Increased global equities, reduced cash
Tactical Update - March 1, 2018
Volatility affords opportunity.
Equity market volatility came back with a vengeance over the past month, following a year-long stretch of historically low volatility. Simmering concerns over higher interest rates boiled over early in February following the release of strong U.S. wage growth data.
I have been seeing more and more of my friends retire over the last couple of years. As prepared as some thought they were about leaving their work behind, six months or so later, they found themselves struggling with what their version of the next phase of their life and themselves would look like.
Stan is turning 71 this year. He is enjoying a life filled with travel, relaxation and time with his family. Like more and more people, work is still very much a part of his life. Stan expects to work at least part-time for the foreseeable future. To Stan, this keeps his mind active and helps define who he is. He would like the opportunity to claim Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) deductions after age 71 even though he knows he must mature his own plan by the end of the year he turns age 71. What are his options?
At least 70% of new jobs require some form of post-secondary education or specialized training and the price of entry isn’t cheap. Post-secondary costs have steadily risen and continue to rise on a yearly basis.
In this installment of Life & Money Matters, Peter Wouters explores different strategies as well as factors to keep in mind when saving for the cost of post-secondary education.
Do you ever wish you could talk to your younger self about lessons you've learned, more than a few of them the hard way? There are the mishaps you could have avoided, the errors in judgement you could have missed and the regrets you wouldn't hold. How much better would you feel now if you could turn the clock back? And that includes the extra money you would have to fund the better lifestyle you could look forward to in the decades ahead. Let's consider some financial tips.
Post-holiday debt- A familiar word to many Canadians after weeks of shopping, eating and celebrating the season with loved ones. It’s only after the damage is done that we begin to think about proper budgeting. If you are having budgeting problems, you may be doing it wrong. Check out these four common budgeting mistakes that can help you get on the right track for the holidays.
I've written a number of articles on debt. It may not be a popular topic but it is a top concern amongst working Canadians. A recent report entitled; Generation Why!, focused on the top concerns expressed by Millennials. Not surprisingly, 3 out of 10 Millennials said that paying down debt is their greatest financial concern1.
A decade or more of low interest rates has accelerated the habit of supporting lifestyles with credit instead of cash flow resulting in historically high debt levels for Canadian households.
