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It’s been a cold winter in Canada so far, something few of us like. However, it’s not all bad—trapped indoors by the bitter weather one recent Sunday afternoon, I spent several happy hours with my nine-year-old daughter building and programming her Lego Mindstorms robot. She’s been asked to join the Lego Robotics team at school, clearly showing that her generation is being taught to solve problems using robots. R2-D2 vs. the Roomba This ...
With the holiday season behind us, it’s that time of the year where I turn my attention to two things: losing the 10 pounds of holiday weight I’ve gained and looking for signs in equity markets to see what’s in store for 2018. The first will come with healthier dietary choices and getting back to regular exercise (albeit slower than I would like), but figuring out what equity markets will do this year is a tad bit more complicated. A positive ...
Economic reports make frequent use of the word “but,” as in, “some developments look positive, but there are storm clouds on the horizon,” or, “times are difficult now, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.” Heading into the early months of 2018, however, we may be able to dispense with the caveats and give that word a rest. That’s because three trends have come together to create not the perfect storm, but the perfect calm. How long ...
I’ve been enjoying life as a new father since my son was born in April, but was shocked by one experience this week: our first visit to the mall for a photo with Santa Claus. Excited to take part in this fun tradition, I hadn’t expected the crowds. Hundreds of parents and fidgety kids were packed to the rafters of Ottawa’s Bayshore Shopping Centre for their turn to sit with Old Saint Nick. An hour’s wait for Santa gave me plenty of time to ...
MD’s global sub-advisors are hired for their investment philosophy, asset management expertise, investment research, innovation and, above all, their great people. In this series, you’ll meet a few of the faces behind our funds, pools and portfolios. Even Santa might agree that growing Christmas trees is no way to get rich quick—it takes patience and a long-term view to profit from a crop of festive fir. “It’s not a short-term business to ...
In a nearly unanimous decision, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced on December 13 that it will increase the federal funds target rate by 0.25%. The new target range for the federal funds rate is 1.25% to 1.50%. The economy and labour market continue to expand The largely anticipated move affirms the Fed’s view that the U.S. economy has become strong enough to withstand reduced monetary stimulation. Economic activity is ...
On December 13, Finance Minister Bill Morneau released the federal Department of Finance’s revised proposed legislation to restrict income sprinkling. At the same time, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) released new guidance on these proposed measures. The intended purpose of this revised legislation is to simplify the application of the proposed income-sprinkling legislation introduced in the July 2017 consultation paper Tax Planning Using ...
Last Wednesday, December 6, the Bank of Canada (BoC) held firm on its target for the overnight interest rate at 1.0%, as was widely anticipated by the market. The Canadian economy is currently on hold, positioned between forces that could lead to expansion or further inactivity. Canadian growth and employment are strong… On the expansionary side, Canada has been enjoying more robust domestic growth from improved business investment, increasing ...
I remember when the U.S. housing market infamously collapsed during the global financial crisis nearly a decade ago. Subprime mortgages and overextended homeowners led to sweeping foreclosures across the country. Like many Canadians, I was tempted by the opportunity to purchase U.S. property for investment, vacation and/or retirement purposes—especially since the Canadian dollar was at par at the time. Housing prices have recovered and then ...
When people ask me about how I discovered mindfulness, I don’t usually go into the full story. It had happened unexpectedly, and I still think about it often. At the time, I had been working at MD for two years as a Senior Financial Consultant, offering comprehensive financial planning advice to physicians and their families. One afternoon, I was set to meet with a new client, whose account I had just taken over from a colleague. I knew that ...
