If you’ve been following my blog for the last few weeks, you know I reached out to various bloggers and financial experts to ask what’s in their portfolio. I did this to find out what their investing goals were, learn a little about their investing strategies, uncover some of the products they own and see what advice they might have for other investors. So far, here is what these investors kindly shared with me:
Recently, blogger Big Cajun Man responded to my questions with these answers:
1. Describe your investing goals in one or two sentences:
To create a big enough nest egg to compliment the pension that I will have in retirement.
2. Describe your investing strategy that helps you fulfill your goals in one or two sentences:
Use a passive investing scheme with low Management Expense Ratios (MERs) using index funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). I still hold a few high dividend stocks but only due to their continued growth.
3. List some of the investing products you own that help you with your investing strategy:
I use the TD Waterhouse web page to see the status of investments, and then reading various blogs and such depending on the topics.
4. What advice do you have for other investors based on what’s working with your approach?
You may think you can beat the Market, and you may even succeed for a short period of time, but eventually the market will get you. Remember your goals, and don’t get too greedy.
After following Big Cajun Man’s blog for some time now, I’ve learned he lives by this mantra: financial wealth can only be accumulated from what you don’t spend and getting out of debt sooner than later. His articles also tout the importance of passive investing, a strategy that’s easy to understand and arguably far more successful than any stock picking.
Big Cajun Man knows the advantages of using index funds and ETFs and it appears he’s applying that information to the fullest to manage a simple but effective portfolio. I want to thank Big Cajun Man for participating in my series what’s in your portfolio? Stay tuned for more profiles in future blogposts.
Disclaimer: The contents of this post are not recommendations for any individual investor but have been shared to educate readers and provide insight into how others are managing their portfolios. My Own Advisor is not a financial professional. Every reader is encouraged to seek help from a financial professional before making any important investment decisions.
Why does everyone start with very low fees? Like wanting to drive fast, but not want to use any fuel? What do you want fuel savings or reach your goals? Can’t have both!
Thanks for the comment Bill. I want low fees, but I would prefer a higher savings rate myself. You can’t invest what you don’t save.
How are your savings coming along in 2014? Happy Investing.
I just want to say how much I appreciate these posts, especially the “What’s in your portfolio series”. I am fervently trying to educate myself so that I can say “adios ” to my RBC-DS investment advisor and the ridiculous fees I’ve been paying for poor to mediocre results. This just proves to me that even advisors can’t seem to pick “winner” stocks consistently.
DEBENTURES: Unfortunately, I have lost a lot of money on corporate debentures. I believed my advisor when he recommended them. Then, the values tanked, and I was advised to sell many of them, taking a loss. In other words, he lost my capital. I would appreciate any comments on DEBENTURES. I also learned recently that the advisor receives a commission when he sells debentures to his clients. Hence, the push to recommend debentures. .
Well thanks. I enjoy writing these posts and this series so far. I have a few more in the pipeline, so stay tuned.
As for the debentures comment, I’m not very familiar with them. Just know the basics: a debt instrument that is not secured. Personally, I would never buy them but I’ve heard of a few folks that have. I never really knew the outcome of their purchases but personal finance can be very personal.
“You may think you can beat the Market, and you may even succeed for a short period of time, but eventually the market will get you. ” – Couldn’t agree with you more Cajun Man!
Even Buffett couldn’t beat the market consistently – what chance do we individual investors have?
If the greatest investor of all time has a hard time beating the market over many decades, most investors have no chance.