Search found 950 matches

by zinfit
19 Jun 2015 16:38
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Value investing is a mistake
Replies: 47
Views: 6138

Re: Value investing is a mistake

After years of it, I can read all the Graham or Buffett literature I want, but after taking a few stabs at value investing I realized rather late in life, I just don't have anything, anywhere near their abilities. I was beginning to feel like I was some sort of Walter Mitty character, and I didn't want that anymore. I just stopped doing it. So yes, value investing was a mistake for myself who cannot, but I certainly don't think it's a mistake for those few investors who are willing to put in the time and effort and can ultimately succeed with it. Buffet moved away from Graham and cigar butt's when he came under Munger's infleunce . He is much more focused on high quality stocks that have moat protection and high returns on equity and capit...
by zinfit
09 May 2015 20:02
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: How Much is Enough 2015
Replies: 168
Views: 21300

Re: How Much is Enough 2015

With CPP,OAS and a small pension we have about 70 k per year. We have around 850k in RRSPs, TFSA and taxable accounts.I have taking about 45k from that per year. I figure we have about 8.5 k after tax per month. We live quite well on that amount of money.
by zinfit
22 Apr 2015 17:55
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Travel Deals
Replies: 796
Views: 27698

Re: Travel Deals

We just booked a Viking River cruise foor Budapeat to Amsterdam including air from Calagary for 11k. The cruise is 15 days and starts in mid August.
by zinfit
14 Apr 2015 19:40
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: turbo tax issue Mac
Replies: 11
Views: 1959

Re: turbo tax issue Mac

I changed my name to the Gipper because of difficulties logging in. I re registered through my outlook account. Now I am using a desk top which I seldom use and my name comes up as zinfit. We are one and the same and I hope I didn't commit a mortal sin.
by zinfit
14 Apr 2015 19:36
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: turbo tax issue Mac
Replies: 11
Views: 1959

Re: turbo tax issue Mac

Their tech support got hold of me after a 2 hour wait. Then they tried to get me to google chrome and that was a waste of time. Then the guy then asked me to skroll using the tab key and that worked. The rest was a piece of cake. My papers are labelled and filed and I am now enjoying a very good single malt on the rocks. Our tax situation will be a lot simpler in the future so that will be worth a second single malt.
by zinfit
17 Mar 2015 10:49
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: What to buy? SUV/Crossover suggestions, please.
Replies: 158
Views: 13192

Re: What to buy? SUV/Crossover suggestions, please.

I looked at an Outlander and the Forrester. They are pretty good vehicles except I find them to on the small side. I am not buying right now. If I was it would come down to a Highlander, Pilot or a Santa Fe. I would probably take a look at the Jeep products. I understand you can buy one with a Fiat diesel engine.
by zinfit
15 Mar 2015 20:38
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: What did you sell? What might you sell? (2015)
Replies: 214
Views: 29027

Re: What did you sell? What might you sell? (2015)

tedster wrote:zinfit wrote
. With Vaeant it looks like they might lose another acquistion battle. Their success has been growth through acquistion.
They made money off their last failure. :)
You are quite correct. This might work for the short term. When you examine their recent history they have been very astute in buying drug companies in which they have gained much increased earnings and growth. There very high ROE shows their success. If they cannot make acquistions they will slow and lose much of their mojo.
by zinfit
15 Mar 2015 14:32
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: What did you sell? What might you sell? (2015)
Replies: 214
Views: 29027

Re: What did you sell? What might you sell? (2015)

Sold off a portion of Valeant and Concordia Healthcare. With the latter it a matter of trimming my holdings. Its had a great run. With Vaeant it looks like they might lose another acquistion battle. Their success has been growth through acquistion.
by zinfit
14 Mar 2015 18:49
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: What has been working?
Replies: 46
Views: 4132

Re: What has been working?

Concordia Healthcare, Patient Home monitoring, CSU ,Skyworks Solution, Valeant and GIB.A have been something special over the past 4 months. My biggest issue is should I be reducing my positions. The big problem is what do you do with the proceeds. So I stay the coarse.
by zinfit
11 Mar 2015 17:45
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: What's the consensus on RBC DI?
Replies: 16
Views: 1717

Re: What's the consensus on RBC DI?

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. Or you might have a sudden family or financial crisis where you need the help of the local manager. It has been my experience over the years that some are helpful and some are not. Until a few years ago I had trading accounts at RBI, Scotiabank, MD Management, TD. I dropped the MD management account when I realised I could make far more on my own than with their mutual funds, and the TD account when the staff there made a mistake that cost me $2,000 and would take no resp...
by zinfit
11 Mar 2015 12:30
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: What's the consensus on RBC DI?
Replies: 16
Views: 1717

Re: What's the consensus on RBC DI?

I would recommend RBC . I have used it for about 14 years and i have few complaints. I manage my daughters account with CIBC Investors Edge. I much prefer RBC . Only real complaint is I can't buy USA bonds with RBC.
by zinfit
02 Mar 2015 22:54
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: What did you Buy? What might you buy? (2015)
Replies: 596
Views: 61472

Re: What did you Buy? What might you buy? (2015)

Took some real solid profits on Cipher, Papa John's and a little bit on Westjet. Used the proceeds to buy Aig, Met, QSR and IPL. It's really hard to know what to do these days. By most metrics this market is very expensive if you ignore energy and resource stocks.
by zinfit
02 Mar 2015 22:53
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: What did you Buy? What might you buy? (2015)
Replies: 596
Views: 61472

Re: What did you Buy? What might you buy? (2015)

Took some real solid profits on Cipher, Papa John's and a little bit on Westjet. Used the proceeds to buy Aig, Met, QSR and IPL. It's really hard to know what to do these days. By most metrics this market is very expensive if you ignore energy and resource stocks.
by zinfit
25 Feb 2015 15:16
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Time to bail out of bonds?
Replies: 123
Views: 11520

Re: Time to bail out of bonds?

On the RBC Target 21 I took the monthly distributions[ for the past 12 months] and did the math on it's current unit price. It worked out to 3.4%. As the the current unit price is about 5% higher then the redemption price . If so it's real yield would be something like 2.6%. Did you take into account drop in distributions between now and 2021 as holdings mature? On RBC's site they state that the average yield to maturity for the 2021 etf is 2.06%. It confirms what you found out that current yield is 3.48%, but that is not what you get going forward. Real yield will be about 1/2 a %. http://etfinfo.rbcgam.com/exchange-traded-funds/fund-pages/rqi.fs thank you for that important insight. Didn't cross my mind. Once these mature they will put t...
by zinfit
24 Feb 2015 14:48
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Time to bail out of bonds?
Replies: 123
Views: 11520

Re: Time to bail out of bonds?

Action Direct shows the BMO 10 year with a yield of 3.78%. If you deduct the mer of .25 you basically get a 3.50% return. If RBC is accurate this looks like an attractive option. If you need to sell you are looking at a $9.95 another advantage. I will be looking for more insight on these products. If I have a 10 year ladder the BMO product looks like an option for a maturing bond. It's not only Action Direct that quote misleading data on-line. Most sites appear to be automated and only show current yield. I saw many with incomplete data on those etfs. I have an ADR (Sasol) that pays dividends bi-annualy. The first one is usually about double the second one. Even BMOIL simply doubles the first dividend and as a result overstates the dividen...
by zinfit
24 Feb 2015 12:27
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Time to bail out of bonds?
Replies: 123
Views: 11520

Re: Time to bail out of bonds?

I note on both sides of the border you can buy corporate bond ETFs which have fixed maturity dates. I am thinking they would have the advantage of laddered bonds at a lower cost and better diversification. The yields look better then what I can buy from Action Direct and the credit quality seems better then the one's I have been buying. Even deducting the mer they are still more attractive. As individual bonds mature I will be buying this product. I had a quick look at BMO's offerings in fixed maturity etfs. They only appear to offer 2020 or 2025 maturity. Not useful if annual withdrawals required. RBC offers a series with annual maturities 2016-2021. Looking at the RBC 2020, weighted average YTM is only 1.86%. Our bond ladder yield is ove...
by zinfit
23 Feb 2015 19:03
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Time to bail out of bonds?
Replies: 123
Views: 11520

Re: Time to bail out of bonds?

Springbok wrote:
ghariton wrote: A ladder will give you some flexibility to track changes in interest rates, yes. But it does not ensure that those interest rates are above inflation. There have been long periods of time, e.g. in the 1970s, when interest rates stayed below inflation.
Which interest rates? I have not gone back to look, but I recall holding GICs during that period with high double digit yields.
I think you remember the 1980's.
by zinfit
23 Feb 2015 13:24
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Time to bail out of bonds?
Replies: 123
Views: 11520

Re: Time to bail out of bonds?

I note on both sides of the border you can buy corporate bond ETFs which have fixed maturity dates. I am thinking they would have the advantage of laddered bonds at a lower cost and better diversification. The yields look better then what I can buy from Action Direct and the credit quality seems better then the one's I have been buying. Even deducting the mer they are still more attractive. As individual bonds mature I will be buying this product.
by zinfit
23 Feb 2015 08:05
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Time to bail out of bonds?
Replies: 123
Views: 11520

Re: Time to bail out of bonds?

Haven't figured any reason why the Fed would start raising rates. There isn't inflation and the economy is improving but it is a long ways from booming. Rate hikes could be a real negative for growth and unemployment. It would also drive the dollar higher which would be very hard on USA exports.
by zinfit
22 Feb 2015 13:58
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Time to bail out of bonds?
Replies: 123
Views: 11520

Re: Time to bail out of bonds?

When interest rates climbed in a big way in the 1970's bond holders took it on the chin. Can you image what happened to a 15 year bond with a yield of 5% in 1970 by the time 1981 arrived with 20% yields. Pretty sure it was close to a train wreck.
by zinfit
21 Feb 2015 12:08
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Time to bail out of bonds?
Replies: 123
Views: 11520

Re: Time to bail out of bonds?

I am starting to think we are following the long term pattern that Japan went through. With the debt levels that western countries have any significant interest rate increase will bring on a whole of problems. I don't think it's a realistic option. I also believe that over capacity will prevent any inflation problems. Look no further then oil.
by zinfit
21 Feb 2015 09:31
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Time to bail out of bonds?
Replies: 123
Views: 11520

Re: Time to bail out of bonds?

I have 2/3's of my RRSP in bonds and GICs. They laddered over an 8 year period and have a strong emphasize on corporates. According to my math it yields about 4% per year. My basic goal is to beat inflation and to preserve capital. When you getting close to 70 that's important. I am not sure that we aren't going to see deflation in the years ahead. If I am right their in room for some capital gains on these bonds. I am thinking of buying some corporate bond ETFs with a maturity date. They appear to offer competitive if not superior rates and reduce the risk of a default. Curious what thoughts people might have on the ETFs with maturity dates.
by zinfit
19 Feb 2015 17:26
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: What did you Buy? What might you buy? (2015)
Replies: 596
Views: 61472

Re: What did you Buy? What might you buy? (2015)

I have bought PZZA[Papa John's Pizza]. It has really good growth and a very good ROE. I also have UVE a USA property insurer. I bought this for the same reasons. Celanse is on my radar screen so is Borg Warner. Again for the same reasons.
by zinfit
18 Feb 2015 22:28
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: portfolio mix for TFSA
Replies: 16
Views: 1454

Re: portfolio mix for TFSA

Take 10k in the TFSA and buy 10k in the Vandguard short term corporate bond ETF.
by zinfit
18 Feb 2015 19:17
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Buffett Buffet
Replies: 806
Views: 247131

Re: Buffett Buffet

They also have an excellent chain of retailers in Canada .