Search found 858 matches

by Shine
06 Jun 2011 11:04
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: A Simple Retirement Plan Using T-Bills/GICs
Replies: 326
Views: 24937

Re: A Simple Retirement Plan Using T-Bills/GICs

Hmmmm...I don't wear a watch, rarely drink, and drive a single 22 year old vehicle (his average car is 4 yrs old before trade-in or upgrade). Which is why I can afford to live in a good neighbourhood. :lol:
Hey, if you have friends, and your kids have friends just nearby, you are in a good neighbourhood and you are wealthy. Count the blessings my friend.

regards..
by Shine
06 Jun 2011 09:50
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Non-wood decks
Replies: 15
Views: 234

Re: Non-wood decks

newguy wrote:If I ever build a deck again it will be in plastic boards like dimensional lumber. Not only is there zero maintenance but they don't warp either.
http://plasticlumberyard.com/
Image

newguy

Wow that looks like a great deck indeed. Custom installed?
by Shine
06 Jun 2011 08:39
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Best Credit Card
Replies: 844
Views: 90637

Re: Best Credit Card

How come the credit card companies are so eager to send me checks that charge 1% annually (it is usually good for 6 months before the regular rate kicks in)? Is there a catch in the fine print?
I suggest you never accept a mail out proposal from either your bank or any credit card. If they want your business make them negotiate, and on your terms.


Personally I resent that the CC companies, and banks, publish my name and address and snail mail me solicitous junk mail. We should be allowed to opt out of similiar solicitations like the "no phone", however for mysterious reasons we just can't.
by Shine
06 Jun 2011 08:31
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Non-wood decks
Replies: 15
Views: 234

Re: Non-wood decks

Can the vinyl be cut by chairs or the BBQ?

Did you install the vinyl yourself?


Your deck looks great!
by Shine
06 Jun 2011 07:05
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Monthly Income (mutual) funds vs the TSX (ETFs)
Replies: 69
Views: 4617

Re: Monthly Income (mutual) funds vs the TSX (ETFs)

Again I may be confused. I have held the CIBC Monthly Income Fund for many years, and receive a juicy monthy return and a good Capital Gain over the past ten years. This return has been reinvested each month for the past decade at least. I pay tax on that distribution each year, however I assumed the distribution continued to reduce the overall tax ACB leaving me with mostly "return of capital", and my ACB was reduced accordingly. That aside, I have merely relied on Globe Investor Gold to keep track of my ACB, including distributions, whether they be ROC or dividend or interest. More laziness on my part perhaps. So is there a Canadian Associaion of Taxplanners some of whom may assist me in liquitading my portfolio to mminize taxes...
by Shine
06 Jun 2011 06:40
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Non-wood decks
Replies: 15
Views: 234

Re: Non-wood decks

Had two decks in the last two homes, the the first was cedar finely fitted and regulary painted (by me) with marine varnish over the years (looked wonderful as the years past) the last several years was pressure treated decking. I preferred the marine varnish visually however the pressure treated deck requires less maintenance. Might depend on one's age.

That aside, one simply can't escape maintenace. I have read that there are other recycled materials available for contemporary decks but that is beyond my ken these days. Maybe talk to someone at Home Depot? The choice for me was always fine wood and maintenance, but as Bob says: "things have changed" and maintenance becomes more of an issue.
by Shine
04 Jun 2011 10:52
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Why and when do people retire?
Replies: 83
Views: 6573

Re: Why and when do people retire?

Now the blame for bad performance falls on the managers of those mutual funds not on the TD rep that contructed the etf portfolio. :shock:
Of course, the TD rep is not an advisor, athough the bank may spin it so, they are salesmen or salewomen. They only want to get the MER,
by Shine
04 Jun 2011 09:48
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: PH&N High Yield Bond Fund D - and allocation.
Replies: 15
Views: 1415

Re: PH&N High Yield Bond Fund D - and allocation.

[quoteockham wrote:
]Shine, you're with RBCDI, right? Have a look at RBC's D series hiyld. Or, ishares has a relatively new hiyld ETF trading as XHB. Both of these compare favourably with PHN on the metric that matters most: MER.[/quote]

I am not with RBCDI, I am with CIBC Wood Gundy, BMOIL, and TD WH.

Nonetheless I will check out the ETFs you reference and recommend.

Thanks...
by Shine
04 Jun 2011 08:38
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: TFSA 2011
Replies: 144
Views: 11023

Re: TFSA 2011

bylo wrote: If it's re the TFSA then nothing, not even the T1-ADJ itself. There's nothing to "adjust." No there was no issue regarding my TFSA - after all how difficult can it be to keep track of $5K per year. :roll: My CRA problem is that I missed a significant deduction and overpaid my tax by about $600. I contacted CRA the next day when I discovered my mistake, and their rep advised me to wait unitil I received my NOA. I received my NOA and contacted CRA again and their rep advised I wait until I receive a "password" for my account. I continue to wait. With respect to Turbo Tax, I have not been able to access the TD Adj form electroniclally without having to re-input and print all 28 or so pages of my return. I am su...
by Shine
04 Jun 2011 00:13
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Do you own physical gold or silver?
Replies: 41
Views: 3992

Re: Do you own physical gold or silver?

Also have the complete set of silver coins from the Montreal Olympics and the Calgary Olympics - suspect they are worth less than what I paid for them, but waiting for that greater fool. :wink:
by Shine
03 Jun 2011 23:55
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Why and when do people retire?
Replies: 83
Views: 6573

Re: Why and when do people retire?

Retirement is like an equilateral triangle - one side is time, one side is money, and one side is health. Ones' task in retirement is to keep the triangle equilateral. Keep the balance, If one side gets out of balance, problems emerge.

The rest is simply opinion or media nonsense.

Another good tip for the retired is quit listening to the "News". Engage in your community by all means but piss on global events.
by Shine
03 Jun 2011 23:43
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: TFSA 2011
Replies: 144
Views: 11023

Re: TFSA 2011

newguy wrote:
You can do it online if you have a CRA my account.
Currently I am awaiting a CRA My Account access code - apparently they are mailing this to me, however it has been at least ten days and now we have a postal strike - it might just be easier to fill out the form I printed out from the CRA web site and courier it to them - although I am not totally sure what documentation I need to provide for an adjustment...have to read some more but every time I start the Canadian Tire catelogue whistles to me and lures me into a better fantasy. :wink:
by Shine
03 Jun 2011 18:50
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Looking for new desktop computer
Replies: 189
Views: 3251

Re: Looking for new desktop computer

This was the one I was looking at similar ones at FS, no TV tuner card.
Are you a gamer as well? Do you need that much processing? I understand you want blue ray but one can get a Blue Ray player for a few hundred.
by Shine
03 Jun 2011 18:42
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Spain Portugal Deals
Replies: 36
Views: 463

Re: Spain Portugal Deals

You might have Sancho Panza and the Don there with you. :wink:
by Shine
03 Jun 2011 18:39
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: A Simple Retirement Plan Using T-Bills/GICs
Replies: 326
Views: 24937

Re: A Simple Retirement Plan Using T-Bills/GICs

This looks like a good book, thanks TCW.
by Shine
03 Jun 2011 18:35
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: TFSA 2011
Replies: 144
Views: 11023

Re: TFSA 2011

tedster wrote: If CRA is wrong about the TFSA contribution, who knows if they are right about their tax assessments? I can assure you that they are not. I made mistakes last year, the first year I did my own taxes via QuickTax/Turbo Tax, because my CGA retired and moved to Nassau. Two months after filing my return by Net File I received a letter and a phone call from CRA advising me of all of my mistakes and then they did a reassessment and charged me a few hundred dollars more, and, of course a penalty. This year I did my taxes on Turbo Tax while watching the playoffs, and missed a pension readjustment deduction and overpaid taxes by nearly $600.00. Filed by NetFile and paid outstanding tax the same evening. I called CRA the day after I r...
by Shine
03 Jun 2011 18:16
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Aeroplan Income Fund (Symbol-AER)
Replies: 6
Views: 483

Re: Aeroplan Income Fund (Symbol-AER)

Don't know if this will work, however here is the CIBC WG overview on AER: Groupe Aeroplan Inc. Q1 Results In Line, Cash Production Is Key  AER produced Q1 results in line with our forecasts, despite some changes to reporting structure and IFRS. We have made slight changes to our forecasts (downward) that reflect a more accurate view on the loss of a customer, but otherwise the business is in good shape.  We continue to see AER as a low-capital cash producer, evidenced by its increased dividend and continual share buybacks. We do not believe the company will make a material acquisition, and its growth will require modest capital and entail minimal risks.  There is a mild threat to the Canadian card business from proposed changes to credi...
by Shine
03 Jun 2011 18:02
Forum: Property: Owning, Renting, Managing, Investing and Mortgaging
Topic: Home Insurance - what to look for?
Replies: 11
Views: 1568

Re: Home Insurance - what to look for?

I know the issue of climate change is an emotional issue for many on this forum, however, insurance companies are well aware of the changing meterorological extremes - which scientists have been warning us about for at least a decade, while everyone mocks them - and the insurance companies will be altering policies and premiums accordingly and immediately.
by Shine
03 Jun 2011 17:55
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: The Great American Bubble Machine (Goldman Sachs)
Replies: 26
Views: 2210

Re: The Great American Bubble Machine (Goldman Sachs)

As I recall, Goldman Sachs was a key agent in advising Greece on how to cook their mousaka.
by Shine
03 Jun 2011 17:50
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: TFSA 2011
Replies: 144
Views: 11023

Re: TFSA 2011

I don't think one can rely on CRA's assessment of one's TFSA status. I received my Notice of Assessment last week, based on my TurboTax filing, that states: "Based on available information at the beginning of 2011, your unused Tax-Free Savings Account contribution room is $5000." I have contributed $5K each year, since the TFSA was initiated, in either January or February. I suspect the problem is that the bank is remiss in filing the documentation given that they are busy dealing with RRSP matters. For reference, I use BMOIL for my TFSA.

CRA is usually three to four months behind as well.
by Shine
03 Jun 2011 09:46
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: PH&N High Yield Bond Fund D - and allocation.
Replies: 15
Views: 1415

Re: PH&N High Yield Bond Fund D - and allocation.

I am hoping to place in about $150K..they might be agreeable.
by Shine
03 Jun 2011 09:11
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: PH&N High Yield Bond Fund D - and allocation.
Replies: 15
Views: 1415

Re: PH&N High Yield Bond Fund D - and allocation.

Shine wrote:Then again, I thought one could purchase funds directly from PHN - has that door been closed as well?


Effective November 26, 2010, units of the High Yield Bond Fund will not be available for purchases by new investors. Existing investors who hold units of the High Yield Bond Fund can continue to make additional investments into the High Yield Bond Fund.





End of that thought obviously. Thanks both Skakespeare and Nemo2 for the clarification. Might have to see if a Mawer fund is still open.
by Shine
03 Jun 2011 07:49
Forum: Property: Owning, Renting, Managing, Investing and Mortgaging
Topic: Developer Soliciting for Sale
Replies: 9
Views: 1245

Re: Developer Soliciting for Sale

Your house is irrelevant, the plot is what is important. I have seen many original homes torn down and new homes built on the plot here in Vancouver, and no one has even moved in to the new house. The new house and property has been purchased by US or Asian interests and left empty...counting on the 5% to 7% return regardless of the tedium of trying to rent the property. I live on the west side of Vancover,in Kerrisdale, and while homeless people push their carts along the street, there are large homes in which no one lives. The homes are shuttered and locked up. We live in a speculative market that is excluding many of our own citizens from participating. I saw this unfold in London UK several years ago. There is something wrong with this ...
by Shine
03 Jun 2011 06:58
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Mostly Music & Funny Videos. Youtube
Replies: 1133
Views: 34573

Re: Mostly Music & Funny Videos. Youtube

Now...if only I knew who Maria or Brittany are. Maria Callas? Brittany Spaniel? :?
Pop Tarts, Nemo.


Here is the real thing.


by Shine
03 Jun 2011 06:44
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: PH&N High Yield Bond Fund D - and allocation.
Replies: 15
Views: 1415

Re: PH&N High Yield Bond Fund D - and allocation.

PH&N HYB is closed to new subscribers. Shakespeare: Well that's a bit of an annoyance. The D Series as well? I was reviewing this on Globe Investor Gold during the past evening and nowhere did it say the fund was capped or closed; well no where I could see. I was on both GIG and PHN web sites. I do have money invested in other RBC mutal funds which are capped and closed - perhaps those investments could be transferable because those funds I have invested in RBC Funds were closed to new investors in 2002. One should have a option to transfer regardless of the funds being capped or closed - maybe? I could rant and rave and tell them I will move my account to another institution. Perhaps they could care not at all. Then again, I thought o...