Taking Care of Your Money: Multi-Dimensional Investing that Works

Table of Contents......Page 7
Money talks......Page 13
Focus on your portfolio — not on the "right" fund......Page 18
What about doubling your money in five years?......Page 22
Always assess the risk first......Page 23
Loss of capital is only one risk......Page 26
The Systematic Withdrawal Plan: Multi-dimensional investing at its best......Page 27
Strategies for the cautious investor — alternatives for GIC refugees......Page 30
Keep performance in perspective......Page 32
Time, not timing......Page 34
$1 invested in 1800. Best bet? Stocks by a wide, wide margin......Page 36
The real fundamentals of your portfolio......Page 39
Always, always think long-term......Page 40
For better returns, get used to the ups and downs......Page 41
Where will today's superstars be tomorrow?......Page 42
Keeping your goals on track......Page 45
RRSP planning: More at stake than just tax deductions......Page 48
12 steps to a winning RRSP......Page 50
Should you borrow to contribute to your RRSP?......Page 52
Spousal RRSPS don't always make sense......Page 54
What to put in your RRSP......Page 56
Self-directed RRSPS: Worth the price and then some......Page 57
Match your RRSP — good for seniors, too......Page 60
Foreign content: Don't play too close to the line......Page 63
It's time to drop the "R" from RRSPS......Page 64
Don't qualify for an RRSP?......Page 66
Locking in RRSP profits......Page 67
What about withdrawing money from your RRSP under the Home Ownership Plan?......Page 68
First rule of investing — know yourself......Page 70
What does it take to save $1 million?......Page 72
Load or no-load?......Page 73
The cost of bailing out......Page 74
Mutual fund returns......Page 76
Your portfolio also needs an annual checkup......Page 77
If your fund manager leaves, should you leave, too?......Page 79
How long do bear markets last?......Page 81
Risk: It's really a question of time......Page 82
Create your own deposit insurance......Page 83
RRSPS are not the only game in town......Page 84
Tax shelters should be good investments first......Page 86
Don't forget unused contribution room......Page 87
How important are guarantees?......Page 89
Review all your loans......Page 91
What about index funds?......Page 93
Currency risk — how concerned should we be?......Page 94
No real expertise......Page 96
Lease or buy? It depends on you — but most of all on the deal......Page 97
Bond funds — do your homework first......Page 99
The flip side to debt reduction......Page 102
Is there a right time to invest?......Page 103
Foreign markets — great for all the right reasons......Page 106
Strategies for a falling market......Page 110
Performance — if the past is no guarantee, what is?......Page 111
Don't rely on any one asset class......Page 113
What's a realistic rate of return?......Page 114
Creating tomorrow's portfolio......Page 115
Finding money for your nest egg......Page 117
Betting on interest rates......Page 120
International exposure......Page 121
Stocks or real estate?......Page 122
Segregated funds — if you want guarantees......Page 124
Income-splitting strategies......Page 126
Suppose you just won the lottery......Page 132
Inheritances......Page 134
Forced savings plans work — if you don't have one, create one......Page 135
Joint investments......Page 137
A written marriage contract avoids problems later......Page 139
Turn summer camp into a tax deduction......Page 140
What about time shares?......Page 143
Pool or cottage?......Page 144
A cottage may not be your best answer......Page 145
Check on investments coming up for renewal......Page 147
Moving: Expenses are tax deductible if......Page 148
Home insurance......Page 150
Your home is a great forced savings plan — so is your RRSP......Page 151
Buy your new car in advance......Page 152
What if your bank makes a mistake?......Page 153
Year-end checklist......Page 154
Getting a better deal on your mortgage......Page 157
How to make your mortgage tax deductible......Page 160
Your mortgage or your RRSP?......Page 162
Do you know how much your mortgage is costing you?......Page 165
Keep yourself in the driver's seat......Page 167
Should you buy a house for a student?......Page 169
RESPS are better than ever......Page 171
Do student RRSPS make sense?......Page 173
How to get the government to pay for your child's education......Page 176
Are student travel expenses tax deductible?......Page 177
Moving on......Page 179
Negotiating your severance package......Page 181
Option 1: Take the money and run . . . when retirement makes sense......Page 182
Option 2: Find another job — what do you do with your pension?......Page 184
Franchising: Entrepreneurs need not apply......Page 186
Financing: Make sure you do your homework first......Page 191
What about using your severance to finance a new business?......Page 192
Start planning for your retirement now......Page 194
Only three options for your RRSP money......Page 198
Beating the "Mac Gap"......Page 202
RRIFS need growth, too......Page 205
Think about taking your CPP early......Page 208
But delay starting a RRIF......Page 209
RRIF better choice than annuity......Page 211
Make your home part of your retirement plan......Page 212
Funeral planning: Make it part of your retirement plan......Page 214
Always think tax first......Page 217
There's hidden gold in old tax returns......Page 220
Know the rules — or someone who does......Page 222
What to do with your tax rebate......Page 224
Dividend reinvestment programs: Commission-free investing......Page 226
Benefits vs. salary......Page 227
Don't forget about CNIL-ity......Page 231
A new way to protect your RRSP assets from the tax collector......Page 233
10. Lessons Learned......Page 235