Ask the Spud: Should I Use Global Bonds?
Q: I was surprised to see a Vanguard infographic pointing out that international [non-US] bonds are the largest asset class in the world. Do you have any thoughts on why Canadians have not embraced...
View ArticleAsk the Spud: GICs vs. Bond Funds
Q: I would appreciate it if you could write an article contrasting the advantages and disadvantages of holding bond funds versus GICs. – A.R. All of my model Couch Potato portfolios include bond funds,...
View ArticleAsk the Spud: My ETF Is Shutting Down
Q: I received a notice that an ETF I own will be closed within the next few months. Is it better to sell it now or wait until the termination date? – S.H. ETFs are now available for just about every...
View ArticleAsk the Spud: Is It Time to Hedge Currency?
Q: “I use non-hedged ETFs for US and international equities, which worked out well as the Canadian dollar tanked. But the loonie is now so low that I wonder if it makes sense to move to the hedged...
View ArticleAsk the Spud: Switching From e-Series Funds to ETFs
Q: “I currently have $30,000 invested in the TD e-Series funds. When the time comes to move to ETFs, what is the best way to do this while still making automatic contributions? Should I put my biweekly...
View ArticleAsk the Spud: Reverse Share Splits in ETFs
Q: I noticed the unit price of some iShares ETFs changed radically last week. For example, the iShares MSCI Singapore ETF (EWS) shot up from around $10 to $20 overnight on November 7. Another fund went...
View ArticleAsk the Spud: Can I Make Taxable Investing Easier?
In Episode 4 of the Canadian Couch Potato podcast, I answered the following question from a listener named Jakob: I’m currently investing with all my ETFs in RRSP and TFSA accounts. This year, however,...
View ArticleAsk the Spud: Should I Switch All at Once?
In Episode 8 of the Canadian Couch Potato podcast, I answered the following question from a listener named Remy: I want to move away from my stocks and mutual funds in order to build a Couch Potato...
View ArticlePodcast 9: Finding Common Ground
Does the whole “active versus passive” debate miss a key point about what leads to successful investing? Why do investors focus on “mutual funds versus ETFs” when neither structure is inherently...
View ArticleAsk the Spud: Should I Use Dollar-Cost Averaging?
In my latest podcast, I addressed a common question from both readers and clients: “If I have a large sum of cash to invest, is it better to put it into the market all at once, or invest it gradually...
View ArticlePodcast 16: Common Sense With Ben Carlson
In Episode 16 of the Canadian Couch Potato podcast, I’m joined by Ben Carlson, the author of A Wealth of Common Sense and creator of the excellent blog of the same name. Ben is also Director of...
View ArticleAsk Me Anything: Part 1
On May 10, I hosted an AMA (“Ask Me Anything”) on Reddit, the online discussion forum, and over 90 hectic minutes I answered as many questions as I could from investors. This week, in two separate blog...
View ArticleAsk Me Anything: Part 2
Here’s Part 2 of the highlights from my recent AMA on Reddit. This is a lightly edited transcript of the exchange, along with some additional comments and links I didn’t have time to provide during the...
View ArticleAsk the Spud: GICs vs. Bond Funds
Q: I would appreciate it if you could write an article contrasting the advantages and disadvantages of holding bond funds versus GICs. – A.R. All of my model Couch Potato portfolios include bond funds,...
View ArticleAsk the Spud: My ETF Is Shutting Down
Q: I received a notice that an ETF I own will be closed within the next few months. Is it better to sell it now or wait until the termination date? – S.H. ETFs are now available for just about every...
View ArticleAsk the Spud: Is It Time to Hedge Currency?
Q: “I use non-hedged ETFs for US and international equities, which worked out well as the Canadian dollar tanked. But the loonie is now so low that I wonder if it makes sense to move to the hedged...
View ArticleAsk the Spud: Switching From e-Series Funds to ETFs
Q: “I currently have $30,000 invested in the TD e-Series funds. When the time comes to move to ETFs, what is the best way to do this while still making automatic contributions? Should I put my biweekly...
View ArticleAsk the Spud: Reverse Share Splits in ETFs
Q: I noticed the unit price of some iShares ETFs changed radically last week. For example, the iShares MSCI Singapore ETF (EWS) shot up from around $10 to $20 overnight on November 7. Another fund went...
View ArticleAsk the Spud: Can I Make Taxable Investing Easier?
In Episode 4 of the Canadian Couch Potato podcast, I answered the following question from a listener named Jakob: I’m currently investing with all my ETFs in RRSP and TFSA accounts. This year, however,...
View ArticleAsk the Spud: Should I Switch All at Once?
In Episode 8 of the Canadian Couch Potato podcast, I answered the following question from a listener named Remy: I want to move away from my stocks and mutual funds in order to build a Couch Potato...
View Article