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 […]
Stock market declines can result in panic selling
In 11 out of the last 15 recessions, the value of the US stock market fully recovered in two years. In all 15 recessions the market eventually recovered every time, writes Peter Watson. Losing money in the stock market can drive some investors away from owning stocks altogether. There are two problems. First, you see […]
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 […]
Protect Yourself Against Fraud
Canadians are being targeted and they should protect themselves, writes Peter Watson Have you been scammed yet? If not, it’s just a matter of time. Fraud attempts include CRA scams, request from a romantic partner, identity theft, and bogus investment schemes. Just under half of all Canadians have either been scammed or know someone that […]
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 […]
Portfolio Overactivity can Backfire
Sometimes human nature tricks us into doing things with our investments that end up causing us harm. Emotions are part of being human. One of the biggest mistakes many of us make when managing our investment portfolio is making decisions based on emotions, often triggered by financial media biases or past performance. Even when you […]