R.N. Croft Financial Group Inc
Mark Taucar, Senior Portfolio Manager for R.N. Croft Financial Group Inc., discusses risk and the search for yield in today’s frustratingly opaque investment environment. more…
These days, investors are always on the lookout for ways that they can generate income from their portfolios, while finding that balance between protecting their capital and growing it. Seeking to fill this demand, fund companies have been offering funds whose names often contain the phrase “monthly income” or some variation. In fact, in the industry classification system as defined by the Canadian Investment Funds Standards Committee (CIFSC), there is no category for “monthly income funds.” So what’s going on? And should you consider a “monthly income” fund if you need a regular income stream?
Getting tired of the weekly hike to the cottage or cabin? Many baby-boomers are, and have decided to sell the “family” cottage, especially if the family doesn’t seem particularly interested in the thing any longer. In my previous article, I outlined some of the tax consequences involved in selling a recreational property that isn’t necessarily a primary residence. But in many cases, cottage owners may want to keep it in the family by transferring it to a family member (i.e., your kids or grandkids) for estate-planning or other reasons. But here, too, tax traps await the unwary.
One key aspect of a marketer’s job is to describe the features of whatever he’s selling as a benefit to the potential buyer. Understanding this process can help you get past the marketing and get better value when you make consumer purchases. It can be an even bigger help in keeping you out of bad investments.
Investors fretted and worried about central bank actions (real, imagined, hoped-for, expected, or feared) last week, and stock markets lost ground on the week as a result. The big North American indices have been edging down in fits and starts since mid-May, posting week-over-week losses more often than not. The reason for investor anxiety: monetary policy.
Q – With a young family, a mortgage, and both my husband and I working, we haven’t given a lot of thought to life insurance. I’ve heard that it can be a ripoff, but some of my friends have said that we ought to be protected. What’s your take? – Andrea D., Edmonton, Alberta
