The real estate math mistake we all make + MORE Jul 20th

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Most financial choices boil down to simple math. Add up the gains, subtract the costs, and you should get a number that helps you draw a conclusion. Those numbers are particularly useful when trying to make a major life decision, such as whether or not to sell the family home.
Given how hot big city markets like Toronto are these days, the math would certainly make a compelling case to sell. Yet according to the April sales data from the Toronto Real Estate Board, listings are down 27% year-over-year in the GTA. Despite brisk sales and skyrocketing prices, most homeowners living in semi-detached and detached homes are choosing to stay put. (A similar lack of inventory is plaguing Vancouver, Halifax, Ottawa and nearly every large city in Canada.)
TREB’s rationale for the dearth of listings? A widespread aversion to the high cost of land transfer. Other people have surmised that the scarcity is a symptom of our fear of paying a premium on the next property. After all, while you may sell high, you’re also forced to buy high—a proposition that leaves some feeling like prisoners to the status quo…

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Dow Chemical and DuPont say shareholders approved merger
NEW YORK (AP) — Shareholders for agriculture and chemicals companies DuPont and Dow Chemical have approved their merger. After it’s complete, the century-old companies plan to break up into three parts.
The companies held meetings where shareholders voted on the deal. Both Dow and DuPont were pushed by activist investors to break up or find other ways to revitalize their businesses. They agreed to merge in December in an all-stock deal valued at about $62 billion.
They expect the combination to be official by the end of 2016, but regulators will still have to approve it.
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A technology surge tips stock indexes to new highs
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks took another modest step further into record territory Wednesday after several companies reported profits that were stronger than expected, if not strong. Technology stocks led the way following an encouraging report from Microsoft.
Both the Standard & Poor’s 500 index and Dow Jones industrial average set all-time highs, and the Dow marked its ninth consecutive day of gains…

Canada’s sluggish business investment faces a demographic puzzle as business owners nearing retirement look to ease out instead of taking on more debt

Learn, save, invest and prosper with My Own Advisor.
You wouldn’t overpay for pizza or beers on a Friday night would you?  That’s because you know what you want and exactly what you’re paying for.
The same cannot be said for millions of Canadians when it comes to investing advice – until now.
Under new regulations that came into effect on July 15, 2016, investment firms now must provide personalized accountings to clients about the costs and performance of their investments.  To borrow some words from Tom Bradley, President of Steadyhand Investment Funds on this subject recently, when it comes to investing advice:  get ready for the age of enlightenment.
Beginning July 15, 2016, firms now must:

“provide an annual report on charges and other compensation that shows, in dollars, what the dealer or adviser was paid for the products and services it provided; and

provide an annual investment performance report that covers
deposits into, and withdrawals from, the client’s account;
the change in value of the account; and

the percentage returns for the previous year; and the previous three, five and ten years…

This is a solid core holding for investors seeking a defensive stock that provides reliable income