Timing the Stock Market Can be Risky and Costly
Consider a long-term buy-and-hold strategy, writes Peter Watson S&P 500 data over 50 years shows the enormous cost of timing the market and missing out on the best days of stock performance. Long-term stock investing can be less risky with a buy-and-hold strategy. The trouble with timing the stock market, and selling to avoid an […]
Stock market volatile annual returns
The formula for success is holding stocks for the long-term, writes Peter Watson. Since 1926, as reported by S&P, the average annual return for the US stock market is very close to 10 per cent. That includes the Great Depression of 1929, one of many times the stock market crashed. Returns vary between positive and […]
Protecting your investments before a stock market crash
Address this before a stock market crash, not after, writes Peter Watson Protecting your assets is the key to investment success. Perhaps consider diversifying your portfolio with more than one asset class and security type to mitigate downside risk exposure during times of market volatility. A popular question after severe stock market crashes is how […]
Seven Steps to Building an Evidence Based Investment Strategy
Use what is known about investing to your benefit, writes Peter Watson Evidence-based investing uses research and what is known about investing to the benefit of individual investors. The evidence applies to solid investment principals and human behaviour that greatly impacts individuals decision-making ability. This column will provide seven solid principles of how to best […]
2020 Tax-free savings account limits established
The federal government has offered Canadians an extremely attractive tax-free investment option. A Tax-Free-Savings Account (TFSA) is a way to grow your savings without paying tax on any contributions, interest earned, dividends, or capital gains. Many don’t take advantage of this opportunity. I suggest you take some time to see if this investment strategy would […]
Pay yourself first- a sound principle
Sometimes in the wonderful world of finance, a simple concept seems to resonate. Pay yourself first is a sound financial principle particularly in our age of never-ending expenses. Consider the saving patterns of a young family. Financial challenges include mortgage payments or rent, household living expenses, the cost of an automobile, and commuting to work. […]
Financial planning helps achieve lifetime goals
Financial planning should be celebrated as a useful process to help you achieve your lifetime goals. Behavioral economics shows us that if a person isn’t working toward something specific, they are more likely to over-spend on more immediate rewards, putting their future goals at risk. With a financial plan, you can formally review these goals, […]
Financial planning helps achieve lifetime goals
Financial planning should be celebrated as a useful process to help you achieve your lifetime goals. Behavioral economics shows us that if a person isn’t working toward something specific, they are more likely to over-spend on more immediate rewards, putting their future goals at risk. With a financial plan, you can formally review these goals, […]
When investing, you need to do the math
The first rule of investing is to do the math. Put simply, when you save your money and make investments, what you’re doing is constructing a simple puzzle. Each part of the puzzle fits together. The same is true for your long-term saving and investing efforts. Everything should fit together to achieve your financial objectives. […]
Questions for a potential financial advisor
A financial advisor’s role is to help clients work toward their financial goals. Finding a qualified advisor you feel comfortable with requires careful evaluation. Last week this column discussed hiring a financial advisor based on the services provided, and the cost of those services. Today we will consider some specific questions you might want to […]