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Author Archive for ISWM

The Pitfalls of Mortgage Insurance

Thursday, May 10th, 2012

Did You Sell Your House This Winter/ Spring? Make Sure You Don’t Sell Your Insurance Payout to the Lender as Well…

At this time of year, there are an overwhelming number of moving vans on the streets.   From May to July, many people are de-cluttering, packing and getting to Canada Post to change their addresses.

Unfortunately, when refinancing, people usually get suckered, (yes suckered) into purchasing “mortgage insurance”.

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Market Update May 4th 2012

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012

World markets remain flat during the period as the global economic recovery remains weak. Meanwhile, the European nations continues to struggle as Spain announces that it has fallen into recession again after the S&P rating agencies lowered the credit rating on 16 Spanish banks. As well, oil fell to its three months low trading at $97.75 per barrel as inventories rose to its highest in 21 years, while gold prices remained relatively flat at $1637 an ounce.

 

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Categories : Market Updates

All life has certain requirements. We know that a plant needs a few very basic things to be optimal: nutrients, water and sunlight. We know that Aspirin won’t help the plant if it’s wilting. We know that a cortisone shot won’t help the plant if it’s dying. Why then do we think these things will help us?
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Categories : Articles

How would you answer the following questions?

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Market Update April 20 2012

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

World markets remain flat during the period as the global economic recovery remains weak. Meanwhile, China’s economy continues to slow as economic growth reached a 3 year low for the first quarter of 2011, expanding at a rate of only 1.8% for the quarter to an annualized rate of 8.1%. As well, gold remains flat at $1643 per ounce, and oil rose slightly to $104 per barrel during the period.

 

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Categories : Market Updates

GICS – Bankruptcy on a Plan Part 3

Friday, April 20th, 2012

 

For our blog today, we’re keeping it simple.

 

If you could obtain a GIC type vehicle that yields between 6 – 7 % guaranteed for the rest of your life… would you investigate it?

 

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Market Update April 6 2012

Tuesday, April 10th, 2012

World markets remain flat during the period as investors remain cautious about the global economy. Meanwhile, the Canadian economy added 82,000 more full time positions in March ever since its job market remains unchanged for the four months, pushing the unemployment rate down from 7.4% to 7.2%. As well, gold remains weak at $1636 per ounce, while oil retreats slightly to $102 per barrel during the period.

 

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Categories : Market Updates

GICS – Bankruptcy on a Plan Part 2

Monday, April 2nd, 2012

We’ve been astounded at the amount of seniors that are getting dinged with incredibly high income tax bills due to the way that they invest their money in bank or credit union GICs.

We’ve said it before; we believe that GICs are bankruptcy on a plan.  Why? Read More→

GICS – Bankruptcy on a Plan

Friday, March 23rd, 2012

Simply put, the market roller-coaster of 2011 rattled confident investors. In our office, an increasing number of NEW clients have come to us specifically to provide them with investment guarantees that provide a Return or Capital on their money and/or a healthy annual payment anywhere from 5% to 7%.

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Because our team lives and breathes in the world of investments and financial strategies to grow wealth and reduce taxes, it’s hard for any of us to believe that a significant number of couples do not talk to one another about money. In the summer of 2011, Boston based Fidelity Investments conducted the 2011 Fidelity Investments Couples Retirement Study on American couples.

The study found that couples reaching retirement and those in retirement were “struggling with overall communication, planning and management of their retirement finances”. In fact, only 41% of those surveyed confirmed that they handled their investment decisions for retirement savings as a couple. Surprisingly, 58% of the respondents worked with an investment professional, but only 35% worked jointly with that professional

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