Weekend Reading: Thanksgiving Edition

Our inbox is overflowing with questions about investing, so while we answer those individually we’re also fairly positive these are burning questions for many of our readers. Look for more investing posts in the coming weeks covering topics such as rebalancing, tax-efficiency, safe withdrawal rates, asset allocation, and much more.

For now, enjoy this latest edition of weekend reading and we hope you all have a great Thanksgiving with your loved ones. We’re grateful that you’re following along!

This Week’s Recap:

I’ve been following MoneySense author Prajakta Dhopade’s “Making Bank” investing series for the past year. In her latest edition, Ms. Dhopade interviewed me about my four-minute investing portfolio. Here’s what she had to say:

“Getting Engen’s perspective was eye-opening and also inspiring. Investing can be difficult. But it doesn’t have to be. A sound and simple strategy is all you need—then all the complicated terminology and market fluctuations don’t matter.”

On Monday I explained why I don’t have bonds in my portfolio (but why you probably should).

On Wednesday Marie shared the latest instalment in her Building Your Wealth series with a look at investing in ETFs.

I continued the ETF love-fest on Friday with an ode to exchange-traded funds (‘one of the best things to happen to investors in the last twenty years’).

Over on Rewards Cards Canada I go under the hood of the NEW American Express Cobalt Card.

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Weekend Reading:

Some bizarre claims that index funds are ‘strangling the economy’ are debunked here by the Canadian Couch Potato.

A Wealth of Common Sense blogger Ben Carlson on the difference between good advice and effective advice.

Globe & Mail author Ian McGugan shares two smarter ways to determine how much you can safely withdraw funds in retirement:

“The 4 per cent rule offers the undeniable attraction of simplicity. But the more you examine it, the more unsatisfactory it becomes.”

In related news, 100 is the new 80 and your financial plan needs to reflect that.

In-depth stock data for Canadian equities is lacking, but as Dan Bortolotti explains, do you really need to dig that deeply into the markets?

Million Dollar Journey blogger Frugal Trader shares a super tax efficient index ETF portfolio for your non-registered account.

Jason Heath offers advice to someone looking to take a career break for a year (at age 40) and withdraw from his RRSP.

Morgan Housel with a thought-provoking post on ‘saving money and running backwards‘:

“Wealth has a curse. It’s called the hedonic treadmill. Its mission – and it is ruthless – is to move the goal post of your financial dreams, extinguishing the joy you thought you’d get from having more money once you attain it.”

Michael James explains the definition of stock picking skill.

Still thinking of home ownership as an investment? Rob Carrick and Des Odjick offer proof that you’re wrong.

And here’s an eye-opening statistic on car ownership:

Yikes – 56% of people financing new vehicles are borrowing for 7+ yrs. Basically means you can’t afford the vehicle. From JD Power. pic.twitter.com/QX3XJaOC0z

— Rob Carrick (@rcarrick) 5 October 2017

Can you disinherit a spoiled child? You can’t ignore those who have legal rights to your estate.

Ontario has a great idea to help people trapped by expensive payday loans – better small-dollar alternatives.

Finally, an important read on how bottled-water behemoth Nestle makes billions by going into economically depressed areas with lax water laws.

Have a great Thanksgiving Weekend, everyone!