MICs: Make money on debt
Double-digit returns is what MICs offer, but the devil is in the details
What buyers can learn from the Urbancorp collapse
4 rules that help reduce the risks that come with buying a pre-construction condo or home (Getty Images / Ron Chapple) No one would blame you if you had a sudden case of cold-feet when faced with buying a pre-construction condo, townhome or single-family detached home these days. The sudden collapse and current legal entanglement…
When to invest in a syndicated mortgage
Pooling your money to buy into a syndicated mortgage is a risky investment Q: I’m a long-time MoneySense reader, and find your investment/financial advice and articles always very useful. I’m in my late 30’s, have an owner-occupied triplex, a cash reserve, and a good portfolio of ETF’s. I’m concerned about the potential overvaluation in the stock…
Can mortgages make you rich?
Investors I speak to these days aren’t too troubled by low interest rates or the inability to find safe, reliable income. That doesn’t mean they’ve parked their cash and let inflation erode their portfolios. Instead, they’re cashing in on the double-digit returns of Mortgage Investment Corporations, known as MICs (pronounced MIC as in Mick Jagger)….
Secrets of the rich: Keep more of what’s yours
Believe it or not, the top 10% of tax filers by income pay just 16% in taxes. Do they know something you don’t? Yes! To reduce your taxes—and increase your in-pocket earnings—consider these three strategies. Strategy #1: Split your taxes Chad DeGraff, a 39-year-old securities lawyer in Toronto, recently figured out a way to save…
Active managers fare better in bear market
According to the recently released Russell Active Manager report, 65% of large cap Canadian equity active managers beat the benchmark during the extreme volatility of the third quarter of 2008. According to the report, this is the highest rate of outperformance since the first quarter of 2007, with the number of active managers beating the…
Aggressive strategies and your risk tolerance
Aggressive strategies are not always detrimental when constructing an investment portfolio. The problem is most investors are unsure of what it means to have an aggressive investment strategy. How does this investment style impact returns and when should an aggressive investment strategy be adopted? Moreover, if you are an aggressive (or conservative) advisor, how can…
Tips for responsible investing
Days before a potential “promise” by Liberal leader Stéphane Dion — that his new carbon-tax plan will not include an increase at the pumps — the CFA Institute has released 10 tips on becoming a socially responsible investor. The report, released on Tuesday, is based on the 2007 Report on Socially Responsible Investing Trends in…