Successful Investing Requires a Long-Term Approach
Investors are advised to take a long-term approach to investing writes Peter Watson. Patience, patience, patience. That is a key to successful investing. Over the years I have heard many stories of people making investment decisions that ended up to be very damaging to their investment returns. In hindsight, their decision to buy or sell […]
Is It Time to Re-Balance Your Investment Portfolio?
Re-balancing your investment portfolio is needed when stock and bond values fluctuate, writes Peter Watson. Do you own too much stock? Recently, because of the rising stock values as opposed to bond values, your asset allocation between stocks and bonds has likely shifted. Let’s look at a simple example. The starting point of developing a […]
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 […]
Employment Insurance logic needs to be fixed
Employment Insurance logic has to align its goals with the recipient, writes Peter Watson. Today a story. But first a common business principal. Anytime you have a business relationship it is to your advantage that all parties are hoping for the same outcome. For example, if you work for a company a bonus could be […]
Lessons Learned from COVID-19 can Help Your Personal Finances
There is a strong similarity from the lessons learned from COVID-19 and how best to manage your finances, writes Peter Watson. Since March, we have consistently heard the same theme. Understand the illness and use that knowledge to protect yourself and others from getting sick. Knowledge with the pandemic often comes from medical science. And […]
Uncertainty and Risk Ahead Despite Recovering Economy
Consumer spending critical to country’s overall well-being, but it could hurt many Canadians in the long run, writes Peter Watson. June numbers indicate the Canadian economy may be recovering. Continued consumer spending is critical, but will the spending hurt the financial well-being of Canadians? Our COVID-19 weak economy got some good news. Retail sales rebounded […]
Stock markets can be mind boggling
Logic would suggest that there is a correlation between economic prosperity and positive outcomes for stocks, writes Peter Watson. COVID-19 economic doom and gloom persist, yet stock market values are rising at a record pace. Why did this happen? As it turns out, sometimes the stock market does not behave with how you anticipate. We […]
Financial Planning will be taught in elementary schools
Ontario’s overhaul of math teaching will include financial literacy, writes Peter Watson. Young children will start learning financial planning at school. This is an excellent life skill and, in my opinion, an educational upgrade. One of the foundations an individual carries through life is a strong education. Reports over the years show a correlation to […]
Scams and fraud are a real threat
Canadians need to re-think how we combat scams and other attempts of theft, writes Peter Watson Scams and frauds are part of everyday life. Policing is difficult because most cases are not reported. The Canadian Anti-Fraud website is a useful source of information. Protect yourself by anticipating fraud attempts will occur against you. As an […]