Insurance, Investments and Group Benefits

Key takeaways:

Emblem Portfolios - Canadian: Increased U.S. equities, decreased international equities.
Emblem GIF Portfolios - Global: Increased U.S. equities, proceeds from bonds and/or accumulated cash 

Equity markets across the globe have experienced very strong moves since their December 2018 lows. At yesterday’s close, the S&P/TSX Composite has gained 20%, 21% for the S&P 500, and 13% for the MSCI EAFE index. With such strong moves in a compressed period of time, any improvement in fundamentals has not been able to keep pace.

The interest in guaranteed lifetime income and its importance to aging Canadians is growing rapidly. This value held by Canadians for guaranteed lifetime income is in addition to government sponsored plans.

Do you think that retirement for you and future generations will be significantly different than it is for current retirees? If you say, “yes”, you’re not alone. Most consumers anticipate meaningful differences. Thoughts, expectations, confidence and planning do differ when considering age and gender. Here are some recent findings shared with permission from the LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute. If the Shoe Fits: Generational Names and Retirement Attitudes, 2017.

Key takeaways: Tactically increased U.S. and international equities, reduced cash. Remain overweight in equities and underweight in fixed income.

The month of October historically has been one of the most volatile months for the stock market, and this year has turned out to be no different. 

Key takeaways: Tactically increased international equities and decreased Canadian equities. Remain overweight in equities and underweight in fixed income.

After starting the year with strength in the first few weeks of 2018, international equities were caught up in a period of global equity market volatility over the following weeks. Unlike the U.S. and Canadian markets, international markets have yet to fully recover from that volatility.

I’ve written a number of articles on cash flow management: the issues with it, the domino effects of debt and savings, and ideas on how you can get a better grip on your finances. I’ve created a list of resources you can use to work through your own particular circumstances or offer to your clients as an aid to working through their financial cash flow management situations.

Did you know that financial abuse is the most common form of elder abuse in Canada?¹ In this segment of Life & Money Matters video, Peter shares some of the signs of elder financial abuse and how to safeguard against it.

How secure do you feel about life after work? Even if work will continue to form part of the next phase in your life, how comfortable are you with your plans and savings for all those tomorrows? Will your plans work, even under adverse conditions? 

I’m sure many of you have heard the following statements. Perhaps you have made them yourselves.

“I don’t like taking risks with my money.”