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by AltaRed
15 Mar 2024 15:58
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Social Security is the Biggest Scam of our Lifetimes?
Replies: 29
Views: 1112

Re: Social Security is the Biggest Scam of our Lifetimes?

Mordko wrote: 15 Mar 2024 14:11 Your argument is with the dictionary, which isn’t flexible. Company-provided DB pensions are not collected by the state and are part of a voluntary contract between employee and employer, so don’t fall under the definition of tax.
As Bruce already mentioned, opting out of a corporate DB plan is not optional either for employees. It is called a benefit for which the corporate employer makes contributions, just like corporate employers do with CPP. You are free to call it a tax. i will call it a benefit, i.e. was part of my compensation package, and we are better for it.
by AltaRed
15 Mar 2024 14:03
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Electric Cars
Replies: 601
Views: 38972

Re: Electric Cars

Bylo Selhi wrote: 15 Mar 2024 13:34 So that may have been a good decision if your building should face this issue. OTOH, if fast charging becomes prevalent then all those parking stall chargers may become redundant.
Why? I cannot imagine paying current third party 'extortion' rates for fast charging, twiddling my fingers while I wait, or actually finding a working charger. Yes, I know infrastructure should/can/will improve with time and sufficient competition may reduce the usury rates, but I will have to see it in the whites of my eyes before I believe it. What ifs don't cut it with me. Let's discuss again in 5+ years.
by AltaRed
15 Mar 2024 13:55
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Social Security is the Biggest Scam of our Lifetimes?
Replies: 29
Views: 1112

Re: Social Security is the Biggest Scam of our Lifetimes?

Morko, seriously consider being more flexible in an opinion you feel strongly about being an actual fact. CPP contributions are no different than DB pension plan contributions. You are welcome to call it as you wish, and you do, but there is no need to try to convince us otherwise. Maybe time to let it go?
by AltaRed
15 Mar 2024 12:36
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: [Capital Direct Lending]
Replies: 15
Views: 2574

Re: [Capital Direct Lending]

There is also this thread which really does not add much to your query.
by AltaRed
15 Mar 2024 11:20
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Electric Cars
Replies: 601
Views: 38972

Re: Electric Cars

Our Condo in downtown Toronto recently offered owners a chance to install chargers alongside their parking spots. Cost about $4,500 per charger. About half the owners installed chargers. I installed one that can reach to both our side-by-side parking spots even though we don’t have an EV nor plan on getting one. Just thought it was good to have for resale value and the inevitable adoption of EV’s. I would do the same. We are floating the possibility of downsizing in the next year or two and have provided a realtor with our wish list. On it is a condo with an EV Level 2 charger, or the option via bylaws or equivalent to have one installed. Our next move, whenever it is, is likely to be the last one in which we will be able to continue to dr...
by AltaRed
15 Mar 2024 10:19
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Electric Cars
Replies: 601
Views: 38972

Re: Electric Cars

Or strictly for use by commuters And this is a problem? The commuters who are buying EVs now are doing so because they drive enough kilometers per week to justify the higher up-front cost of the vehicle. This um, drives, construction of charging infrastructure that will make it easier for the rest of us to adopt EVs more widely. we'll need a whole new electricity infrastructure to cope Do you have any studies that substantiate this claim? ISTM that intelligent charging will shift demand to off-peak periods like late at night and early in the morning. There is more than one opinion about what may be required from the Fraser Institute The author is headlined here. The reference to Site C is a popular (controversial) one due to the huge cost ...
by AltaRed
14 Mar 2024 23:02
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Social Security is the Biggest Scam of our Lifetimes?
Replies: 29
Views: 1112

Re: Social Security is the Biggest Scam of our Lifetimes?

I agree that CPP contributions are a form of taxation. Payment is mandatory for employees. Revenue is used for a variety of goals, many unrelated to normal DB pensions. IMHO, payouts should be taxed. At that point its income and should be treated the same. Come again? CPP contributions are no different than contributions to a registered pension plan from a corporate employer. It is just that an employee has no way to opt out, which is a good thing, given that most people would not save for retirement and possibly become a ward of the state. No way do I, as a taxpayer, want to support that kind of nonsense. How is Revenue used for a variety of goals? It is all contained within the pension plan and paid out by the pension plan for annuity pa...
by AltaRed
14 Mar 2024 22:46
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Social Security is the Biggest Scam of our Lifetimes?
Replies: 29
Views: 1112

Re: Social Security is the Biggest Scam of our Lifetimes?

I can see this thread will be going nowhere with such an extreme and irrational position.
by AltaRed
14 Mar 2024 20:25
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Social Security is the Biggest Scam of our Lifetimes?
Replies: 29
Views: 1112

Re: Social Security is the Biggest Scam of our Lifetimes?

We have kind of discussed OAS, and to a lesser extent GIS, to death a few times. OAS is probably unsustainable at current levels long term if Ottawa keeps indexing claw back levels. The boomer bulge, currently aged 60-78, will be a burden until we have the graciousness to die off quickly.

As Bruce has said elsewhere today, there really is no direct comparison with US Social Security, and I have no idea why it would be called a scam. I have no intention to open that YouTube vid to find out.
by AltaRed
14 Mar 2024 18:03
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Electric Cars
Replies: 601
Views: 38972

Re: Electric Cars

I wish for a sustainable world too for my grandkids and their kids but let's not overdrive our headlights here like a bunch of fools running around like ants at a disturbed ant hill. Especially so when much of the world is still building coal fired generation and the pollutants and toxins being released into the environment just from the Isreali-Hamas war and Russia-Ukraine war dwarf anything the "feel good" crowd does. The reality is It is going to take another 20-30 years minimum to make a material difference on a global basis. It would be a complete waste of consumer goods to replace my 2020 ICE at the current time for an EV for which tons of CO2 have been emitted to make it. Maybe in 2030 when my ICE might be destined for salv...
by AltaRed
14 Mar 2024 16:42
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Electric Cars
Replies: 601
Views: 38972

Re: Electric Cars

I am not an early adopter. It took me until about 2015? to have a 'real' smartphone. It will be awhile yet, perhaps 2030?, before an EV is relatively mainstream and is not a Leaf that turns into a brick.
by AltaRed
14 Mar 2024 16:05
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Electric Cars
Replies: 601
Views: 38972

Re: Electric Cars

To be fair, there are many situations where an EV is fully practical now, e.g. commuters and home* Level 2 charging. I am happy enough they are leading the way but the manufacturers do need to come up with a $25-30k commuter version. It may take BYD coming here to make that happen.

Added:
* Except for those poor sods who find out an upgrade to 200 amp service from 100 amp is going to cost them a small fortune. A number of such anecdotes locally where homeowners have been staggered with electrical upgrade bills.
by AltaRed
14 Mar 2024 15:50
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Electric Cars
Replies: 601
Views: 38972

Re: Electric Cars

like_to_retire wrote: 14 Mar 2024 15:47 I use to be a bit more gung-ho about EV's until my son got one, as he basically drives for a living (regional sales manager). Unlike everyone else who don't want to come clean after buying an EV, and tell you how wonderful it is, I get the real story. Yeah, I'll wait.

ltr
As it is with an extended Millennial (or young Gen-X) family member in Vancouver with a Tesla. I will wait too. They have a ways to go to be competitive AND with the required infrastructure to support it as well.
by AltaRed
14 Mar 2024 15:47
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: BMO Investorline
Replies: 1268
Views: 196516

Re: BMO Investorline

Yes. If you wish confirmation, all three are individually listed as CDIC members
by AltaRed
14 Mar 2024 13:49
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: BCE (Symbol-BCE)
Replies: 1857
Views: 285345

Re: BCE (Symbol-BCE)

StuBee wrote: 14 Mar 2024 11:36 I dont feel as pessimistic as the general atmosphere of the more recent posts (last month) in this thread seems to imply.

Of course, I may be wrong. But, I can afford to be wrong (for now any way...)
I generally agree BUT if there is one fact in life, it is not to fall in love with an asset of any kind, and especially stocks. It is one likely way to be left holding the bag.
by AltaRed
14 Mar 2024 13:25
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: BCE (Symbol-BCE)
Replies: 1857
Views: 285345

Re: BCE (Symbol-BCE)

like_to_retire wrote: 14 Mar 2024 11:14 It actually opened down only a small amount, but then proceeded to drop around 74 cents by 09:39, so short of its dollar dividend.
Sorry, it closed at $48.19 yesterday. You need a better data source.

G&M - one of many sources at $48.19
by AltaRed
14 Mar 2024 13:20
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Electric Cars
Replies: 601
Views: 38972

Re: Electric Cars

There is little doubt technology advancements and more charging infrastructure will support further adoption of EVs but Koogie is right from the perspective that there is a significant portion of the population, rural and small centres, where it just isn't going to happen the way urbanites think. It is pretty certain I will never have a BEV here in the West with the long lonely stretches of highway, but I might have a PHEV someday. I don't know what to think about the incremental loads on electrical generation and distribution. While I agree with Bylo that smart overnight charging will handle the bulk of re-charging needs, it is not all of it. Time will tell. Norway has struggled some with unpredictable and unstable loads in their grid and ...
by AltaRed
14 Mar 2024 10:56
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: BCE (Symbol-BCE)
Replies: 1857
Views: 285345

Re: BCE (Symbol-BCE)

As StuBee suggests, this type of thing has happened before. Stocks that develop a history of dividend growth and attract income/dividend growth investors feel they cannot get off that wheel and continue to do stupid stuff (continue to increase dividend) even when they should not do so. This is a very good example where, had they been like Rogers, BCE should not have been increasing their dividend for at least a few years. There are a number of popular stocks that get trapped into being Dividend Aristocrats when they should not be. I believe stocks like FTS and CU also play this game but at least they are more prudent with very low dividend increases when they need to do so, but they too can run into yield percentage problems if they are not...
by AltaRed
14 Mar 2024 10:06
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: BCE (Symbol-BCE)
Replies: 1857
Views: 285345

Re: BCE (Symbol-BCE)

StuBee wrote: 14 Mar 2024 08:35 So, all things being equal (which they are not), we should see BCE open down about a dollar. About 47.20$. We will see.
Close at $47.10. I would have expected almost exactly $1 down based on prior observations of blue chip dividend stocks of various types. As they should be because that is the math behind it in the first place.
by AltaRed
13 Mar 2024 22:20
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Rebalancing my portfolio, problem with international exposure
Replies: 37
Views: 946

Re: Rebalancing my portfolio, problem with international exposure

Saintor wrote: 13 Mar 2024 21:15 Thanks for the correction. I still fight with myself why my geographical allocations should favorize Canadian markets.
You could decide just to go with global market cap. Canada will be under 3%. Not much less than that weighted to France, the UK, etc.
by AltaRed
13 Mar 2024 20:51
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Rebalancing my portfolio, problem with international exposure
Replies: 37
Views: 946

Re: Rebalancing my portfolio, problem with international exposure

FWIW, VEQT is 30% Canadian equity.

See this Periodic Table and you can play with this Asset Mixer in whatever form you wish, for any period of time that you wish. Try each of TSX Composite, S&P500 or Wilshire 5000 and MSCI EAFE at 100% each in turn to see historical returns. There is no free lunch, alpha or otherwise over long periods. Each will under-perform or over-perform for some period over some time.

I just did 1990-2023 for each of those 4 groupings. Only the US provided ~10-11% over that 30+ year period.
by AltaRed
13 Mar 2024 18:20
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Securities Lending Wealthsimple
Replies: 8
Views: 219

Re: Securities Lending Wealthsimple

Maybe a poll question might be, how much is this worth to you? RBCGAM suggests it adds 1-5 bp to their fund returns each year.
by AltaRed
13 Mar 2024 12:22
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Photo ID and selfie new requirement for new accounts
Replies: 11
Views: 487

Re: Photo ID and selfie new requirement for new accounts

WADR, attempted fraud is increasing exponentially in the banking industry. One of my sons left the industry since he was having to fight these fires daily. Another son at the branch manager level has to deal with this stuff every day as well.

All this dispicable behaviour complicates all of our lives but it is hard to blame an FI for demanding all sorts of credentials these days.
by AltaRed
13 Mar 2024 11:23
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: EFT Limit for Tax Purposes
Replies: 18
Views: 590

Re: EFT Limit for Tax Purposes

You might wish to google some of your questions. Here is one such link