Markets have indeed been strange for some time now. Most investors are confused about whether to sell, or buy, or panic, or just go to cash and avoid the craziness. However, if you think more closely about things, you might come to the conclusion that markets are always strange. InvestorsContinue Reading
While early retirement may be a pipe dream for most of us, every once in a while I hear from readers who have pulled it off and are living almost tax-free on dividend income alone. An example is Torontonian Phil McKinley, who retired in his early 40s a couple ofContinue Reading
It hasn’t been a terribly good week for the TSX Composite Index. Canada’s benchmark stock index has fallen more than 1% from the beginning of the week through Thursday’s close. Normally, a 1% move in just under a week is the very epitome of much ado about nothing. Stocks areContinue Reading
The world’s fastest-growing developed economy has the worst-performing stock market, creating buying opportunities especially for investors in Canada’s financial sector. The S&P/TSX Composite Index is down 2.2 per cent from April to June, set for its first quarterly drop since 2015 and the steepest decline among 24 advanced markets trackedContinue Reading
f you’re relatively new to investing stocks, you’re probably still exploring the many different strategies out there. No matter which strategies you choose, there are two ways to make money: getting income or selling for a gain. New investors tend to be mesmerized by the ups and downs of stockContinue Reading
The financial media as of late—in both Canada and the U.S.—has been overrun with headlines talking about the potential for another bear market. It’s clear why. A 10% correction in the TSX in August followed by news that we are in a recession has put investors on edge. Is thereContinue Reading
We’ll try to round up some scary things in the market for our column in two weeks, just in time for Halloween. In the interim, let’s go back to some more basic investment rules and guidelines that all investors should pay attention to. There is never just ONE dividend cutContinue Reading
The U.S. Powerball lottery and its “world record” US$1.5-billion jackpot (or thereabouts) certainly caused quite a stir over the past few days. Even Canadians, apparently, were scrambling to get in on the action, flocking to American border towns to buy tickets. Jeesh. I don’t want to be a party pooper,Continue Reading
It’s been a week since the Toronto Blue Jays lost the American League Championship to the Kansas City Royals. Although the sting of coming so close to the World Series for the first time in 23 years will take some time to dissipate, there are some lessons to be learnedContinue Reading
During summer vacations when I was a kid, my dad and I often took a break from hanging out on the beach to go for a drive. Eventually, he let me sit behind the wheel. Big moment. Didn’t go so well. As we poked along a gravel back road, IContinue Reading