My Own Advisor

July 2011 Dividend Income Update

Posted on August 7, 2011 by Mark | 5 Comments

Over the last few months, seems like every time I provide my dividend income update, I’m also talking about markets acting like a yo-yo. 200 points up. 400 points down. 100 points up. To be honest, the ebbs and flows of the…

Canadian Dividend Stock Selection Made Easy

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Mark | 32 Comments

Yes, I think the title says it all. Contrary to what some people might have you believe, I think selecting a few quality Canadian dividend-paying stocks can be easy. Again, a few. In fact, the answer to selecting a couple…

My travel tips for flying the friendly skies

Posted on July 24, 2011 by Mark | 11 Comments

For some of you, you’re probably seasoned veterans when it comes to making your air travel enjoyable. I took my first flight just over 20 years ago and now into my thirties, I’m guessing I’ve flown at least 50 times since. I…

June 2011 Dividend Income Update

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Mark | 19 Comments

Hard to believe it’s already been a month since my last dividend income update – summer is really flying by! Last month I asked if readers were panicked about the stock market. Some readers, like Jon Evan said “sell in May and go…

Why I left the mutual fund industry

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Mark | 42 Comments

For decades, mutual funds have been a hugely popular way for Joe or Jane Canadian to own pieces of companies. For years, I thought this was a great way to invest too. Many investors still believe in this route and I…

Summer Update – 2011 Personal Finance and Investing Goals

Posted on July 10, 2011 by Mark | 21 Comments

Back in January, I wrote down our personal finance and investing goals for 2011: • Goal # 1 – Increase mortgage payments by $200 per month. • Goal # 2 – Contribute $5,000 each to TFSAs. • Goal # 3…

My simple stock selection rules of thumb

Posted on July 3, 2011 by Mark | 24 Comments

A few years ago, along with index investing using ETFs for my RRSPs, I feel like I saw the light and I became a DRIPper of dividend paying stocks. My first dividend-payer purchase was Enbridge (ENB) and at the time…

Understanding yield to maturity is important

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Mark | 17 Comments

Understanding yield to maturity is important Recently, I purchased (for now) some Claymore 1-5 Year Laddered Government Bond ETF (CLF). I chose this fund at this time, because it carries one of the lowest costs of any ETF in Canada,…

Meeting Larry Swedroe

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Mark | 29 Comments

Thanks to an invite from local bloggers, I had the pleasure of listening to Larry Swedroe speak earlier this week, discussing the numerous merits of passive investing. For those who don’t know much about Larry, he is the Principal and…

May 2011 Dividend Income Update

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Mark | 7 Comments

Hard to believe it’s already been a month since my last net worth update but alas, here I am. I don’t know where you live in our fabulous country, but it’s been pretty hot in the Capital lately. I wish I…