Search found 3660 matches

by OnlyMyOpinion
26 Mar 2024 21:42
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Productivity Indicator
Replies: 16
Views: 896

Re: Productivity Indicator

Bank of Canada sounds alarm on low productivity, cites inflation risks The Bank of Canada (BoC) on Tuesday said businesses urgently needed to boost investment to increase productivity, saying this would help insulate the economy against the threat of inflation. "I'm saying that it's an emergency - it's time to break the glass," Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers told a business audience in the Atlantic province of Nova Scotia. ... Policymakers and businesses have for years fretted over poor productivity in Canada which Rogers blamed on low levels of investment, a lack of competition and the inability of new Canadians to use their skills properly. "What really sticks out is how much we lag on investment in machinery, equip...
by OnlyMyOpinion
25 Mar 2024 22:57
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Worst 60/40 performance in 100 years: BoA
Replies: 42
Views: 4250

Re: Worst 60/40 performance in 100 years: BoA

Are your diversifiers working for you? - 60/40 portfolio is still hard to beat: Morningstar. March 25, 2024 Adding bonds to an equities-only portfolio used to be a “no brainer,” said Amy Arnott, portfolio strategist with Morningstar and the report’s author. But the traditional 60/40 mix was challenged when both stocks and bonds fell in 2022. Nonetheless, a 60/40 portfolio composed of U.S. stocks and high-quality bonds had better risk-adjusted returns than an all-stock benchmark in more than 87% of the rolling three-year periods from 1976 to 2023, according to the report... “People like to beat up on the 60/40 portfolio, and it was definitely an easy target when it had pretty painful losses in 2022. But the flip side is it does have a prett...
by OnlyMyOpinion
25 Mar 2024 21:04
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: A-rated companies that offer long term care insurance?
Replies: 13
Views: 1320

Re: A-rated companies that offer long term care insurance?

... there is only one serious insurer left that offers a stand-alone product that covers stays in a LTC facility, Sunlife. And it is not the traditional LTC insurance anymore, but a "light" version they call Sun Retirement Health Assist , with less stringent underwriting. You have to be at least 65 to make a claim, they only pay after 1-2 years of the client having been declared "dependent" (long waiting period). But then they pay a predefined weekly benefit without a time limit. The benefit goes up by 3% a year after it starts. (As usual, premiums are not guaranteed beyond 5 years.) I like the idea of a long waiting period but that once benefits start, there no time limit: that covers only the tail risk and should make...
by OnlyMyOpinion
25 Mar 2024 11:44
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Banks vs VDY
Replies: 12
Views: 625

Re: Banks vs VDY

We are looking for a Canadian ETF to invest into, I have extensively researched vdy and like actually that it’s heavier on financials because the banks in Canada are well protected. After researching all of the stocks in the vdy etf, I’ve learned that a lot of the stocks are some of the high dividend stocks, like BCE with produce a high dividends, but don’t really have growth. The best stocks I found inside vdy after doing the research were actually Rbc, TD, Bmo What are your thoughts on just buying those three stocks instead of the vdy etc because they are actually the strongest companies within the ETF? Thank you. If you could pick three Canada dividend stocks (dividend stocks, meaning stocks that produce more than 3% dividends) which th...
by OnlyMyOpinion
24 Mar 2024 21:10
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Banks vs VDY
Replies: 12
Views: 625

Re: Banks vs VDY

We are looking for a Canadian ETF to invest into, I have extensively researched vdy and like actually that it’s heavier on financials because the banks in Canada are well protected. After researching all of the stocks in the vdy etf, I’ve learned that a lot of the stocks are some of the high dividend stocks, like BCE with produce a high dividends, but don’t really have growth. The best stocks I found inside vdy after doing the research were actually Rbc, TD, Bmo What are your thoughts on just buying those three stocks instead of the vdy etc because they are actually the strongest companies within the ETF? Thank you. If you could pick three Canada dividend stocks (dividend stocks, meaning stocks that produce more than 3% dividends) which th...
by OnlyMyOpinion
24 Mar 2024 10:43
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Record Keeping Practices: Scanned/Digital?
Replies: 31
Views: 922

Re: Record Keeping Practices: Scanned/Digital?

Somewhat related, I've recently been using PDFsam basic to manipulate my pdfs when necessary.
It resides locally on your pc/laptop. You can merge, extract, insert, rotate, etc., and I find it intuitive to use.
The basic version does not preserve OCR though (I scan larger originals that I may want to search in the future with OCR on).
There is an enhanced version available for purchase.

What is your preferred app for manipulating pdfs?
by OnlyMyOpinion
23 Mar 2024 19:16
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: Investing with a Ten Year Horizon under 2024's Market Valuation
Replies: 40
Views: 1247

Re: Investing with a Ten Year Horizon under 2024's Market Valuation

agraham wrote: 23 Mar 2024 18:18 I wanted to start a conversation about how to invest for people like myself who have ten years of accumulation left (I'm fifty and right now I feel like I have ten or fifteen years of work left in me although of course who can say for sure).

...would tell me to invest in VBAL given my risk profile and horizon.

So far so good.
There's just one thing...
Current market valuation.
...
What would others do in my position?
What happens to your portfolio after 10 or 15 years?
Do you not plan to be invested for an additional 10, 15, 25, 30 years beyond that (angels, etc. willing)?
by OnlyMyOpinion
23 Mar 2024 11:31
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service
Replies: 3927
Views: 433398

Re: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service

Hmmm. If you are inclined to, I would check my 2023 monthly account statements and see if the missing distributions appear in the activity of Feb & Mar (and VDY is in the list of holdings). AFAIK, that monthly activity record is what feeds the annual tax slip rollups. Except that one does not necessarily know the income types from those distributions. Perhaps the Vanguard VDY page has income types broken down by month. True. Unfortunately, Vanguard only provides an annual rollup (pdf link) of distribution types per unit. I think you'd have to look at the monthly per unit distributions available on CDS ("I Accept", then search the next page for "Canadian high dividend" to find the fund and click on the excel icon lin...
by OnlyMyOpinion
23 Mar 2024 11:01
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Final Return: Document Mechanics
Replies: 7
Views: 187

Re: Final Return: Document Mechanics

I apologize if I should have added to this post (https://www.financialwisdomforum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=126746) but I thought my questions where different enough to start a new thread. Since I have never personally been involved in the submission of final returns the following mechanics are a bit unclear to me and I am looking for clarification. #1 - I understand the concept and purpose of an executor sending a letter of direction to a discount brokerage to produce the FMW of assets on the day of death. However, what do they typically give you? Is it a special report actually noting its purpose like "Day Of Death - FMW", is it a formal letter, is it an account statement generated on that day instead of the end of the month, o...
by OnlyMyOpinion
23 Mar 2024 10:42
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service
Replies: 3927
Views: 433398

Re: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service

A T3 maybe? What months are you missing? Our VDY T3 Summary typically has nothing dated in Jan 2023, but has some distributions showing Jan 2024. Otherwise, months Feb through Dec all have distributions. It's fairly obvious though to see on the T3 Summary sheet that accompanies the T3 slip from TDDI. It lists CGs (box 21) and Dividends (box 49) by month and then totals them. Yes T3, sorry. It is missing Feb and March on the summary sheet. Very odd. There seems to be lots of mixups with t-slips on TDDI this year, what with some appearing, then disappearing, any duplicates being issued, etc. I'll wait a bit and see if an amendment shows up next week. Then I'll call. Hmmm. If you are inclined to, I would check my 2023 monthly account statemen...
by OnlyMyOpinion
22 Mar 2024 21:19
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Designated beneficiary of TFSA, RRSP
Replies: 85
Views: 11366

Re: Designated beneficiary of TFSA, RRSP

Thank you both for your responses. This is BC. Big 5 Bank. No will. There are still assets in the estate and no debt. I guess just the timeline has me questioning it. If he named these bens a year ago I wouldn't of thought anything of it. But to make this financial decision and then pass away shortly after. It is what it is. Some people are getting a nice friendship gift. Thank you for clarifying. I did wonder whether his Parkinson's might be advanced to the point where a doctor would have judged him incapable of making decisions when the TFSA was opened (typically not the case at earlier stages of the disease). I think it would be worth you knowing that situation if that is possible. While you say you were estranged, it must still be a sh...
by OnlyMyOpinion
22 Mar 2024 21:08
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service
Replies: 3927
Views: 433398

Re: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service

AltaRed wrote: 22 Mar 2024 20:58 I do not reconcile tax slips with actual distributions. I assume the computers get it right and just do the data entry.
Yes, agreed.

It's fairly obvious though to see on the T3 Summary sheet that accompanies the T3 slip from TDDI.
It lists CGs (box 21) and Dividends (box 49) by month and then totals them.
by OnlyMyOpinion
22 Mar 2024 20:46
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service
Replies: 3927
Views: 433398

Re: TD Direct Investing (was Waterhouse) Service

willowberry wrote: 22 Mar 2024 10:23 T5 for VDY showed up this morning. It's missing distributions for 2 months.
A T3 maybe?

VDY and VBAL T3's were available on TDDI dated March 20. Nothing on CRA site yet (as of March 21).

What months are you missing? Our VDY T3 Summary typically has nothing dated in Jan 2023, but has some distributions showing Jan 2024. Otherwise, months Feb through Dec all have distributions.
by OnlyMyOpinion
22 Mar 2024 20:33
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Designated beneficiary of TFSA, RRSP
Replies: 85
Views: 11366

Re: Designated beneficiary of TFSA, RRSP

Without some strong evidence that he was incapable of making his own decisions at the time he set up the TFSA and made the beneficiary designation (e.g. doctor's testimony), I think it would be a tough case to make.

The other consideration is his remaining estate assets and/or debts that will not benefit from the TFSA funds.
If there is a will and an executor named, they might want to consider NOT taking on the role. I think cleaning up a debt-riddled estate that has insufficient assets would be a challenging and thankless task.
by OnlyMyOpinion
22 Mar 2024 15:30
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Reasons to unlock a LIRA
Replies: 6
Views: 263

Re: Reasons to unlock a LIRA

As expressed, it depends on individual circumstancs and plans.

We have a self-directed LIRA (I think TDDI labels it a LRSP) and two RRSPs.
They're our pension, all of significant size (to us), so we'll convert all to LIF and RRIFs when required, and take the minimum retirement pension withdrawls from them.

That's why we started them and contributed to them over the years.

A simple plan for a surviving spouse to inherit as well.
by OnlyMyOpinion
22 Mar 2024 15:04
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Printers
Replies: 21
Views: 488

Re: Printers

We have a b&w and a colour laserjet printer (a Samsung - bought by HP, and an HP255).

I ignore the 'low toner' warnings until a print actually shows the toner running low. Otherwise we'd be changing with many pages of printing remaining in the toner cartridge.

Removing, 'flat' shaking, and reinserting the toner cartridge can also get a few extra miles out of it apparently.

At over $80 x 4, I don't want HP robbing me until absolutely necessary. :wink:
by OnlyMyOpinion
20 Mar 2024 19:18
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Cymbria (Symbol-CYB)
Replies: 22
Views: 1855

Re: Cymbria (Symbol-CYB)

randomwalker wrote: 20 Mar 2024 17:04 I guess if you are going to benchmark yourself against an index it may as well be the MSCI World Index, can't think of a lower hurdle to get over as I pointed out up-thread with my overweight the U.S. underweight kKazakhstan strategy.
XWD seeks to replicate the MSCI World Index. It does that by investing in "large and mid-cap equities from developed markets countries around the world" through its underlying holding of 70.8% in iShares S&P 500 etf (IVV), 26.1% in the MSCI EAFE etf (EFA), and 3.1% in the S&P/TSX 60 etf (XIU).

So there is good exposure to the U.S. and no exposure to Kazakhstan.

It may be just what you are looking for! :wink:
by OnlyMyOpinion
20 Mar 2024 18:53
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Cymbria (Symbol-CYB)
Replies: 22
Views: 1855

Re: Cymbria (Symbol-CYB)

randomwalker wrote: 20 Mar 2024 17:04 I guess if you are going to benchmark yourself against an index it may as well be the MSCI World Index, can't think of a lower hurdle to get over as I pointed out up-thread with my overweight the U.S. underweight kKazakhstan strategy.
XWD seeks to replicate the MSCI World Index. It does that by investing in large and mid-cap equities from developed markets countries around the world through its underlying holding of 70.8% in iShares S&P 500 etf (IVV), 26.1% in the MSCI EAFE etf (EFA), and 3.1% in the S&P/TSX 60 etf (XIU).

So there is good exposure to the U.S. and no exposure to Kazakhstan.

It may be just what you are looking for! :wink:
by OnlyMyOpinion
20 Mar 2024 11:28
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Cymbria (Symbol-CYB)
Replies: 22
Views: 1855

Re: Cymbria (Symbol-CYB)

Just to clarify, I am not being critical of CYB. I am responding to the notion that as an actively managed holding, it has been a much better investment than an index ETF like XWD (to further flog the tired needle & haystack analogy :wink: ). I am not anti-active management, but I think most investors nowadays can do just as well (often better) without, and I think the evidence supports that. XWD was mentioned because it tracks the MSCI World Index which is reported as CYB's benchmark. I don't know anyone who does not use total return (i.e. includes distributions) when comparing performances. Whether an investor's personal rate of return matches this of course will depend on their personal account activity. :thumbsup: Added: The Morning...
by OnlyMyOpinion
20 Mar 2024 10:46
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Cymbria (Symbol-CYB)
Replies: 22
Views: 1855

Re: Cymbria (Symbol-CYB)

I've moved my last post from another thread where I believe discussion of this equity began about here : What you say makes good sense. However the way I see it, you’re normally investing for the long term. Therefore, with a focused management team with a clear strategy, the down periods just become buying opportunities and your (more or less) regular purchases become a dollar cost average that may (potentially) increase your outperformance. The CYB 10 years is nothing to scoff at and the 15 years is excellent. Not sure what the XWD 15-years note is about. I don’t make much of Vanguard’s analogy of a needle and a haystack. There’s a lot of pretty bad hay in the stack. They sell Index funds. The note regarding XWD's 15yr performance of 11.9%...
by OnlyMyOpinion
19 Mar 2024 20:52
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: Your favorite asset class
Replies: 55
Views: 3280

Re: Your favorite asset class

ghariton wrote: 19 Mar 2024 20:03 Thank you for the article from Vanguard saying that active investing is not all that bad. But following the link and reading the entire piece is a bit disappointing.
...
^ I agree, it is an oddly incongruous article. The head of their equity index group makes a statement in support of active investing, and then (briefly) discusses its application to bond investing.

Is it meant to say, "apply it to fixed income if you will, but don't expect me to speak up for it on the equity side"?

Is it a nod to the assets that are actively managed by Vanguard?

Beats me, I'm just trying to decide whether to call, raise, or fold the only MF I still own. :wink:
by OnlyMyOpinion
19 Mar 2024 19:15
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: Your favorite asset class
Replies: 55
Views: 3280

Re: Your favorite asset class

Folks have fallen in love with a number of fund managers in the past. Some have 5 year records, some 10 years, perhaps even 20, but their 'style' and star status disintegrates eventually. The point of index investing is to sustain, with confidence, 'market returns' forever rather than for finite periods of time. The point is not to have bragging rights, or the 'best' returns, for a finite period. That said, to each his/her own of course and if you are convinced you are on a roll, happy investing to you. We each go our own way. I think that was the intent of Randomwalker's graphs of comparative performance upthread. The MSCI world index is represented by XWD and is reported to be the benchmark by which CYB measures itself. Here is a table o...
by OnlyMyOpinion
19 Mar 2024 11:22
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Jump into bonds?
Replies: 21
Views: 1785

Re: Jump into bonds?

This thread seems a reasonable fit to note that the City of Calgary has jumped into the bond market by issuing their first municipal bond.

They issued $180 million, 10-year with a 4.20% coupon (AA+).

I'm not sure that is newsworthy, what raised my eyebrows was that current lending from the province (Alberta) would have cost them 4.86% for 10-year money. They figure they'll save $1.6 million per year by going out to the market.

They join Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal as municipal bond issuers.
by OnlyMyOpinion
18 Mar 2024 13:19
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: New T3 requirements for joint accounts [that might be bare trusts]
Replies: 204
Views: 44441

Re: New T3 requirements for joint accounts [that might be bare trusts]

I am so sick of this cra bullcrap. I called CRA yesterday, after an hour of being handed from person to person. The individual I spoke to tells me that I should contact a tax lawyer. I asked him who is going to pay for a lawyer because we don't have the money for that. Our situation is that my mother and stepfather bought a property and I'm also on the deed. Because of their health issues, I rent it out as a short-term rental and we have a joint account so I can maintain the place. It might make 5k a year, enough to cover its expenses. So now I have to get a trust number and file a tax return that no one can explain how to do it? I'm now expected to take on expenses because CRA has no clue what it's doing. I'm so sick and tired of all thes...
by OnlyMyOpinion
17 Mar 2024 22:40
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: Your favorite asset class
Replies: 55
Views: 3280

Re: Your favorite asset class

I know nothing with certainty. A fund with a concentrated portfolio of global equities only, the only asset class. Not S&P 500 only which I find every comparison is always made to, as if the US is the only market when they’re only 50% 60.5% . Interesting, is that mostly due to the performance of the Magnificent Seven the last couple of years? No. As the linked article says: The UK financial community has been engaged in huge angst in recent years over the loss of lucrative initial public offerings (IPOs) from the London Stock Exchange to the New York and Nasdaq stock exchanges in the US, including last year’s Nasdaq-listed IPO of chip designer ARM that valued the company at $54 billion. ... 60.5%. This reflects the superior performance...