system” and...
by skepticus
21 Jun 2016 00:35
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: Putting your eggs in two baskets
Replies: 21
Views: 2528

Putting your eggs in two baskets

Wallace is on to something when he says: I'm a great believer in diversification with financial institutions as well as funds. Having all your funds in one institution may be more convenient, but sooner or later there will be an unforseen event of some sort where you might suddenly find yourself without access.http://www.financialwisdomforum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=118142&p=548003&hilit=diversification#p548003 Hackers, crashes, brokerage mistakes or ineffiencies and so on might erect a wall between you and your assets when you need them most. (Heaven knows TD’s website is often down several times a week). Wallace appears to have experienced enough trouble to justify opening accounts at more than one institution: ...you mi...
by skepticus
21 Jun 2016 00:22
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Clippings 2016
Replies: 189
Views: 19566

Re: Clippings 2016

Banks are not your friend (to paraphrase the inestimable ghariton). Tom Bradley, CEO OF Steadyhand mutual funds tears a strip off our national institutions for squeezing us so hard.

https://www.steadyhand.com/industry/201 ... some_more/

Anybody here think otherwise?
by skepticus
05 Jun 2016 22:57
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: TD Canada Trust accounts and CDIC Coverage
Replies: 14
Views: 4157

Re: TD CandaTrust accounts and GIC Coverage

IdOp wrote:Thanks for this info.

I think there is a minor typo in the thread title, GIC --> CDIC, perhaps it can be edited to help future searchers?
Thanks idOp. Correction made.
by skepticus
05 Jun 2016 19:29
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: TD Canada Trust accounts and CDIC Coverage
Replies: 14
Views: 4157

TD Canada Trust accounts and CDIC Coverage

This is a heads-up for anyone interested in CDIC coverage of various types of accounts held at branches of TD Canadatrust. Savings accounts are offered by TD Mortgage Corporation. Chequing and youth accounts are offered by TD Bank. Without this knowledge, as you've surmised, you might make a regrettable mistake in planning your CDIC coverage. I learned about the above accounts several years ago from an employee of a branch outlet. But recently I wanted to verify if the same situation exists today. It does . However, two employees of the first branch I visited had no idea. In fact one "thought" all accounts are offered by TD Bank. I asked her to research this matter, and it took her 4-days to provide me with the above information. ...
by skepticus
19 May 2016 00:56
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: Outstanding Financial Pornography
Replies: 1024
Views: 259126

Re: Outstanding Financial Pornography

Descartes wrote:This was linked via Rob Carrick at the Globe who is truly a class-A pornographer ..yet a failure as a serious journalist.
Interesting comment about Carrick. I'm no expert on these matters, so if you don't mind--would you explain why you classify Carrick as a pornographer and a failure as a journalist? :)
by skepticus
18 May 2016 17:19
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Dealing with hearing loss
Replies: 216
Views: 6346

Re: Re:

As I read the posts on this thread and the "Hearing Aids" thread I note that it is probably better to get the first hearing check done by an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist rather than an audiologist at a location that sells hearing aids. I know I'd trust the doctor more than an audiologist who is in a codnflict-of-interest situation. I doubt audiologists have anything like fiduciary obligations. If you can't find an ENT then perhaps there's a university with medical school nearby. They might offer hearing tests and evaluations to the public as part of their student training program. [I realize you're in BC] but for example in Ontario Hamilton Health Sciences Audiology Clinic , which is affiliated with McMaster, offers hearing te...
by skepticus
18 May 2016 12:20
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Dealing with hearing loss
Replies: 216
Views: 6346

Re:

My own hearing loss started when I was 16, in the militia, and firing an FN .308 rifle on a firing range. I went deaf for about 24 hours. It's a family weakness; my father was partly deaf (WWII) and my brother is partly deaf.. What a coincidence! I too was in the militia at about the same age. After firing an FN rifle at the range I lost a lot of my hearing for about a day, and then recovered. My mother had poor hearing, and now I do. It's time for the hearing aids. As I read the posts on this thread and the "Hearing Aids" thread I note that it is probably better to get the first hearing check done by an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist rather than an audiologist at a location that sells hearing aids. I know I'd trust the doctor m...
by skepticus
07 Apr 2016 17:09
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: good reads
Replies: 70
Views: 5341

Re: good reads

It hasn't even been been written yet. But when the book about the Panama Papers eventually hits the stands, won't it be a juicy read? :)
by skepticus
27 Feb 2016 15:46
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: RIP 2016
Replies: 92
Views: 3676

Re: RIP 2016

Don Getty, former premier of Alberta.

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/politic ... dies-at-82
by skepticus
24 Feb 2016 14:07
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service
Replies: 3927
Views: 433337

Re: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service

3pm, Wednesday, February 24
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