IndependentInvestor.info site syndication 2016-03-24T18:30:55+01:00 /images/M_images/joomla_rss.png text/html 2014-09-04T02:28:05+01:00 /content/view/1010/ One limit that democratic governments are reluctant to cross is to legislate retroactively, i.e. to pass a law that alters the legal, tax or other effects of an action taken in the past by a citizen in accordance with the rules of the game in force at the time of the action. The Quebec government is currently holding hearings on whether to introduce a bill that just would cross that limit. Maybe because the people involved are unionized municipal employees most of the media have to date given extensive coverage to the apprehended benefits to municipal finances of the... text/html 2014-08-01T07:24:08+01:00 /content/view/1008/ It is the net, after expenses, return on your investments that is the key number for investors. And income tax is generally the biggest, and often the most complex, of all retail investor expenses. So effective tax management is indispensable for all do-it-yourself investors. André Fok Kam (http://www.linkedin.com/pub/andre-fok-kam-cpa-ca-mba/15/343/729), a self-described consultant to the securities industry, has recently published through the IFSE Institute (https://www.ifse.ca/Site/Homepage_IFSE.aspx?SID=879BAE7D-1F85-4A98-B2AF-CE80C130B198 P=1 LID=1) an excellent book on the subject for both financial advisers and Canadian retail investors. It gives a good overview of most of the key tax questions of interest to retail investors. Its explainations are as clear... text/html 2013-09-04T22:26:07+01:00 /content/view/1006/ New investing offerings aimed at the mass retail investor market are gradually appearing that are based on online advice. They use online questionnaires and other technology to minimize labor costs and provide cookie-cutter advice using model portfolios, with some customization to take into account some personal circumstances. In part 1 (http://www.independentinvestor.info/content/view/1007/236/) of this 3-part series we looked at the forces behind these new product offerings. In part 2 (http://www.independentinvestor.info/content/view/1005/236/) we looked at the range of new entrants in the USA. In the final part of this 3-part series we now look at developments in Canada. Regrettably, the Canadian scene for the moment does not offer the... text/html 2013-09-04T22:24:51+01:00 /content/view/1005/ New models of online investment advice and services- part 2 New investing offerings aimed at the mass retail investor market are gradually appearing that are based on online advice. They use online questionnaires and other technology to minimize labor costs and provide cookie-cutter advice using model portfolios, with some customization to take into account some personal circumstances. In part 1 (http://www.independentinvestor.info/content/view/1007/236/) of this 3-part series we looked at the forces behind these new product offerings. In this part 2 we look at the range of new entrants in the USA. The US market is blessed with a wide variety of new entrants, as well as a number of traditional... text/html 2013-09-04T22:37:22+01:00 /content/view/1007/ New investing offerings aimed at the mass retail investor market are gradually appearing that are based on online advice. They use online questionnaires and other technology to minimize labor costs and provide cookie-cutter advice using model portfolios, with some customization to take into account some personal circumstances. Do-it-yourself investors, who have made the decision to manage their own investments, often want to get advice on a cost-effective basis focused on the key determinants of long term returns, such as the right asset allocation, but have had trouble locating sources for such advice. Instead they often end up receiving recommendations based upon stock-picking or market timing techniques that are... text/html 2013-05-21T00:32:09+01:00 /content/view/1003/ The founder of one of our favorite blogs, AbnormalReturns.com (http://www.AbnormalReturns.com), has written a book under the same name. In a clear and direct fashion, without excessive detail, he covers all the basics of the field of investing. And, strangely enough, despite its title, the book does not downplay the challenges of successful active investing. Instead, much of the book explains the advantages for most individual investors of a long term, index approach to investing. text/html 2013-04-12T18:53:45+01:00 /content/view/1002/ It is rare to find financial intermediaries who promote passive investing. Barnett Ravenscroft is a UK based asset manager who has even gone to the length of setting up its own web site on the subject, SensibleInvesting.tv, where investors can find professional quality videos on why they should consider passive investing.