Weekend Reading
Welcome to my latest Weekend Reading edition where I share some of my favourite articles from the week that was. It was a busy week friends – happy to have some downtime this weekend. My NCAA bracket is pretty much dead with Arizona out now. I had them in my final with Kansas. *sigh*
I had a great time at the Ottawa Senators game with my father last night but it was very unfortunate (and rather gross) to see Marc Methot lose part of his finger thanks to a Sidney Crosby slash. Google it. You’ll see what I mean…
Here are my posts from this past week:
I took issue with one proposal in the recent federal budget – to increase the taxation on capital gains. Turns out my issue was a non-issue, at least this year, no such taxation changes are on the way. I do wonder however if this was a trial balloon for future years. Thoughts?
Sean Cooper encourages you to Burn Your Mortgage. You can win a copy of Sean’s book by entering my giveaway in that post.
Long before I started investing, smart companies and good management within those companies recognized what’s generally good for society could limit financial risk – and benefit investors too. Welcome to the world of Sustainable Investing.
We got upwards of 10 cm of snow today in Ottawa. I’ve had it with winter. As in, officially, done. #pleasegoawaywinter
I hope you have a great weekend and the weather is much better where you are.
See you next week,
Mark
Financial Samurai believes long term investing is all about saving yourself from yourself.
I enjoyed this interview with legendary investor and innovator John Bogle, founder of The Vanguard Group. If you don’t have 16 minutes to spare – in the interview he mentioned he’s worried about the rich-poor gap, racial divide, political disunity, and barriers to trade. He acknowledges the market has done very well of late. He believes this is because investors are speculating on the future, including future tax cuts by Trump. Markets perform largely based on emotions associated with the eternal trade-off: people who are bullish are buying and people who are bearish are selling. In the short-term there may be euphoria in this market, but long-term, the market will reflect the general performance of the economy. He also doesn’t consider himself a hero even though Warren Buffett thinks so.
Meb Faber believes there is “…lots, and lots of fat to trim from the traditional high fee mutual fund space.” Read on about a low-cost ETF portfolio.
Congrats to Nick, the winner of my Millionaire Teacher giveaway. I look forward to your response to confirm you still want the book!
This article mentioned Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are becoming more favoured by the wealthy. Read why in my post here – what makes some ETFs great.
Big Cajun Man discussed spring financial cleaning. Hard to believe it’s technically spring with our weather.. Anyhow, part of that housekeeping for me is completing my tax return and ensuring any money returned is to us is put to very good use. Here are some of the best ways to spend your tax refund here.
Stephen Weyman updated his list of best cash back credit cards in Canada for 2017.
My friend the Blunt Bean Counter highlighted some tax tips for small business owners.
Mark
My name is Mark Seed - the founder, editor and owner of My Own Advisor. As my own DIY financial advisor, I'm looking to start semi-retirement soon, sooner than most. Find out how, what I did, and what you can learn to tailor your own financial independence path. Join the newsletter read by thousands each day, always FREE.
Part of Tax planning should be what you are going to do, if you are due a refund too! Thanks for the inclusion, Spring may come to Ottawa some time soon.
Maybe April! 🙂
re: “Convincing arguments to save money…“Having more control over your time and options is becoming one of the most valuable currencies in the world.” ”
— I would place ‘Mindset’ above ‘Time’ on the list of your most valuable assets (aka “currencies) simply because if you have a crappy mindset you’re likely to spend your time involved in crappy behaviours (e.g. deep in credit card debt, President Trump, etc.). ‘Options’ is redundant as it too is wholly based on State of Mind (a la the business mogul telling the beach bum to spend years building a fishing empire so that he may eventually lead the life of…a beach bum). More money will not result in more control over time or more options — those things already exist independently of money.
Research has found that after basic needs are met, what people really want is a state of mind. Yet, that state of mind doesn’t have to be tightly bound within the cognitive category of money. Some of the happiest and fulfilled people on the planet (who have been studied) tend to be those who consciously abstain from hoarding money and instead consciously develop their state of mind, e.g. Buddhist monks. However, it’s also well known that environment effects our overall brain functions, and since we live in a hyper-Capitalist environment we all tend toward hoarding money instead developing mindset. As one blogger writes, “The old question ‘would you rather be the poorest in a wealthy neighborhood or the richest in a poor neighborhood?’ is based on how the environment controls our subconscious and our subconscious controls our happiness.”
A compendium article from Farnham Street: Seneca on The Shortness of Time
https://www.farnamstreetblog.com/2017/03/seneca-on-the-shortness-of-time/
re: “…smart companies and good management within those companies recognized what’s generally good for society could limit financial risk…”
— They also know that what’s generally bad for society could also limit financial risk. Market manipulations, predetermined environmental fines, and exploitation of developing economies immediately come to mind.
re: “…best cash back credit cards in Canada…”
— Considering utilization of credit cards increase ALL price levels across the board, ‘cash back’ is a misnomer. Perhaps “Best Inflation Creation Credit Cards” would be a better headline.
re: Bogle…”he mentioned he’s worried about the rich-poor gap, racial divide, political disunity, and barriers to trade.”
— He’s right to be concerned. Recent studies have revealed that: both income and wealth inequality are growing, happiness inequality is growing, and general anxiety is increasing in the populace of developed nations.
“…long-term, the market will reflect the general performance of the economy.”
— market movements tend to be precursors of economy movements, like he said, “investors are speculating on the future”. Bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy, but not always.
Enjoy your snow. I’ll be mowing (the downside to balmy weather).
Mowing? I wish….
Fair enough, “crappy mindset” = crappy behaviour for the most part. I’ve worked hard to get that out of my system. Not perfect, far from it, but far better than I was before…
I will read that link this weekend…thanks.
I smiled when I read your comment about ‘cash back’; I know you’re not a fan of those that subsidize this cash from those that can least afford to own a credit card in the first place.
No doubt you’d enjoy Bogle’s video, check it out if you have 16 min. after your grass is cut.
Cheers!