Search found 867 matches

by Profit not Prophet
14 Feb 2024 13:49
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: How much is enough?
Replies: 184
Views: 16877

Re: How much is enough?

My wife did a 1000 piece Luncheon of the Boating Party a couple of winters ago and it's definitely got bigger mono colour patches than you recall the painting as being. I'll never see it in the same light again and it's a bit a shame for it. I'm sure there's worse like the double sided ones but I hope to never run across them. :)
by Profit not Prophet
08 Feb 2024 16:53
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Wanna touch a gold bar, here's where
Replies: 5
Views: 312

Re: Wanna touch a gold bar, here's where

Yes human's like that shiny stuff, maybe next time I'm in Ottawa after I get a beaver tail or whatever.
by Profit not Prophet
08 Feb 2024 16:51
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Wanna touch a gold bar, here's where
Replies: 5
Views: 312

Re: Wanna touch a gold bar, here's where

You get sort of airline style scanned in through rotating glass doors. The vault thing is right across from the ticket wicket. I'm sure they would issue a stern- hey you - if you got too frisky with it. The old palace across town has a treasury museum with more security than that. Some crowns and such but a large number of Paris made silver serving platters. They made a lot back in the day being importer of spice and all such. One of the best spots in town is the Gulbenkian museum. He was THE original oil guy or pretty close to it. Here's the fastest bio to find https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calouste_Gulbenkian Basically made a lot, had good taste, only collected the best versions of anything(coins, carpets, paintings, porcelain, etc etc. I...
by Profit not Prophet
08 Feb 2024 14:13
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Wanna touch a gold bar, here's where
Replies: 5
Views: 312

Wanna touch a gold bar, here's where

We were recently in Lisbon. Lovely trip. One odd little fun thing is at the money museum. https://www.museudodinheiro.pt/en/money-museum They have a 12.6 kilo gold bar that you can touch and lift and rattle a little bit. A cheap thrill :) especially considering the museum is itself free. Cheers
by Profit not Prophet
10 Jan 2024 11:01
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Clippings 2024
Replies: 129
Views: 10333

Re: Clippings 2024

Clippings thread seems overlooked this year, here's one.

Want to Lose Your Money? Listen to Millionaires.
Along with anybody else who attempts to forecast the investment future.
https://www.morningstar.ca/ca/news/2445 ... aires.aspx

'why bother...if consumed appropriately, investment predictions can be quite useful. The key is to follow their arguments rather than their advice. '
by Profit not Prophet
01 Jan 2024 19:10
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Retirement Countdown: Start of 2025
Replies: 74
Views: 4455

Re: Retirement Countdown: Start of 2025

I've spent about a year easing out of my self-employed thing. Covid knocked the wind out of it and I spent about 18 months or so seeing off the various clients that survived it or the staff that stuck with them. My wife left a full time gig a couple years ago. So I've only really been away from feeling light work or work light since the spring. Spent over half the time from Easter to Thanksgiving away. I'd agree up thread that it's the transition stories that can reveal some of the more interesting and useful tips and tools. I don't have a magic answer to amount of % draw from rsp other than it has been a roller coaster the past few years. We will pay less tax if we draw some out before getting public pensions. Mr and Mr P are 58-59. Beside...
by Profit not Prophet
01 Jan 2024 10:07
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Retirement Countdown: Start of 2025
Replies: 74
Views: 4455

Re: Retirement Countdown: Start of 2025

I like the idea of not taking any offers from the boss and pajamas. Maybe wear the pajamas in and they make an offer to leave the premises :)

My wife is currently disentangling a heck of a mess of multivendor gic's and screwball ideas in her mother's accounts. Thought was to provide dribbles of monthly income, instead it's a headache to manage with lots of rollovers and dough getting no interest and general yuk. I'm doing fewer but bigger gic once or twice a year matures which go into hisa and then into my pocket. Simpler for me, after all a monthly drip or sorts is your dividends. Some months higher or lower but a quarterly even out. This idea could allow more video game and beer time sir.... cheers
by Profit not Prophet
18 Dec 2023 10:57
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Clippings 2023
Replies: 343
Views: 32755

Re: Clippings 2023

It would be interesting to pull the highest returning one of the seven(Nvidia I think) and see where the 6 next best track. I bet it would drop a lot.
by Profit not Prophet
17 Dec 2023 16:40
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: This day in history
Replies: 28
Views: 2880

Re: This day in history

All museums do a bag check on the way in. I think all but one or two smaller ones had the metal doorway to stroll through. Nothing different from Paris a few years ago pre-covid. There are some disgruntled folks out there I'd rather not share the space with. I suspect the Washington monument would be a really really hard place to root someone out of if they did get to cause mischief. Even so they are pretty impressive. They exceed the ones on my wine cellar :) Ok, my cellar is a cardboard box or two turned sideways in the basement but it's the same brand I'd order if I did get a door for it. I picked DC over NYC for a quick trip as it was simpler, a couple degrees warmer and cheaper. NYC next time. Still $2.65 metro from Airport to downtown...
by Profit not Prophet
17 Dec 2023 11:41
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: This day in history
Replies: 28
Views: 2880

Re: This day in history

Were saw the Wright flyer in DC about ten days ago. In the past it was strung up in the air but the current display is down on the ground so you can get quite close to it. Being a financial forum I guess it's good to note they lawyered up, went off in all directions, had health probems and other folks like Curtiss and such won the manufacturing race. The Obama portrait and Neil's spacesuit were also popular spots at their respective museums for people selfies. A bit off the thread but here's a couple little shots. If you ever wondered what the Washington monument lightning rod looks like, wonder now more here's the old one, they buzz you in via two pretty serious doors once you pass the security check.
by Profit not Prophet
15 Dec 2023 19:36
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: What and why did you sell? What might you sell? (2023)
Replies: 104
Views: 15392

Re: What and why did you sell? What might you sell? (2023)

I sold 100 VDC, my idea years ago was it was a sector that was lacking in Canada so this tilt made up for it. I've decided I don't care anymore, I had some losses to offset it's gain and the proceeds went into VTI. A ever so simple simplification, one less line at the bottom end of the spreadsheet.
by Profit not Prophet
05 Dec 2023 21:03
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Royal Bank (Symbol-RY)
Replies: 315
Views: 71896

Re: Royal Bank (Symbol-RY)

Limos and lunches :)
by Profit not Prophet
28 Nov 2023 20:50
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Bank of Nova Scotia (Symbol-BNS)
Replies: 173
Views: 29560

Re: Bank of Nova Scotia (Symbol-BNS)

I sense the mob got tired at the grocery store protest and wandered down the block to the bank. Perhaps they used their cell plans to gather :) Hating the phone company is next me think, a bit of cycle. Appreciate your all your comments but SQRT in particular.
by Profit not Prophet
28 Nov 2023 20:32
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Define "rich"
Replies: 71
Views: 4268

Re: Define "rich"

I saw one of these a few years back. It was remarkably consistent. They interviewed about ten income slices. From barely ends meet to those with jets. It was always about 25 to 30 % than I have now. Didn't matter net worth or wage level, it was the same. It was cool. (I see the roadrunner with stick and carrot). TTYL
by Profit not Prophet
28 Nov 2023 09:52
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: structured notes , Pelletier column
Replies: 11
Views: 890

Re: structured notes , Pelletier column

I'm gobsmacked by the info, thanks everybody and Clason.
by Profit not Prophet
27 Nov 2023 16:17
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: structured notes , Pelletier column
Replies: 11
Views: 890

Re: structured notes , Pelletier column

The column credit is Martin Pelletier, CFA, is a senior portfolio manager at Wellington-Altus Private Counsel Inc, operating as TriVest Wealth Counsel, a private client and institutional investment firm specializing in discretionary risk-managed portfolios, investment audit/oversight and advanced tax, estate and wealth planning. I'd agree with above structured notes get mentioned without a lot of specifics. It's shiny nice and you can't do it on your own so call sort of feel though. They are interesting columns though and frequently more meat on them than the usual other folks like say Tom Bradley(not just to pick on him just they are too basic). Aimed a bit higher than save some money but don't freak out and sell at the bottom sort of thin...
by Profit not Prophet
27 Nov 2023 10:17
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: structured notes , Pelletier column
Replies: 11
Views: 890

structured notes , Pelletier column

I like Martin Pelletier's column in the F post. This one is on portfolio construction and how using structured notes can limit downside, still give a good upside and be used as a portion of your book. https://financialpost.com/investing/constructing-portfolio-good-parent-room-wander-safely a short snip All the structured notes in Canada from 2016 to 2022 generated an annualized return of 7.7 per cent, with only 1.3 per cent of the total generating a negative return (this includes higher-risk, sector-specific notes), according to National Bank’s Structured Products Group. The top-quartile return was an annualized 12.8 per cent while the bottom quartile return was an annualized 3.5 per cent. These are equity-like returns (the S&P/TSX 60 a...
by Profit not Prophet
25 Nov 2023 15:57
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: US returns vs the rest of the world
Replies: 30
Views: 1780

Re: US returns vs the rest of the world

Yes I have a small bit of VEA and it's like a swig of Buckley's mixture. Tastes awful but I assume it works. I guess it's there in case something dreadful happens in the US. Like maybe something orange in 13 months I hope not. Bylo's comment was worth this weeks admission price to the forum.
by Profit not Prophet
24 Nov 2023 14:00
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Bad and/or Overrated movies and TV shows
Replies: 128
Views: 4955

Re: Bad and/or Overrated movies and TV shows

Too bad. We have really enjoyed some of the past stuff. Oh well a bit of hit and miss medium. Thanks for the warning especially for things over 2 hours.
by Profit not Prophet
19 Nov 2023 09:17
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Bank of Nova Scotia (Symbol-BNS)
Replies: 173
Views: 29560

Re: Bank of Nova Scotia (Symbol-BNS)

We beat up on Scotia as a poor bank but interesting things happen when we chart it with some pipelines telecos and other such div stuff. It's a contender :)
by Profit not Prophet
18 Nov 2023 20:02
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: LIRA unlocking
Replies: 59
Views: 5337

Re: LIRA unlocking

Watch your institution like a hawk and keep on them. We had trouble with them doing the forms right on their end. They had a complex tact team in Toronto or some place but the local branch was mucking things up a fair bit. I think there was a timeline to hit too. Wasn't smooth for us but it's done thankfully.
by Profit not Prophet
18 Nov 2023 19:57
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: Basic Stock Portfolio Building (Individual Stocks)
Replies: 49
Views: 4660

Re: Basic Stock Portfolio Building (Individual Stocks)

I take a team approach to my taxable dividend heavier account for example. I have my bigger holdings of veterans. I have my middle team producers and my rookies. I aim for enduring decade holding. When I buy something new. It goes in at 0.5%. I can't buy more for 2 or 3 months. It takes a year to get to say 2%. The top ones in the 4-5% range are things like mothers milk, RY TD CNR or the Cdn side. VTI and V and GOOG on the US side. (The main etf and a mawer fund are much bigger than the 5% individual name cap)The middle run in the other dividend usual suspects sprinkled with things like WSP, ATD. I typically don't fire a player wholesale more than once a decade. I demote them, I sell 1/3 or 1/2 if it disappoints, then review. I don't follow...
by Profit not Prophet
13 Nov 2023 15:14
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Clippings 2023
Replies: 343
Views: 32755

Re: Clippings 2023

I ran across a link inside this story https://www.morningstar.ca/ca/news/2423 ... nding.aspx

The link is 'retirement income research' https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/asset ... e_2022.pdf

It's interesting, nothing we don't rehash here all the time but it's giving me a nice warm confirmation bias vibe :)
by Profit not Prophet
11 Nov 2023 17:46
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: VBAL Everywhere
Replies: 412
Views: 100991

Re: VBAL Everywhere

We used to convert winning into Honda Civics around here. I think you could do the same for these fluctuations. At least for the times you are feeling negatively flucted :) I'd suggest we should shift the benchmark from Civics to Corolla's. A more stable good and widely bought good https://canada.autonews.com/retail/why- ... anada-2022

cheers
by Profit not Prophet
05 Nov 2023 09:15
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Flu vaccines
Replies: 43
Views: 1960

Re: Flu vaccines

I'd booked with the usual health unit thing. A couple three weeks out. My wife made the effort to make a few calls to local little pharmacy's. Went there instead, 20 minutes later. The emerge is well and truly over. I think the chain pharma systems are annoying so here's to the few little independants. Got the flu and covid at same time. My dad's 90ish so did this stuff as much for him as us at least that's what I tell myself....cheers