Search found 78 matches

by Germack
18 Jan 2021 19:12
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Stages of personal finance and investing
Replies: 29
Views: 68043

Re: Stages of personal finance and investing

During my investment career I went through 4 different phases:

1) Darkness - Took advice from everyone and tried to pick individual stocks
2) Enlightenment - Realized that a market return is superior to the return I was able to achieve by picking stocks
3) Complexity - Overdoing everything to find optimal
4) Simplicity - Investing in a few/1 total market funds
by Germack
16 Jan 2020 13:58
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: BMO Investorline
Replies: 1278
Views: 198072

Re: BMO Investorline

They really need to fix this lack of integration. My transfer from BMO --> BMO Investorline (TFSA) took longer (2days) then my transfer from BMO --> TD (RRSP; 1 day). Thats just ridiculous.
by Germack
02 Jan 2020 11:17
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: BMO Investorline
Replies: 1278
Views: 198072

Re: BMO Investorline

I am banking/investing with TD and in the case I transfer money between checking/non-registered to TFSA/RRSP the transfer is instant.

This does not seem to be the case for my spouse who banks with BMO/BMO Investorline. Is this normal or are we doing something wrong?
by Germack
13 Aug 2019 00:07
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Rate reset preferred share ladder?
Replies: 74
Views: 9060

Re: Rate reset preferred share ladder?

Thinking of buying individual preferred shares instead of CPD. Any recommendations on which one to buy?
by Germack
08 Jul 2019 22:11
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: A Simple Retirement Using Variable Percentage Withdrawals (VPW Forward Test)
Replies: 608
Views: 130505

Re: A Simple Retirement Using Variable Percentage Withdrawals (VPW Forward Test)

Hi longinvest,

I just wanted to thank you for this great thread and all your work on VPW. You are awesome!
by Germack
28 Apr 2019 13:09
Forum: Property: Owning, Renting, Managing, Investing and Mortgaging
Topic: Should a person use a mortgage broker?
Replies: 6
Views: 2917

Re: Should a person use a mortgage broker?

Yes, I would use a mortgage broker, because they get me lower rates and better conditions than I could achieve by directly negotiating with the banks.

When using a mortgage broker always ask them to buy down the rate. This can save you another 0.2%.

If you are looking for the best mortgage rates available have a look here:
https://forums.redflagdeals.com/officia ... 1105/3331/
by Germack
07 Apr 2018 18:58
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: BMO Investorline
Replies: 1278
Views: 198072

Re: BMO Investorline

fireseeker wrote: 07 Apr 2018 15:59
Germack wrote: 07 Apr 2018 15:08 Can I transfer stocks from my non-registered account to my RRSP account with BMO Investorline?
You can make an in-kind deposit to your RRSP or TFSA at Investorline; I've done it several times painlessly.
There was an issue a few years back where certain swaps between accounts were restricted. I don't know if that's still an issue.
Thanks. Can I do this online or do I have to call in?
by Germack
07 Apr 2018 15:08
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: BMO Investorline
Replies: 1278
Views: 198072

Re: BMO Investorline

Can I transfer stocks from my non-registered account to my RRSP account with BMO Investorline?
by Germack
01 Apr 2018 21:48
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Estate Planning Advice
Replies: 2
Views: 596

Estate Planning Advice

Me and my spouse (common-law) are in our late thirties, have a 2.5 year old daughter and live in Montreal. Our current family networth is around 2 million dollars (1.3M invested in a couch potato portfolio + 700K home equity). I manage our investment portfolio and my wife has no interest in doing so. Finance is too complicated for her and she just does not like to deal with it. Currently none of us have a Will and we would like to change this and need some advice. In the case I die, my life insurances will go automatically to my spouse (500k). My part of the house should be transferred to my spouse. My investments (~800k) should be transferred into a trust. Investments should be held in a low cost diversified portfolio using ETFs or index f...
by Germack
26 Mar 2018 13:28
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service
Replies: 3927
Views: 433334

Re: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service

Has anyone here used TD Wealth for Estate Administration. How much do they charge?

Will they be able to create a will for me?
by Germack
02 Jan 2018 20:06
Forum: Property: Owning, Renting, Managing, Investing and Mortgaging
Topic: Housing Market 2018
Replies: 450
Views: 35918

Re: Housing Market 2018

These threads show perfectly that trying to time the market just does not work. It does not work for stocks and neither for real estate.
by Germack
01 Jan 2018 11:31
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: How Did You Do in 2017?
Replies: 111
Views: 6837

Re: How Did You Do in 2017?

Couch Potato Investor (7.5%/92.5 bonds/equity).

Networth 31.12.2016: $1,039,083 (Family NW: $1,666,701)
Networth 30.12.2017: $1,220,831 (Family NW: $2,035,393)

Increase: $181,748 (Family: $368,692)

Rate of return:13.3%
by Germack
01 Jan 2018 11:27
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service
Replies: 3927
Views: 433334

Re: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service

Same problem here. Wanted to transfer money to RESP/TFSA/RRSP but got the same error message.
by Germack
20 Oct 2017 23:40
Forum: Property: Owning, Renting, Managing, Investing and Mortgaging
Topic: Vancouver Mortgage Broker
Replies: 4
Views: 1447

Re: Vancouver Mortgage Broker

Make sure that the mortgage broker buys down the rate. Best mortgage rates available are posted here:
https://forums.redflagdeals.com/officia ... 1105/2682/

Best rates available right now are: 2.84% 5 year fixed or 2.15% 5 year variable.
by Germack
05 Aug 2017 11:27
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Quicken 2017 [Caution about upgrading]
Replies: 111
Views: 30418

Re: Quicken 2017 [Caution about upgrading]

This is a step in the right direction, but too late. After using Quicken for more than 10 years I moved on to a new software.
by Germack
18 Feb 2017 12:23
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Quicken or alternatives?
Replies: 41
Views: 8695

Re: Quicken or alternatives?

I will not be upgrading to the latest Quicken version.

Instead I will use Mint to track my spending and use my old version of Quicken to keep track of the ACB of my investments.
by Germack
27 Jan 2017 20:16
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Quicken 2017 [Caution about upgrading]
Replies: 111
Views: 30418

Quicken 2017 [Caution about upgrading]

Quicken 2017 is out now and they increased significantly the price.

The Quicken Home&Business version cost now $89.99 /year. That's very excessive. I don't think I will upgrade my 2013 version with these prices.

Topic split: important information here -- Administrator
by Germack
25 Dec 2016 12:44
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service
Replies: 3927
Views: 433334

Re: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service

I have the same problem with MAW104. 2 distributions
by Germack
20 Nov 2016 16:00
Forum: Property: Owning, Renting, Managing, Investing and Mortgaging
Topic: Housing Bust 2016
Replies: 641
Views: 41947

Re: Housing Bust 2016

Hi Just a Guy, I agree with everything you said except in my opinion the cost of ownership is definitely related to the price of a house. The higher the price of a house the higher the cost of the ownership. I often read in the media that houses are not affordable anymore, but based on my data this is just not the case. Cost of home ownership in 2016 is not more expensive than it was 10 years ago in 2006. In some cities e.g. Montreal cost of ownership is actually ~25% cheaper in 2016 than in 2006. This picture will change drastically if interest rates rise and this may cause a severe correction of the housing market. Let's assume I am willing/able to spend 40K per year on housing. This means at current interest rates of 2% I can afford to b...
by Germack
18 Nov 2016 22:23
Forum: Property: Owning, Renting, Managing, Investing and Mortgaging
Topic: Housing Bust 2016
Replies: 641
Views: 41947

Re: Housing Bust 2016

I did some analysis of the Canadian housing market and surprisingly the cost to own a house (mortgage interest/opportunity costs + taxes + utilities + maintenance) stayed pretty constant over the last 10 years even when house prices almost doubled. This was due to decreasing mortgage rates. See graph below.
Historical Home Price, interest rates and cost to own a hosue.png
Assumptions: Taxes+utilities+maintenance = 13.5k per year and increased by 2% per year.
by Germack
09 Nov 2016 21:12
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: What were your Portfolio Declines in 2008-2009
Replies: 39
Views: 2435

Re: What were your Portfolio Declines in 2008-2009

jay wrote:
Germack wrote:If I remember correctly my portfolio dropped by around 35% (80% equity). It was a very stressful situation and I developed an ulcer.

Luckily I stuck to my plan and continued to purchase equities throughout the whole time. When I look back at my networth over the times (see graph below) the crash is just a tiny little dip now.

https://i.imgsafe.org/805a316eb1.png
WOW, 50x in 10 years? what are you invested in?
I am a couch potato investor.
20% bonds, 10% real estate (XRE), 17.5% canadian equities (XIC), 17.5% US equities (VTI), 17.5% emerging markets (VWO,XEM) and 17.5% european equities (VGK)
by Germack
15 Oct 2016 20:34
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: What were your Portfolio Declines in 2008-2009
Replies: 39
Views: 2435

Re: What were your Portfolio Declines in 2008-2009

If I remember correctly my portfolio dropped by around 35% (80% equity). It was a very stressful situation and I developed an ulcer.

Luckily I stuck to my plan and continued to purchase equities throughout the whole time. When I look back at my networth over the times (see graph below) the crash is just a tiny little dip now.

https://i.imgsafe.org/805a316eb1.png
by Germack
28 Dec 2015 10:02
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: RESP Questions
Replies: 450
Views: 71803

Re: RESP Questions

I will be opening an RESP account for my daughter to buy the balanced Mawer fund. I have all my investments with TD but unfortunateley I will not get QESI with their mutual fund account.with a td waterhouse account i would get qesi but it cost $50 per year. Is there any brokerages where I can buy Mawer funds, are without a yearly fee and I will get the qesi?
by Germack
25 Dec 2015 00:18
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: 2015 Year end distributions
Replies: 40
Views: 2768

Re: 2015 Year end distributions

How will I know if it got distributed to me or not?