F-Class mutual funds are gaining in popularity as investors begin to understand the benefits. Designated in 1999, they are available for fee-based clients only, and the majority of fund companies offer them. To understand F-Class we need to understand the types of fees associated with mutual funds. All mutual funds have annual fees and service […]
Publicly offered mutual funds are required to file a prospectus that provides full, true and plain disclosure. Most of the time, investors are sent the prospectus by regular mail after purchasing units/shares of a fund. How many people actually read it? Most rely on their advisor to summarize the main points of the fund. It […]
After record sales of mutual funds this past year, and with more than 6000 varieties available to Canadian investors, it’s timely to discuss the role that mutual funds play in portfolios today. Franklin Templeton introduced the first mutual fund to Canadian investors in 1954 with their Templeton Growth Fund, still in existence today. Until the […]
It’s that time of year again when taxpayers contemplate if they will contribute to their RRSPs and, if so, how much? RRSPs are one of the best ways to save for retirement. Does it make sense to contribute this year? Individuals without a corporate or government pension plan may feel more obligated to contribute to […]
The last two columns discussed the importance of having foreign investments within a diversified portfolio. We also highlighted some of the inherent risks. Today, we will look at the most common methods investors can use to obtain foreign exposure. Where to begin? We are fortunate today to have a variety of different foreign investment options […]
In our last column we reviewed where Canada fits in among the world’s largest exchanges. Many investors have a “home country bias” that prevents them from looking at the many foreign investment opportunities because it is perceived as too risky. It’s true that investments outside our border involve additional risks not present in Canadian securities, […]
With our domestic market trading at historic highs investors are wondering how long it will last. It may be a good time to consider increasing exposure to foreign markets, which is a component to a properly diversified portfolio. How does Canada measure up? Canada represents approximately 2.6 per cent of the world’s market capitalization. Does […]
The only thing worse than dying, is dying without a will. Jack and Jill Jones are among the many Victoria couples that have never had a professionally prepared will. They’ve thought about it often enough, but haven’t taken the step because – like a lot of couples – they avoid discussing the spectre of death […]
Having a strategy to deal with uncontrollable events such as death, disability, critical illness, and general personal health is an integral part of financial planning. Mr. and Mrs. Jones want to know their family would be taken care of if something were to happen to them. Nearly all of us insure our house and vehicle. […]
Imagine building a house without a set of plans. How would that house look if you randomly selected flooring, furniture and window coverings without regard to how they would look together? It certainly can be done, but we all know that when building or decorating a home, it is best to follow a plan. Once […]
