Investing

Last month we looked at the Canadian dividend aristocrats, a list of companies that have increased dividends each year for the past five years.  The list of stocks is a good starting point for dividend investors, but it also reveals a number of flaws when looking to invest in a company. Some companies grow their…

Many retirees are looking to boost their income through their investment portfolios.  One way to boost your yield, while still maintaining a higher level of safety, is with split shares. What is a split share? A split share is a unique type of derivative investment product (also called a structured product).  The “risk/reward” of common…

The 59 stocks that make up the Canadian dividend aristocrats are a good starting point for investors who are hunting for yield.  These stocks must have increased their dividends for at least five consecutive years to make the aristocrats list. Becoming a dividend aristocrat shows that company management is committed – for better or worse…

Many investors like the “do-it-yourself” approach for one or more of the following reasons: To save money on fees They think they can do a better job than their advisor They enjoy the process Perhaps DIY investing was a lot of fun in the beginning.  It felt good to fire your advisor.  Maybe the prices…

Regular readers of Boomer and Echo know we are very enthusiastic about dividend investing. This strategy falls out of favour from time to time.  Large dividend paying companies are generally slow growing – you need to hold them for the long term. “Buy and hold” strategies also fall out of favour in periods of good…

Interest rates on savings accounts and GICs are abysmal these days, so it can be tempting to plow all your hard earned savings into the stock market for a chance to juice your returns.  But how you save and invest depends a lot on your time horizon – when will you need the money? No…

One advantage to building your own individual stock portfolio is the cost can be much cheaper than a portfolio of mutual funds or ETFs. Aside from the initial set-up period, and assuming you don’t trade very often, a portfolio of individual stocks can cost just a fraction of even the cheapest funds on the market.…

Your financial health can be compared with your nutritional health – and it’s just as important for quality of life. Consider your meals.  You can: Eat out, buy packaged food, or hire a personal chef Prepare the bare minimum to fill you up with no regard to nutritional content Take an interest by watching cooking…

Here’s a typical question a financial advisor will ask to determine an investor’s risk tolerance in order to set up an appropriate strategy. I respond to fluctuations in my investments in the following manner: I will sell quickly any time my investment loses value. Day-to-day market movements make me uncomfortable and if my investment loses…

Bye-bye, dividend stocks.  We’ve had a great run.  I know I said I’d hold you forever but it’s clear you’re in a bubble now and it’s time to abandon this strategy before the bubble pops. Dividend fever has taken hold and driven blue-chip dividend payers to new heights. Investors flocked to dividend stocks for safety…