Corporate class funds can help reduce taxes
Question – What are the advantages of using a corporate class fund in non registered accounts? Answer – Quite simply the main advantage of corporate class funds is lower taxes. This happens because their unique structure allows for a couple of neat features. They are: i.) Tax Deferred Switching – When you invest in corporate class funds, you are able to switch between funds in...
Read MoreDéjà vu all over again
Second half of year likely to be much like the first That phrase, made famous by former New York Yankee catcher Yogi Berra seems to be rather appropriate for the current investing climate. It seems as though we are stuck in an endless loop where things look like they are improving, but in the end, no meaningful progress is ever made. A perfect example is the European sovereign debt...
Read MoreFIRST HALF PORTFOLIO REVIEW
Uncertainty and volatility rule the markets in first half. Expect more of the same for second half When we last reviewed our model portfolios, our expectation was that the first half of 2012 would be very much like the latter half of 2011. We were pretty much right, as the European debt crisis, worries over the U.S. economy and concerns of a slowdown in China continued to weigh on investors. As...
Read MoreA tale of two quarters
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times In the opening line of Dickens’ classic A Tale of Two Cities, it was almost as if he was describing the first half of 2012 rather than the struggle of French peasants before and during the French Revolution when he wrote: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the...
Read MoreSocially Responsible Investing
Helping to make the world a better place through investing For a growing number of investors, their portfolio is about more than just making money it is also about making a difference. Thanks to Socially Responsible Investing (SRI), it has never been easier to insure that your investment portfolio matches your views on a wide range of issues including the environment, alcohol, tobacco, firearms,...
Read MoreA quick review of the AGF Large Cap Canadian Dividend Fund
Question: I have held the AGF Canadian Large Cap Dividend Fund for a number of years .What is your opinion of the fund? Answer: I have to admit that I have been a little disappointed in this fund in the past few years. First off, the name of the fund is a bit of a misnomer in that it does not pay investors a regular distribution. Instead, it is basically a core Canadian equity fund that invests...
Read More