A lot has changed…

Technology has made the world smaller. Things move fast and things change even faster. The news, views, and concerns of the world make it to our screens in the matter of seconds. When it comes to wealth management and investing, it can be hard to keep perspective.

October 7, 2019

RESULTS at a glance – 3Q19

Trends from the first half of the year continued into the third quarter of 2019. Canadian and U.S. markets sustained their turbulent upward trajectory while 10-year government yields continued to sink, with the Federal Reserve cutting rates twice since the end of July. With the Bank of Canada holding steady […]
August 19, 2019

Attention to Detail – August 2019

Strategic Value Investing: Industry Analysis (GuruFocus) In the world of active management, investors can be easily infatuated by the qualities of a company. A business with healthy margins, high historical growth rates, and a solid balance sheet may stand out as an attractive buy. But as this month’s article points […]
July 19, 2019

RESULTS at a glance – 2Q19

Canadian and U.S. markets hit new highs this year, recovering their losses from the December drop of 2018. A pause in rate hikes has led to a decline in bond yields, and the Federal Reserve’s dovish tone towards the economy has allowed the Canadian dollar to appreciate. Oil prices have […]
June 14, 2019

The Buyback – Why You Shouldn’t Shut Down Non-Dividend Stocks

“Do you know the only thing that gives me pleasure? It’s to see my dividends coming in.” That’s a quote from John D. Rockefeller, the first U.S. billionaire in history, and while investors today (hopefully) have other joys in life, many within the value investment community share Rockefeller’s love for […]
May 7, 2019

Richard Coffin receives his CFA designation!

WDS proudly announces that Richard Coffin, the newest face at the company, has received his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. The CFA is one of the most respected professional finance designations, considered a “gold standard” in the field of investment analysis. CFA holders have thoroughly studied a spectrum of topics […]
April 5, 2019

RESULTS at a glance – 1Q19

2019 started off strong, with Canadian and U.S. markets both experiencing low-teen returns in the first quarter. At the same time, 10-year government yields have fallen in both countries as central banks signaled a pause in their rate hikes; in the U.S., this has led to a yield inversion, with […]
March 8, 2019

Attention to Detail – March 2019

An Important Lesson From Ben Graham by Charlie Munger (GuruFocus) This month’s article (link) features a short excerpt from an old Outstanding Investor Digest issue, in which Charlie Munger himself recalls an encounter he had with his investment mentor, Ben Graham, that taught him a valuable lesson about corporate management. […]
January 29, 2019

RESULTS at a glance – 2018 Year End

It was a tough year, with two corrections causing both Canadian and U.S. markets to experience negative returns in 2018. The Canadian dollar erased much of its progress against the greenback despite rising interest rates in Canada. Oil prices dropped drastically after rallying throughout most of the year. Gold, while down […]
June 12, 2017

Be Prepared: Know Your Appetite for Risk

“Emotions are the most important determinant of long-horizon wealth.” – C. Thomas Howard, PhD.   Is there truth to Dr. Howard’s unorthodox statement that you need to know about? When you invest, you make choices. One of the main trade-offs is the level of risk you are willing to bear […]
May 16, 2017

Attention to Details – May Edition

Each month we’ll lift the lid on what WDS does behind the scenes to invest well. It is attention to such details, over the course of time that allows you to accumulate wealth and attain financial security. GuruFocus – Why Cash Is King This article (link) explains the free cash […]
April 27, 2017

Caveat emptor – the state of the fiduciary standard in Canada

  In life certain things are taken for granted; assuming a standard of care when dealing with professionals is usually one of them. For example, when searching for a new doctor there are many things to consider before making your choice: clinic location, tenure, specialization, bedside manner, etc. Whether a […]
April 6, 2017

RESULTS at a glance

Stocks rose in the first quarter of 2017. Long-term bond yields fell in both Canada and the US, with positive impact on fixed income returns. Gold prices have appreciated, too. The price of oil dropped in March. The Canadian dollar shows little change against the U.S. dollar despite lower oil […]
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