I am retired and live off the distributions and dividends from my portfolio. What do you think of using a small amount of margin to buy some more dividend paying stocks? The yield on some pipelines and banks is higher than the interest rate on the margin loan. (I am thinking of, say, using just 20% of margin available.)

If you could buy on margin when the market hits bottom, stay margined as the market rises, and sell out at the peak, you could very quickly acquire a measurable proportion of all the money in the world. Nobody ever succeeds in that, of course… Read More

3 Rules for Success in 2007

Here are three key rules you’ll need to follow to invest safely and successfully in 2007.

1. Make sure you have substantial U.S. market exposure — 20% to 30% of your equity investments, if not more.

Some Canadian investors have avoided the U.S. market recently. They worry… Read More

Cautions & Greetings

This past year brought richly rewarding takeovers of several of our long-time favourites including Falconbridge, Inco, Fairmont and Sleeman. As a result, you may face a substantial capital-gains tax bill.

Before yielding to the year-end tax-loss selling urge, keep in mind that it’s always a mistake… Read More

Behind the Headlines February, 2006

The Conservative minority government of Stephen Harper plans to make tax changes that will affect Canadians for the better.

During the election campaign, the Conservatives proposed the elimination of the capital gains tax for individuals on the sale of assets when the proceeds are reinvested within… Read More