Not sure how to make a retirement plan? Read on…
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How to boost your returns in retirement + MORE Oct 21st
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What’s the single biggest fear retirees face? Undoubtedly it’s the prospect of outliving their money. And as this column has pointed out before, retiring in this second decade of the 21st century poses challenges for just about any healthy person who lacks an inflation-indexed emplo.... More »
Can you move income back and forth between spouses? Aug 22nd
Ask MoneySense
I have an investment property (condo) in my name. I would like to sell it and [have the proceeds] paid out half to me and half to my spouse. The plan is to make the maximum RRSP contribution for both of us to minimize the capital gain.
Is that plan OK, legal, and wise?
–Zlatko.... More »
Nicholas Hui, P.Eng, Certified Financial Planner + MORE Mar 22nd
Who is Nicholas Hui?
Nicholas Hui was an automotive engineer for 20 years before becoming a Certified Financial Planner. He brings the same systematic approach from his engineering background to his practise now as an advice-only planner. Nicholas specializes in helping young families and profess.... More »
Who you gonna trust: Barry Ritholtz or Jim Cramer? + MORE Oct 25th
Because I get a lot of free review copies of financial books, it’s rare that I actually order one from Amazon, let alone three. But I did just that recently when I was curious about three influential authors who released new financial books within weeks of each other.
The first can be regarded .... More »
Russ Dyck financial advisor Nov 8th
Meet Russ Dyck
Russ Dyck, a Certified Financial Planner and founder of Finovo, specializes in financial planning for professional couples and young professionals. He is passionate about helping clients navigate complex financial decisions with clarity and confidence, tailoring each plan to meet t.... More »
Is the Couch Potato a good choice for larger portfolios?
– moneysense.ca
Q: I have a portfolio of just over $400,000 with an advisor in active mutual funds with fees between 1.75% and 2.80%. My investment firm is now recommending a pooled fund that is 0.50% cheaper. I also have a self-directed TFSA, where I use the TD e-Series index funds. Is the Couch Potato appropriate for larger portfolios, or would I get a better return by staying with an advisor?
—Don
A: There are two distinct issues to address here. The first is whether the Couch Potato strategy is effective with portfolios of several hundred thousand dollars or more. The second is whether investors with large portfolios should use an advisor or manage their money on their own.
The first answer is easy: the Couch Potato works no matter how large your portfolio is. Active money managers often try to paint indexing as an unsophisticated strategy that’s only appropriate for beginners and small accounts. This is nonsense: many of the largest institutional investors (think pension funds and endowments) use indexing to manage billions of dollars, and this isn’t because they lack the time and resources to find a better solution…
Ford’s former CEO Mark Fields is leaving the company with an estimated $51.1 million in cash, stock awards and pension benefits.
