Canadians Will Spend More This Holiday Season
Holiday spending will increase this holiday season, writes Peter Watson. Holiday spending is forecasted to rise sharply from last year. After the pandemic lockdown, Canadians want to shop, celebrate, and spoil friends and family. This insight is according to Deloitte Canada’s 2021 Holiday Retail Outlook. Holiday spending during 2021 is expected to increase 31 per […]
Financial Stability on Pins and Needles
The new variant of COVID-19 has increased the financial worries of Canadians, writes Peter Watson. Last week the Bank of Canada warned that interest rate increases were likely to happen in the first part of next year in order to put the brakes on inflation. One particular concern we have seen is the rising prices […]
Federal Election 2021: Will it Affect My Investments?
Investors wonder how the federal election results will affect their investment, writes Peter Watson. Investors have two questions. Who will win the federal election and how will this affect my investments? We will look at the United States for some insight. It has a two-party system. Democrats are considered more socialistic and the Republicans more […]
Invest in Stocks – Prepare to Lose
There will be a time when you lose money. That is a certainty. The assumption is based on a broadly diversified portfolio versus owning just a few stocks. Information is taken from the S&P 500, a US stock index. Yes, some years you win when your stock portfolio increases in value. Winning is easy. Anyone […]
Stocks and Bonds: What to Expect
Let’s talk investments. Specifically, how the volatility of stocks and the returns of stocks are related. Many investors dislike volatility. A stock can be worth $10 a share, increase to $15, decreased to $8, and then back up to $11. Most would prefer a $10 a share price to increase gradually to $11. Perfect. A […]
Monthly Payments can be a Financial Sink Hole
Accumulating too many monthly payment plans can sabotage your financial well-being, writes Peter Wastson. Things you purchase are often priced in a manner that is too good to resist. That is a significant financial risk. Buying a car is a perfect example. Assume you are in the market and find a car you like, and […]
COVID-19 Chaos Disconnected from Stock Market Performance
This year has been the most confusing time that many investors have experienced during their lifetime, writes Peter Watson. S&P 500 Index performance in 2020 seems disconnected to the damaging impact COVID-19 has had on the economy. Early in the year COVID-19 spread around the globe, accelerating change in many areas of the world economy. […]
Debt levels are dangerously high and is a risk for us all
Deferred costs, such as mortgage payments and billions of federal support, have camouflaged our financial weakness and the dangers of staggering amounts of debt, writes Peter Watson. Debt is good and debt can be dangerously bad. That is an issue that affects us all. The magic of debt can be every consumers’ dream. Without any […]
Will the US Election Affect Stock Values?
Fama/French Total US Market Research Index 1929 to 2020 shows the increasing value of US stocks. The political party of the President has not been a significant influence on stock market performance. Will the US election outcome affect the value of your US stocks? This is a question that investors are asking these days as […]
Speech From The Throne: Our Path Forward
The Speech from the Throne outlined the federal government’s plan to deal with COVID-19 and the financial support it intends to offer Canadians, writes Peter Watson. Last week, the Liberals gave Canadians the equivalent of a Business Plan. The Speech from the Throne provided a strategic direction for the government. The main objective is COVID-19 […]