It has come to my attention that an individual or individuals are using Lifetime Financial Service logos and information to offer fraudulent loans. LTFS does not and never has offered loans to anyone. If you are asked to send money to secure a loan, DO NOT DO SO. This is fraud. The authorities have been notified. If you are contacted about a loan, contact the police and or report it the the Canadian Government Fraud Centre
All posts by meylec2
- Maturity guarantee
- Death benefit guarantee
- Ability to name a beneficiary on registered AND non-registered investments
- Ability to bypass the estate (if a beneficiary is named)
- Possible creditor protection (under certain circumstances)
The next time you visit your financial advisor, you may be asked to provide the name of a trusted contact person.
What is a trusted contact person?
A Trusted Contact Person (TCP) is someone you trust that you can authorize your advisor to contact if there are concerns about you or if there is suspicion that you may be experiencing financial exploitation. Think of your TCP as an emergency contact person. It should be someone you can rely upon and be concerned about your best interests. The person you name will have no control over your financial assets.
What does a TCP do?
Advisors will not typically contact a TCP unless there is a cause for concern, which may include suspected diminishing mental capacity, or simply because there has been no response from you after multiple attempts at contact. The TCP will give guidance to the advisor and may even talk to you about the concerns. It might be a difficult conversation.
Do you have to have a TCP?
You do not have to name a TCP, but your advisor is required to ask and record your response. You can change your TCP at any time and can have more than one.
It is always good practice to let your TCP know that you would like them to perform that role for you. This way they will not be surprised if they are contacted by your advisor. It also gives that person the opportunity to decline if they are uncomfortable with the role.
There is more information about the Trusted Contact Person and financial abuse at the Canadian Securities Administrator’s website.
Of course, if you have any questions or are looking for ways to ask someone to be your trusted contact person, feel free to reach out.
Thanks! Chris
This post, I thought I would try something a little different and provide a summary of the second quarter. Enjoy!
Q2 was a second successive strong quarter for investors as stocks continued their promising 2023 recovery and bond yields stabilized on growing economic optimism and cooling inflation.
U.S. Canadian and global equities closed the quarter and first half of 2023 in positive territory. Technology was again the leading sector with the Nasdaq logging its best start to a year on record. Despite briefly rising in May on uncertainty over the U.S. debt ceiling and concern about the U.S. regional banking sector after the demise of another bank, First Republic, bonds yields were stable in Q2.
There were a number of market-friendly economic indicators. Overall job creation in the U.S. and Canada continued to be resilient. While the creation of new jobs is welcome, the trend for the U.S. labour market does now appear to be slowing with wage pressures easing. This will be viewed favourably by the Fed in its ongoing battle with inflation. U.S. house prices also posted their largest annual drop in 11 years. And a survey of U.S. small and medium size businesses revealed hiring, sales expectations and credit availability have at a minimum slowed, which are also positive indicators in the inflationary fight.
The Bank of England, European Central Bank and Reserve Bank of Australia aligned monetary policy with the Fed, and raised rates twice during Q2. All three increased rates 25 basis points in May, then in June hiked a further 50 basis points, 35 basis points and 25 basis points respectively. The Bank of England in particular is grappling with inflation in the U.K. that is the highest in the G7 at 8.7%.
The broader inflationary trend in the U.S. shows prices are easing, albeit at a slow pace. Inflation fell early in the quarter to 4.9%, its lowest level in nearly two years. However, core CPI, which excludes energy and food, crept up 0.44% later in Q2, led in part by housing costs and used car prices. The Fed also raised its target interest rate by another 25 basis points to 5-5.25% in May, the tenth raise in 15 months. Fed chair Powell then announced a “hawkish pause” in June, but signaled there might still be more hikes needed in the second half of 2023. The Fed’s next interest rate meeting is set for July 26.
Canadian inflation cooled through the quarter, from 5.2% to 3.4%, its lowest level since June 2021. According to Statistics Canada, this was largely due to lower gasoline prices although food and housing costs remain elevated. After a four month break, the Bank of Canada surprised by hiking rates 25 basis points to 4.75%. The decision was based on concern over excess demand in the economy, a tight labour market, and increased housing market activity.
Capital Markets in Q2
The S&P/TSX Composite Index ended the quarter up 1.1%, the S&P 500 Index up 6.3%, the MSCI EAFE Index up 0.9% and the MSCI World Index up 4.6%.
Equity markets rose through April but then dipped in May as the banking sector, falling oil prices and the U.S. debt ceiling negotiations weighed on performance, before getting back on track in June. U.S., Canadian and global stocks ended Q2 and the first half of 2023 in positive territory. Technology was again the leading sector with the Nasdaq logging its best start to a year on record and Apple becoming the first company to reach a market cap of US$3trillion. The S&P 500 also had its best first half performance since 2021. TSX gains were a bit a more modest as a result of its high exposure to the banking and oil sectors but it is still significantly up from the October market low last year. Global stock gains were somewhat held back too by a slower than expected post-pandemic recovery in China.
Many big tech names released earnings which in general depicted a better picture than anticipated. Investors were comforted by these results, sparking hope the worst of big tech’s post-pandemic slump, including its recent large job cuts, might be over. U.S. chipmaker Nvidia Corp. also announced earnings that surpassed estimates by more than 50%, highlighting strong demand for its computer chip technology which is used to power AI applications.
It was a tough quarter for the banking sector which was rocked by the regional bank failures in the U.S. Four of Canada’s top five banks released earnings revealing profits were down compared to a year ago, though in absolute terms performance remained resilient. In global equity markets, Japanese stocks experienced a resurgence, with local indices reaching their highest level in 33 years. This growth is primarily driven by increasing demand from foreign investors.
Despite briefly rising mid-quarter, U.S. and Canadian bond yields were overall stable in Q2. Yields were stable in April, reflecting investor optimism and cooling inflation, then rose in May on uncertainty over the U.S. debt ceiling negotiations and concern about the U.S. regional banking sector. A better-than-expected economic backdrop also impacted the outlook for interest rates which influenced the trajectory of yields as well. But through June, bond yields stabilized again as Democrats and Republicans in Congress reached an agreement to extend the U.S. debt limit until 2025 and worries over the recent bank failures subsided.
Directed by Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil producer, OPEC announced a cut in oil production in April, reducing it by 1.1 million barrels a day. This was in response to oil prices dropping to their lowest level since late 2021. Saudi Arabia then introduced a second production cut two months later, reducing output by another one million barrels a day.
What we can expect now?
This round of rate hikes has sent a clear message: The battle against inflation is ongoing and far from over. Consumer demand for goods and services sector prices remain high, housing activity is increasing again while wage growth is much higher than historical averages. In response, central banks are prepared to increase rates further. But going forward, we expect to hear more questions on the ability of monetary policy alone to solve more structural economic issues, such as labour and housing market imbalances.
Regardless of where we are in the market cycle, it’s important to take a disciplined approach to investing and stay focused on your long-term goals. This strategy helps you keep your emotions out of investing, typically buying high and selling low like many investors do. Ongoing monitoring and reviewing of your portfolio also ensures it remains on track. Diversifying investments reduces risk as well.
Should you have any questions regarding this, your portfolio, or insurance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you and have a great Q3!
Chris
The information contained herein is derived from various sources, including CI Global Asset Management, Statistics Canada, Bank of Canada, Bloomberg, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Reuters, National Post, NY Times, Forbes, KWWL.com, Global and Mail, Investment Executive, Advisor.ca, Wall Street Journal, Markets Insider, Toronto Sun, Daily Mail, LinkedIn, MarketWatch, Investing.com, Canadian Press, MSN, and Barron’s as at various dates. This material is provided for general information and is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to compile this material from reliable sources and reasonable steps have been taken to ensure their accuracy. Market conditions may change which may impact the information contained in this document. Before acting on any of the above, please contact me for individual financial advice based on your personal circumstances. The sources for this artilce are available on request.
A lot of interesting stuff comes through my inbox everyday, aside from the client and business communications. Most of this stuff can be swept aside and ignored. There are times, however, when I can’t help but stop and take a closer look. This blog article from BehaviouralInvestment.com is one such instance. In it, a book on investing published in 1912 called Psychology of the Stock Market by George Charles Selden is examined. The book talks about, you guessed it, the way investors acted in 1912 and the blog gives some examples of how investors still act today. To compliment this, listen to Myles Zyblok and Jason Gibbs, portfolio managers at Dynamic Funds, discuss investor behaviour today in light of US bank failures and a possible recession.
Psychology of the Stock Market is definitely on my reading list.
I was a boy scout when I was younger. The motto of the boy scouts, when I was a member at least, was “be prepared”. In theory, it meant that no matter what happened, you would be ready for it. We spent a lot of time learning how to tie knots, make fires, and build emergency shelters. We had a manual that we referred to: the Boy Scout Handbook. I remember my copy being well worn as I tried to work on my latest merit badge.
The Handbook was a great resource. The problem with it, as I recall, was that it delt mainly with wilderness survival and did not really provide a lot of information about growing up in urban Canada. Knowing how to start a fire didn’t really help me as I started high school. Even as an adult there is no handbook to help us get through life and what we should do to prepare for it.
In a small attempt to provide a resource and help you prepare for some of the most impactful things that can happen to you, I present this link to Manulife’s Insurance Explained website. It should answer many of the questions that you have about insurance; even the questions you didn’t know you had. Nothing protects you and your family from the unwanted disasters of life like insurance even if it is as exciting as a bowline knot. When you need it, it is priceless. And you can think of me as your financial Scout Master. My job is to help you to “be prepared”.
Chris
No matter the age of life you are in, your financial plan should be your boon companion and echo your place upon the stage, helping you with your life goals, for your lifetime.
Looking for your cue? Lifetime Financial Services can develop a playbill for your world; from financial literacy to estate planning and everything in between.
You have different financial needs at different stages of your life and your advice should evolve with the role you play.
Financial advice for all the ages of your life.
www.lifetimefinancialservices.ca
Over the course of this year, I have talked about the importance of being prepared for those moments in life that no one wants to experience. Those moments that can put enormous stress on us, our families, and our businesses.
The role of the financial advisor, in many respects, is to warn clients of possible threats to their financial well being and to offer protection from those threats.
This month, I will present one of the easiest and cost effective ways to prepare yourself financially: life insurance. Specifically, I’ll focus on what has come to be called mortgage insurance. I receive many questions about mortgage insurance, which is really just another name for life insurance. It is of vital importance to many homeowners, especially with the dramatic increase in house prices over the last few years.
Like many other products and services we buy, it is a good idea to shop around and compare prices and products. Do not feel that you are obligated to take the insurance that is offered by your mortgage lender. It may be convenient, but it may not fit your needs and there may be a better value out there.
I hope that these two resources, one from the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, and the other an article from moneysense.ca that features Peter Wouters, can offer you perspective and information. If you would like to discuss your personal insurance situation, I would be happy to talk to you.
Financial Consumer Agency – mortgage insurance
moneysense.ca – mortgage insurance
I hope that everybody has a wonderful holiday season and is able to visit with long unseen friends and family! Stay safe and healthy and here’s hoping for a great 2022!
Chris
“Strangeness adds to the weight of calamities, and every mortal feels the greater pain as a result of that which also brings surprise. Therefore, nothing ought to be unexpected by us. Our minds should be sent forward in advance to meet all problems, and we should consider, not what is wont to happen, but what can happen.”
“We should therefore reflect upon all contingencies, and should fortify our minds against the evils which may possibly come. We must reflect upon fortune fully and completely.”
Seneca, Moral Letters to Lucilius, 91.3-4 & 7-8
I ran across the above quote from Seneca the other day and it struck me how relevant it is to what I do on a daily basis, and how, by extension, powerful it can be in everyone’s life.
It is from Moral Letters to Lucillius, a collection of letters that Seneca wrote to his friend. In this letter, number 91, he is writing about a fire that destroyed the city of Lyons in Gaul, which is now France. He thinks that we should meditate on how fortune can turn on you. We should think about a worst-case scenario in our everyday lives. “What would happen if …?” This practice has been called premeditato malorum which translates as premeditation of evil.
Through premeditato malorum we can prepare ourselves so that we will not be caught off guard if something “unexpected” should occur such as a sickness, accident, or death. We will have made prior arrangements that can soften the blow of an “unexpected” event.
In a sense, the entire insurance industry has been built upon this notion of preparing for the worst. People buy insurance to avoid or mitigate the financial consequences of a worst-case scenario. If a family member dies, the survivors may not be able to pay all the bills, go into debt, and are forced to sell assets and lose the house and are now homeless.
Perhaps my imagery is a little too Dickensian (think Bleak House or Oliver Twist) but with large mortgages, educations to fund, and everyday expenses, the reality is that in most families today both partners must work. What happens if one partner dies or gets sick or injured? Proper insurance coverage is a necessity.
Financial advice goes beyond thinking about what would happen if there was an injury or death. Post secondary education and retirement just don’t happen by themselves. We have to look forward and consider the possible outcomes of our actions today. If you want to put off saving for your retirement until later in life, you may have to deal with the reality that your retirement is not what you wanted when it is time to stop working.
Many people do not like looking at the unpleasant aspects of life. We have it pretty good these days. Life is a lot better now than it was in the 1st century AD when Seneca wrote his letters. He and his fellow Romans had to deal with city consuming floods and fires, plagues, and callous, hypocritical politicians.
Well, maybe things haven’t changed that much.
As I wrote last month, life, or Fortune, doesn’t care about what you would rather be doing, then or now. At least today there are financial advisors that can help you answer some difficult questions, just as they have helped others before you. All you have to do is ask for some assistance with premeditato malorum.
What is the worst that could happen?
In June I asked, “Can you afford to get sick?”. I encouraged you to look at your present situation and see how your family and you would be able to financially respond to a medical emergency. That article also had a link to a video about Dr. Barnard and how he was inspired to create critical illness insurance after seeing firsthand the financial devastation that an illness can have on a family.
As I was writing the article, I was thinking about how easy it is to be complacent when things are going well. We do not want to think about unpleasant things like sickness or injury. There are more interesting and less depressing things to do, especially when we are healthy.
In that piece, I wrote about an emergency surgery that I had many years ago. That event has made me grateful for my health and aware of how quickly things can change. The reality of change hit me in the face (as it were) again in September. I was reminded of our fragility when I had a retina detach in my right eye. Again, I found myself in emergency surgery hours after the event. The surgery was successful, and my vision is recovering.
The point I would like to make here is that at any moment our lives can change. Life does not care what we would rather be doing. A car accident, illness, or relationship breakdown can happen at any time. How would you respond? Would you even have time to respond?
I encourage everyone to review your wills, power of attorney. Look at your life insurance coverage and look into critical illness and disability insurance. Talk to your loved ones about your wishes. Understand the wishes of those close to you. Make sure that your important documents are secure but accessible. If something were to happen, you may not be able to take care of any of these things.
To help, here is an article about resilience as well as a financial log to keep track of important financial information and contacts. Physical copies are available, just reach out and I would be happy to send you one.
As always, I am available to talk and would like to help.
Chris
I frequently get asked about the difference between segregated funds and mutual funds. In fact, some people have never heard of segregated funds. One reason for that may be that there are significantly more mutual funds available in Canada than segregated funds. They may also have a branding problem; they are known as segregated funds, segs, guaranteed investment funds, and GIFs. GIFs seem to be the new standard, and that is what I will call them.
So, what are GIFs? Simply stated, they are mutual funds provided by an insurance company. This may not seem important, but it gives GIFs significant features that mutual funds do not have because they are insurance contracts. The benefits include:
This short video illustrates the difference in under 2 minutes:
The original video can be found here: Seg funds or mutual funds
The downside to GIFs is that the benefits are not free. You, as the investor, pay for them through higher fees than mutual funds. That being said, GIFs can potentially save an estate a lot of money in probate and legal fees as they do not form part of the estate. There is also a privacy benefit: the funds go directly to the beneficiary, bypassing the estate, which is in the public domain. This means that your nosey sibling need never know where your money went.
GIFs can make a lot of sense for many people and their families. If you want more information, I am always happy to discuss them with you and see if they make sense for you.
Enjoy your summer!
Chris