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.

September 24, 2018

Are the Markets Expensive?

“Buy low, sell high” may be the most renowned catchphrase in all of finance, and rightfully so. It’s a beautiful summation of a sound investment strategy, an adage to help maintain discipline through tough times and exceptional times alike. Even those with little to no investment experience are likely familiar […]
August 13, 2018

Attention to Detail – August 2018

High Quality Vs Low Price (The Safal Niveshak Post) Value investing is often generalized as an approach whereby investors look for “bargain” stock prices, sifting through low price-to-earnings companies to find buy ideas; however, true value investors understand that a low price is no substitute for a quality business. This […]
July 23, 2018

RESULTS at a glance

Stocks have regained some of their lost ground since the correction in February, with Canada and the U.S. seeing low, but positive, market returns year-to-date. Yields were up in both countries thanks to rate hikes, and oil continued its upward momentum. Deteriorating trade relations have, however, led to a weaker […]
June 19, 2018

Tariffs and Trade War – What They Mean for Us

Threat of a “trade war” has made the headlines lately. It started with President Trump’s tariffs on China, aimed at pressuring that country to allow more American investment and discourage further abuses of intellectual property. Now it’s hit us. Steel and aluminum tariffs, from which Canada was initially exempt, are […]
May 17, 2018

Enterprising Investor – Keep It Simple: 11 Rules for Equity Valuations

Enterprising Investor – Keep It Simple: 11 Rules for Equity Valuations The job of investing can feel larger than life at times. Every day, new companies, rules, and securities emerge adding layers of complexity to an already saturated system. Look no further than cryptocurrencies as an example of how financial […]
May 8, 2018

Derek Dedman among 2018 Forty Under 40 recipients!

WDS wishes to congratulate Derek, as well as every notable 2018 winner. You are all stand-outs as Ottawa’s next generation of leaders. Every great achievement is done slowly through a series of little steps. No one hands you a road map with directions, especially for a self-made person like Derek. His […]
April 6, 2018

RESULTS at a glance

It’s been a rough start to 2018. Stocks fell in the first quarter in Canada and the U.S., while both countries’ long-term bond yields increased. The Canadian dollar took a hit, falling 2.4% as NAFTA negotiations with Mexico and the U.S. continue. Oil prices saw strong appreciation. Gold ended the […]
February 26, 2018

Attention To Detail – February 2018

GuruFocus – How Warren Buffett Acts in a Flash Crash Just recently, we saw what is technically defined as a “correction”; the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped just over 10% between January 26th and February 8th. While it can be nerve racking to watch your stocks slump, times like these […]
April 3, 2020

RESULTS at a glance – 1Q20

COVID-19 hit markets hard in the first quarter of 2020. With countries restricting travel and populations practicing social distancing, markets in Canada, the U.S., and internationally fell by approximately 20 to 25 per cent from their 2019 year-end values. Emergency rate cuts in Canada and the U.S. effectively brought policy […]
March 5, 2020

Coronavirus Uncertainty – Framing the Situation

Many are concerned that a new strain of coronavirus that has ravaged China may prompt the recession we have been expecting for so long, spreading globally and forcing factories to shut down, consumers to stay home and businesses to shrink operations. The concern has led to a newsworthy sell off […]
November 22, 2019

Deflating the Index Fund Bubble Argument

Back in September, Bloomberg released an interview with hedge fund manager Michael Burry (link). Burry is famous for predicting the housing market bubble of 2008; he is even depicted by Christian Bale in “The Big Short” film, based on the book by Michael Lewis. In this interview, however, Burry expressed […]
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 […]