Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) can be a great tool for individual investors. Unfortunately we can’t say that they categorically are good for investors because ETFs now come is so many varieties, shapes and sizes. This is a minefield of risk for the do-it-yourself investor. ETFs can provide very low cost access to a broadly and […]
What does the data tell us about how to invest successfully? If you scour the world of peer reviewed academic studies over the last few decades (don’t worry you don’t have to because we and many others have) you’ll learn that the evidence clearly points to keeping costs low and keeping holdings very diversified. Unfortunately […]
As proud Canadians, nothing gets us going more than a good Canada vs. USA discussion. When you live in the shadow of something so big it’s hard not to be a little defensive sometimes. These days, I’m a little sensitive about hockey – so many taunts coming in from friends south of the border trying to […]
Earlier this week we wrote about the home bias many Canadians have when it comes to their investments (see Only two resolutions for Canadian investors in 2016). This home bias turned against investors in 2015 as the underperformance of the energy sector and the loonie teamed up for a double whammy hit to investors’ portfolios. […]
We have heard so many suggested new years resolutions over the last couple of weeks but believe it’s worth piling on two more for Canadian investors. We hope not but suspect we’ll be highlighting the same resolutions for years to come. Chalten has been open for business for less than a year but already we have seen some very concerning […]
Good financial planning is about exercising control over income, expenses and investments over time to achieve what you desire in life. Exercising control over those three areas pays off when you focus your efforts pulling levers that have an impact. While people seem to understand what the levers are that both matter and are […]
We and many others spend a lot of time and effort trying to educate people about the importance of keeping costs low as part of a sensible long term investment strategy. The evidence of the importance of costs is so overwhelming that you really have to take your hat off to the marketing departments and sales […]
“When you rely on incentives, you undermine virtues. Then when you discover that you actually need people who want to do the right thing, those people don’t exist because you’ve crushed anyone’s desire to do the right thing with all these incentives.” – Barry Schwartz, psychology professor and author “If I, taking care of everyone’s […]
“Why copper and gold are ready to shine” “Fed rate hike fears ripple through Canada, world….” “Futures higher on Greek deal” “Bill Gross: 6 conditions for a bond crisis” “Traders don’t want to hear this problem with banks” “This should concern every oil bull in the world” “Wealth secrets of the one percent – how […]
I remember a series of Tim Horton’s TV ads about welcoming people to Canada which tried to portray Canadians as, yes, polite, but with a certain unshakable pride, one of them saying something like “If you throw the first punch, we will drop the gloves. Oh yeah.” We’re nice but by no means push-overs. I’m not sure […]