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
ESG & Canadian Energy
In recent years, it has become common for companies to include a section on Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) during investor calls and presentations. As an example, here is a slide from RioCan explaining their initiatives on ESG: I usually glaze [...]
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.
Media Appearances
Barry Schwartz on BNN Bloomberg: If you are a long-term investor, use a recession to your advantage
Barry Schwartz joins BNN Bloomberg to talk about different recessions and markets. He says not all recessions are equal.
Barry Schwartz on BNN Bloomberg: Big tech names are important to our daily lives
Barry Schwartz joins BNN Bloomberg to talk about why he believes tech stocks are the new utilities.
Barry Schwartz on BNN Bloomberg: Visa is still probably growing double digits
Barry Schwartz joins BNN Bloomberg to talk about three stock picks for investors.
Outlook
Monthly Newsletter – December 2022
The phrase “annus horribilis” was used some 30 years ago by Queen Elizabeth II to describe an awful year for her family but, for several reason, it is an apt description of 2022. In our year end newsletter, David recaps why it was such a bad year but also offers some optimism for 2023.
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.
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 – January 27, 2023
In this week’s Long Term Investing Podcast, Barry & Ernest discuss whether the stock market rally in 2023 will continue, the importance of factors in portfolio management, and lessons from Netflix’s stock price performance.
Podcast – January 13, 2023
In this week’s Long Term Investing Podcast, Barry & Ernest discuss their outlook for 2023, whether ChatGPT is a risk to Google, and make sense of the Brookfield Asset Management spinoff.
Podcast – December 9, 2022
In this week’s Long Term Investing Podcast, Barry & Ernest discuss lessons from Mark Leonard and Constellation Software, as well as Restaurant Brands’ appointment of Patrick Doyle as Executive Chairman.