Blog
New Tax-Free First Home Savings Account – A faster way to save for that down payment!
In its 2022 Budget this past Spring, the Federal Government announced a new account to help first time homebuyers save for a down payment on their first home. While this Tax-Free First Home Savings Account (FHSA) will not be available until sometime in 2023, no time like the present to beginning planning.
Why we are buying an oil company
Why we are buying an oil company Not that long ago, I wrote a blog explaining why we don’t own oil companies. We recently purchased shares of Canadian Natural Resources, one of the largest Canadian oil sands producers, for many [...]
Shaken, but not Stirred – Presented by Barry Schwartz and Ernest Wong
Given the current environment, interest rate hikes, inflation, further disruption to supply chains and the Russian invasion which resulted in a very bumpy start to 2022, Barry & Ernest share their views on the market as well as specific examples of companies we are holding and how we analyze them.
An Ernest Opinion
The bottom line for big tech
The recent underperformance of the so-called “FAANG” stocks has led some investors to question whether a strategy of owning these large technology companies remains sound. Ernest outlines why the long term prospects for these companies remains attractive.
Creating value in volatile markets
Amidst the market volatility, investors sometimes forget that stocks and bonds fundamentally represent sources of capital for business operations. When capital is plentiful and prices are high, it is cheap for companies to invest in growth to open new stores, spend on marketing, hire employees, and make acquisitions by issuing new equity or cheap debt.
TFI International sells CFI to Heartland Express
On August 23, 2022, TFI International announced a deal to sell its entire US Truckload business (called CFI) to Heartland Express.
Media Appearances
Barry Schwartz on BNN Bloomberg’s The Street
Barry joins Paige to discuss overnight developments and breaking business news affecting today's financial markets.
Barry Schwartz on BNN – Top Picks & Past Picks
Barry discusses his top & past picks.
Barry Schwartz on BNN – Market Outlook
Barry discusses his outlook for the markets.
Outlook
Monthly Newsletter – November 2022
“Titan” by Ron Chernow is a titanic book about John D. Rockefeller, the richest man in the world 100 year ago. David recently waded through the 800 pages and found that it painted a terrific portrait of a very unusual man, and a very unusual period in American history. He found that there are lots of lessons to be learned from his life, and many of them seem particularly relevant right now.
Monthly Newsletter – October 2022
The big tech stocks, often referred to as "FAANG", that were the darlings over the past decade, have had a tough year so far. In this month's newsletter, Ernest Wong and David Baskin argue that it is not yet time give up on them.
Monthly Newsletter – September 2022
Sometimes one of the hardest things in the world to do is nothing. This is most particularly the case when we are fearful. Our bodies evolved a very deep-seated “fight or flight” mechanism to keep us safe.
Wealth Management
Getting Wealthy and Staying Wealthy
Everyone worries about money. Daniel Kahneman, a behavioural economist and winner of the Nobel in economic science once said “Money does not buy you happiness, but lack of money certainly buys you misery”. Money worries are the greatest source of stress, more than work, personal health and relationships.
Don’t Hesitate; Just Designate
Designating a beneficiary on your registered accounts is one of the most important decisions in estate planning. By designating a beneficiary, you inform the financial institution of your plans for your estate after your death. While it is a simple act requiring little in the way of paperwork, it can do a great deal of heavy lifting in establishing your wishes for your estate and ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes when you die.
Knowledge is power
s the great Francis Bacon proposed, “knowledge is power”. If so, then so too must be saving and sponsoring another person in their pursuit of that knowledge. The Registered Education Savings Plan is a highly effective vehicle for Canadians to save for the education of a loved one, chiefly children and grandchildren.
Podcasts
Podcast – November 24, 2022
Canadian Real Estate Investment Trusts have had a tough year on the back of rising interest rates and worries about inflation and a possible recession. Ernest and I review the current landscape and discuss the opportunities and risks with Canadian REIT's.
Podcast – November 10, 2022
In this week’s Long Term Investing Podcast, Barry Schwartz and Ernest Wong discuss the record rally following the CPI numbers and Ernest’s recent blog about the current state of mega-cap technology stocks such as Google and Amazon. Other topics discussed include the ongoing resiliency of Apple’s shares, and why Warren Buffett is still the greatest investor at 92.
Podcast – October 20, 2022
In this week’s Long Term Investing Podcast Barry Schwartz and Ernest Wong discuss Ernest’s recent blog – Creating Value in Volatile Markets with Ernest arguing that paying attention to the companies you own is far more important than trying to predict where the markets are going.