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 […]
November 20, 2017

Attention to Detail – November Edition

A Checklist for Trusting Management (GuruFocus). Great companies come in different shapes and sizes, with varying strengths and capabilities, but something that stands out as an absolute must across all sectors and industries is a responsible and proactive management team. The actions of those at the top will determine whether […]
November 3, 2017

Rebalancing discipline– through good and bad times

Equities have continued to shine this year.  Given stock-market-momentum, it’s likely a good time for many investors to rebalance their portfolios.  Rebalancing is the action of adjusting a portfolio’s asset class allocations from its current weightings–determined by market forces–back to the policy’s optimal weights.  In this blog we briefly explain […]
September 14, 2017

Attention to Details – September Edition

Short-Term Noise and Long–Term Investing: An example of why long-term investing is harder than it sounds (GuruFocus). One of the most difficult tasks faced by investors is maintaining conviction with a company in the face of short-term, negative price action. Quite often, it is the noise of a stock’s recent […]
August 17, 2017

September 5, 2017 T+2: Ready, Get Set, Switch!

Years in the works, September 5, 2017 marks the target date for an important change in the securities marketplace.  On that day Canada and the U.S. intend to shorten their standard securities settlement cycle. The Canadian Capital Market Association is working to promote investor awareness and prepare Canada to switch. […]
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