The National Post’s Jonathan Chevreau recently asked me and a few other financial professionals how we plan to invest this year’s tax-free savings account contribution.  The way my reply was framed may have given a somewhat different impression than intended.  But it also touches on a common misconception.

The active-passive continuum

The article ...

Read More ]]> http://thewealthsteward.com/2012/01/active-or-passive-process-not-politics-should-drive-choice-of-strategy/feed/ 0 http://thewealthsteward.com/2012/01/should-you-hold-bonds-in-taxable-accounts/ http://thewealthsteward.com/2012/01/should-you-hold-bonds-in-taxable-accounts/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:43:46 +0000 Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP http://thewealthsteward.com/?p=4983 An investor’s asset allocation strategy refers to how money is divided across different classes of investments – i.e. stocks, bonds and cash. An asset location strategy, however, drills down a level deeper and deals with “where” or in which accounts to hold your chosen stocks, bonds and cash. Today’s bond yields might prompt some investors ...

Read More ]]> http://thewealthsteward.com/2012/01/should-you-hold-bonds-in-taxable-accounts/feed/ 9 http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/12/does-dollar-cost-averaging-boost-or-hinder-performance/ http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/12/does-dollar-cost-averaging-boost-or-hinder-performance/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:05:16 +0000 Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP http://thewealthsteward.com/?p=4951 By Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP

In response to many fee-bashing articles of late, I recently urged both the media and the investment industry to broaden the focus to not only fees but also other less obvious performance drags that are tougher to control.

To explain one factor I stated that dollar cost averaging (i.e. regularly ...

Read More ]]> http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/12/does-dollar-cost-averaging-boost-or-hinder-performance/feed/ 7 http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/12/mutual-fund-critics-missing-the-big-picture/ http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/12/mutual-fund-critics-missing-the-big-picture/#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:43:56 +0000 Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP http://thewealthsteward.com/?p=4930 By Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP

Every time markets bleed red, mutual fund investors and the media become much more price-sensitive. So it’s no surprise that print media have featured a barrage of anti-fee articles.  (See the National Post on December 6 and the Globe & Mail December 5 and December 9 articles.)  Interestingly, Canada’s two national ...

Read More ]]> http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/12/mutual-fund-critics-missing-the-big-picture/feed/ 21 http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/12/nfl-champs-owners-ante-up-for-the-experience-not-the-profits/ http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/12/nfl-champs-owners-ante-up-for-the-experience-not-the-profits/#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:17:12 +0000 Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP http://thewealthsteward.com/?p=4921 By Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP

Today sports fans may be able to fulfill one of their dreams for a mere $275 USD.  Starting December 6 Green Bay Packers, Inc (“GBP”), the corporation that owns the reigning NFL champions of the same name, starts selling at least 250,000 “common shares” to the public at a price ...

Read More ]]> http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/12/nfl-champs-owners-ante-up-for-the-experience-not-the-profits/feed/ 0 http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/12/what-entrepreneurs-can-teach-the-wealth-management-industry-cash-flow-is-king/ http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/12/what-entrepreneurs-can-teach-the-wealth-management-industry-cash-flow-is-king/#comments Sat, 03 Dec 2011 20:54:49 +0000 Mark Barnicutt, MBA, FCSI, CFA http://thewealthsteward.com/?p=4877 By Mark Barnicutt, MBA, FCSI, CFA

OVERVIEW:

Every successful entrepreneur knows the business reality that Cash Flow Is King.  In other words, the financial success of their company depends upon the people in their company effectively & efficiently harnessing the assets & resources of the company in order to generate Revenues that
Read More ]]> http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/12/what-entrepreneurs-can-teach-the-wealth-management-industry-cash-flow-is-king/feed/ 0 http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/12/compass-highview-fall-2011-portfolio-strategy-commentary/ http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/12/compass-highview-fall-2011-portfolio-strategy-commentary/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:00:56 +0000 Mark Barnicutt, MBA, FCSI, CFA http://thewealthsteward.com/?p=4868 HighView Financial Group has recently published our quarterly portfolio strategy commentary for Fall 2011: HighView Compass.

Private Companies & Defined Benefit Pension Plans:

The global financial challenges over the past several ...

Read More ]]> http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/11/getting-back-to-pension-plan-basics-for-private-companies/feed/ 0 http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/11/are-mfda-advisors-missing-out-on-etfs/ http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/11/are-mfda-advisors-missing-out-on-etfs/#comments Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:51:31 +0000 Mark Barnicutt, MBA, FCSI, CFA http://thewealthsteward.com/?p=4837 By Mark Barnicutt, MBA, FCSI, CFA

Today, there is an article in Advisor.ca, which discusses the range of investment options available for MFDA Investment Advisors, with a focus on ETFs, in servicing their clients.  To read this article, click here.

I was one of the wealth management industry professionals interviewed ...

Read More ]]> http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/11/are-mfda-advisors-missing-out-on-etfs/feed/ 0 http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/11/dont-overlook-the-basics-of-hedge-fund-due-diligence/ http://thewealthsteward.com/2011/11/dont-overlook-the-basics-of-hedge-fund-due-diligence/#comments Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:41:36 +0000 Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP http://thewealthsteward.com/?p=4800 By Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP

The Ontario Securities Commission recently issued an order in the ongoing matter of Sextant Capital Management, a defunct hedge fund company.  While the order pertained to a law firm wanting to remove itself from representing Sextant and its former principals, it reminded me that it’s too easy to overlook basic ...

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