Blog
Where do we go from here?
Ernest tackles the question on everyone's mind these days - "Why is the market going up when the outlook is so grim?" - and then explains what investors should be focused on.
The 2021 Federal Budget Speech
LOUIS XIV’S finance minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, famously declared that “the art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest possible amount of feathers with the smallest possible amount of hissing.” While spending continues in response to the COVID pandemic, at some point the government will need to pluck some more feathers by finding ways to increase revenues to cover the debt. David drafts what the 2021 budget speech might possibly, but not hopefully, look like.
Shrug off your home country bias
It is easy for an investor to have home country bias: I live in Canada, I get paid in Canadian dollars, and I know and understand Canadian companies—as a result, my portfolio contains mostly Canadian assets. Even if you are stuck within Canadian borders until the Covid-19 pandemic slows down, it doesn’t mean your portfolio has to remain 100% Canadian.
An Ernest Opinion
Stores and malls are here to stay – at least in Canada
While e-commerce holds a number of advantages over traditional retail, Ernest argues that the Canadian market presents some key challenges to online retail and as a result, stores and malls are here to stay.
How Not to Run a Fast Food Chain: Restaurant Brands and the mismanagement of Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons was Canada’s favourite coffee until it was acquired by Restaurant Brands. In this blog, we explore what went wrong and how Tim Horton can regain its crown.
The future of movie theaters- Part 2: Cineworld’s acquisition of Cineplex and the global consolidation of theaters
In Part 2 of his series on the future of the movie theatre industry, Ernest discusses the merits of the recently announced purchase of Cineplex by UK based Cineworld.
Media Appearances
Barry Schwartz on BNN – Stock Comments
Barry discusses a number of stocks.
Barry Schwartz on BNN – Market Outlook
Barry provides his outlook for the markets.
Barry Schwartz on BNN – Top Picks & Past Picks
Barry discusses his top & past picks.
Outlook
Monthly Newsletter
In this month's update, Barry indicates that, while the economic headlines are troubling and may very well continue to be so for many months, the stock market is forward-looking and is focusing its attention on the improvements in economic conditions that have occurred since April. Whether you look at gasoline consumption, railcar loadings or even the numbers of air travelers, you will notice the North American economy beginning its slow recovery.
Baskin Wealth Management’s first monthly newsletter
Normally we discourage our clients from spending too much time worrying about the day-to-day gyrations of the stock markets, however, we felt that it would be worthwhile to share some of our thoughts with you, as well as the data for the month and links to essays you might have missed on a regular basis so we have created this monthly newsletter to keep you informed.
What we know and what we don’t know
In his quarterly newsletter, David acknowledges that there is plenty we don't know about how the COVID crisis will evolve but we do know that the economy will not dry up and blow away. While it will contract by possibly an unprecedented amount and not all companies will survive, people will return to return to their prior way of life and companies will need to meet those demands.
Wealth Management
How valuable is the dividend tax credit really?
Tax minimization is one of the most important pillars of wealth management. The more you pay in taxes, the less money you have to spend and save. As a result much ink is spilled and many dollars spent in the effort to pay less tax. But when trying to optimize one part of the equation, it can be easy to miss the forest for the trees.
This is where your plan shines
Major market corrections are scary. If you are close to retirement – or already retired – seismic shifts in the market can feel like the world is ending and your ability to meet your financial objectives is evaporating. If you have a financial plan, now is the time to review it, consider the impacts it has had on your portfolio, and assess in a non-emotional way whether your goals have been affected.
RRIFing on an idea: Relief for RRIF withdrawals
Ben outlines the benefits of a new measure introduced by the Federal government in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to ease the economic burden on retirees by reducing minimum annual RRIF withdrawals.