Articles

Canada’s pension benefits are unfair. We have a two-tier system of the “haves” and the “have-nots”. This came to light recently because of proposed changes in workplace pensions for federally regulated employers. That includes crown corporations, banks, and transportation companies. It will affect 12,000 federally regulated organizations consisting of 820,000 employees. It does not include … Pension reform, what’s good for some should be good for all

Choosing a financial advisor is often a daunting task. At the Evidence-Based Investing Conference held in New York City in November, 2016, I had the opportunity to listen to one of the leaders in the investment industry, Bill McNabb, Chairman and CEO of Vanguard. Vanguard is one of the largest investment companies in the world … How to choose an investment advisor

There is a conflict of interest between the two major participants in the financial services industry. I anticipate this conflict will continue. Specifically, there is a disconnect between the investor client and investment managers responsible for managing mutual funds and other investment products. On the surface, it would appear that both investor clients and those … Disconnect between investor client and investment manager

The way Canadians receive financial advice in the future could change significantly. The biggest single factor allowing for the change is the advancement of technology. We can now do things easily that were considered impossible just a few years ago. I predict this will affect the delivery of financial services advice in a few ways. … Technology will change financial advice

Hopefully Canadian investors have not made investment decisions based on the recent American presidential election. This article was written last weekend, prior to Tuesday’s (Nov. 8) election. My personal opinions given in this column are not a result of this week’s election, but based on previous U.S. presidential elections over past decades. Financial advisors and … 2016 Presidential election in U.S. not an indicator of future

There is a major shift occurring in the investment world that should lead to increased investment returns. Investors are beginning to appreciate that stock picking, or owning actively traded mutual funds that pick stocks, is a losing proposition. Those who earn their livelihood from picking stocks will protest loudly, however, the mountain of evidence against … Investors are turning against stock picking