Holiday Season

I know it's been a while since my last post, I have been streamlining the behind the scenes business practices that I employ everyday in the work we do for you our valued client.

With the Holiday Season upon us it truly is a time to reflect on the year that has been, our families and all of our accomplishments and yes, failures too. Without failures we cannot learn, we cannot grow and we cannot learn to adapt.

This year has been full of surprises for you the investor. A great Bull market run to start the year started to fade with the sun as the days began to get shorter turning into an unpredictable Bear market. Since September we have seen brief but substantial gains and loses in the wake of the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the U.S., which lead to North American wide credit crunch.

As a result we have seen minimal slowing in the Canadian economy, but enough that the Bank of Canada has cut interest rates and hints that rates could be lowered further in the early spring as they anticipate a continued slow down north of the border.

This represents an excellent time for the savvy investor to increase their positions in the investments they hold through a sound dollar cost averaging strategy. Don't underestimate the power of re-balancing your portfolio! Sell the winners and and buy the losers, they will fall into favor as the market shifts over time.

Be ever mindful that the Tax man is waiting for your money. You have the option of paying the piper for taxes owed, or paying yourself through a deposit to your RRSP, the choice is clear.

I hope that you enjoy the time spent with loved ones during this holiday season over the coming weeks as we look forward to the new year, a time for new beginnings.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and all the best this Holiday Season has to offer!

Robert