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.

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. […]
July 20, 2017

Results at a Glance

Read more about H1 – 2017 in WDS Investment Perspectives. Canadian and U.S. stock-returns diverged even more this quarter, with the Canadian market slumping as U.S. markets set record highs. Long-term bond yields took different directions as well, rising in Canada and falling in the US. Gold is flat since March. […]
July 10, 2017

The Yield Whisper Part II – Is the Dividend Sustainable?

In Part I (link) we explored the question “is a higher yield always better?” Not necessarily it turned out if it’s only the result of a declining stock price. Now let’s break down the dividend yield further by zooming in on the annual dividend payout. As a future investor you […]
June 20, 2017

Attention To Details – June 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. Enterprising Investor – The Active Equity Renaissance Arbitrary measures of performance, financial intermediaries, […]
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 […]
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. […]
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