The first six months of the year was a strong period for stocks. That said, returns continue to be driven by a narrow group of equities, the 'Magnificent 7'. In fact, over the past 24 months, just seven tech-related stocks accounted for over half of the market's return. This has had two important outcomes: the market is not as well diversified as it previously was, and investors are facing a greater temptation to veer from their plans due to a fear of missing out (FOMO). We provide additional context on the current environment and offer advice for investors in our mid-year review video below ..read more

This article was first published in the Globe and Mail on July 13, 2024. It is being republished with permission. by Tom Bradley For many investors, managing their portfolio is just one of those things in life where they rely on an expert or specialist to take care of things. As for computer setup, auto repair, plumbing and insurance, if it’s Greek to you, then you’re totally dependent on someone else. The late Glorianne Stromberg, a securities lawyer and investor advocate, referred to it as the “knowledge gap.” She said that “there are those who know and those who don’t. All the advantages g ..read more

If you're saving for a first home in Canada, there are a few different account types you should consider, each of which offers different tax benefits, contribution limits and withdrawal rules. In this video, we walk through the option of using an RRSP for a down payment, the flexible contributions and tax-free growth of a TFSA, and the unique advantages of the new FHSA ..read more

This article was first published in the Globe and Mail on June 29, 2024. It is being republished with permission. by Tom Bradley The Canada Day weekend feels like a good time to address a never-ending investment question: What is the right balance in your portfolio between Canadian and foreign stocks? This topic usually comes up when Canadian stocks are doing particularly well or poorly relative to those in other markets. Recently, it surfaced because of the federal government’s push for large pension funds to allocate more capital to Canada (domestic stocks generally make up a tiny part of t ..read more

If you're nearing retirement or planning for this phase of your life, you're probably wondering how much you can expect annually from the CPP (Canada Pension Plan) and OAS (Old Age Security). In this video, we walk through two handy calculators on our website that allow you to explore how much you could receive in benefits from these government-sponsored plans, and whether you should consider taking payments earlier (only CPP offers this option) or later than the standard age of 65 ..read more

This article was first published in the Globe and Mail on June 15, 2024. It is being republished with permission. by Tom Bradley Many investors are scratching their heads and wondering about the continued rise of stock prices, a run that started in the fall of 2022. Is it real or are things getting carried away? During a cross-Canada tour last month (watch a video of the presentation here), we addressed this question. Our chief investment officer, Salman Ahmed, told clients that things are normal, more normal than they’ve been in many years. He provided a checklist. The economy is expected to ..read more

We spoke with Vancouver mortgage specialist Ray Macklem last month about the ins and outs of mortgages in Canada. In part two of our discussion on mortgages, we ask Ray about mortgage life insurance and property title insurance, two features that tend to be poorly understood ..read more

by Soctt Ronalds A client told me the other year that right after we publish our summer reading picks, she goes out and buys every book on the list (if she hasn’t already read it). I loved hearing this. But talk about pressure. With her words in mind, I had a nervous feeling as I canvassed our team this year for recommendations: we better not disappoint. I’m confident this year’s list delivers. As usual, it covers a wide variety of topics, spanning business, investing, culture, health, and the great outdoors. There’s sure to be a title that piques your interest — read one or read them all! Sa ..read more

Earlier this month, we visited seven cities across the country to present our thoughts on the current investment landscape, share our outlook on the economy and interest rates, discuss a handful of portfolio holdings, and provide an update on our advice offering. A recording of the Toronto session is available below for those who missed the live experience or would like to revisit any of the insights shared. If you have any questions about any of the topics discussed, or your portfolio in specific, we’d love to hear from you. Simply call us at 1-888-888-3147 from 7am to 5pm PT or book a meeti ..read more

While inflation is easing, it continues to be higher than many Canadians are accustomed to and impacts us all. In our latest Coffee Break, we dive into the rising cost of living, and its impact on financial planning and expense management, with Christine White, a Certified Financial Planner with Money Coaches Canada. Whether you're planning for retirement, currently retired, or inflation has caught you by surprise, this video is full of valuable insights ..read more