I hope you’ve been greatly enjoying this summer season. Virginia and I were away part of June and are looking forward to a family reunion on the west coast in August. Wherever you are this summer season we wish you the very best health and happiness for you and all your dear ones. And special thanks to each of you who share a story or picture by email or FB – I thrill seeing such special moments of joy. A couple of you will recognize this perfect photograph below 🙂
QUESTIONS YOU ASKED.
As you know I delight to receive your questions, and naturally they cover a wide range of topics. Anything you’ve been pondering is fair game so please share with me so we can discuss – and very confidentially it may provide insight also for an upcoming SWM letter so all can benefit. Here today are two questions. I look forward to hearing your thoughts so we can discuss further.
ARE WE MAKING MONEY?
It’s an honest question. If you were hesitating to ask, we’ll very soon receive half-year statements in the mail. Indeed there has been significant growth in the first half of 2023. Even more growth since a year ago. July has been continuing this upward trend. Despite the daunting daily dose of depressing news in our world, and market ups/downs along the way, our actual results over the past six and twelve months have been more generous than most would have foreseen a year ago.
This reminds me of something Whitney says, that markets don’t care whether we worry or not; markets will do what they will do. The point is to Invest in what Grows – and time will take care of the rest. Invest in what supports your personal dreams, whether it’s to buy a home, support family goals, or of course retirement. Vital indeed, we protect, replace, and grow your income for years ahead.
There’s no auto-pilot to high-growth: investing is not a straight line. 2000 to 2010 was powerful for Canada. 2010 to 2020 was powerful for the U.S. 2009 to 2017 was strong globally, despite rocky spots in 2011 and 2015 which shook a nerve or two. Yet more recent years, especially 2018, early 2020, and first-half 2022 had to navigate through storm clouds. Myriad reasons, among them the many tentacles of Covid, worldwide trade disruptions, rising inflation, and interest rates reaching 20-year highs.
As you know in your accounts (have you arranged 24/7 web access?) and see on your statements, our investment mandates have come through these difficult years and yes, we’ve been making money. Our major focus on Canadian and Global Dividends has continued positive, and a bigger bonus will come when interest rates start to ease. Much the same with Diversified Real Assets (infrastructure and real estate). Another key is high-conviction Growth Equities here and globally, distinctly chosen as best-in-the-world, conservative low-debt enterprises increasing their market share and cash-flows with the most essential and sustainable products and services. I would highlight that whole line! Bonds too are worth mentioning again: reduced during the threat of rising interest-rates, we’re increasing them for some clients now for two reasons: because 4-6% bond yields today are strong, and more importantly we’ll see extra juicy returns when interest rates subside.
None of this is left on auto-pilot. There’s no coasting to success. These are especially important times, and our reviews this year and into 2024 are preparing accounts for the strongest five and ten years now ahead. Meeting by zoom or in person with Whitney and me, the result is confirmation, clarity and confidence. Confirmation of succeeding through tougher years; clarity on our planning to ensure an abundance for your personal needs and goals, and confidence that the future remains safe. So to our next question …
WILL OUR FUTURE BE SAFE?
Think of the goals we each have for our future. In any life journey they are legion, “cradle to grave” as they say. A brief sampling could include the following, many or all of which have been or will be part of your planning along the way:
- Taming the debt monster: easing monthly payments and escaping debt sooner.
- Accelerating savings to buy a home (or your next home) … and children’s education.
- Getting Ottawa to boost your educational and retirement goals with major tax refunds.
- Fine-tuning your retirement and lifestyle goals in the closing 10, 5, 3 years to retirement.
- Discussing five major impacts of retirement (ask me) to ensure lasting health and happiness.
- Clarifying your travel and other personal goals – new car, roof, home, etc. – with confidence!
- Understanding how we secure income-for-life, remaining safe to your 90s or beyond.
- Funding the vital costs of care and comfort we’ll need in our later years.
- Rich experiences — creating precious memories — all the way.
All these arise over time in our meetings together. They always have. Meeting and focusing on your next steps, our certified planning processes protect your lifelong wellbeing. Your goals are our goals. Your needs are the precise focus of everything we do. It’s personal, and we’re with you the whole way. So if it’s a while since our last review let’s definitely arrange time soon.
Vacation. I will have very little access to email August 5 to 13. As always our office remains open; Ben or Ashleah-Ann will be delighted to help in any way. We’re booking appointments for late-August, September, October. If we haven’t met recently please reply and let us know when your time in the coming weeks or few months will be best (zoom or in person as you choose).
Yours in Financial Security for LIFE.
Brian Weatherdon, CFP, CLU. 905-637-3500
Whitney Hammond, CFP, CLU. 905-637-3500
627 Guelph Line, Burlington, Ont. L7R 3M7
** This monthly letter touches on key strategies in Canadian and global investing and financial planning. This letter is not an offer to sell any kind of security, insurance, or program. Historical returns and risk measures are not a valid guide to future performance. Returns are from publicly available sources and research from a variety of firms including but not limited to Canada Life, CIBC, Dynamic, Mackenzie Financial, RBC / PH&N, and more. Opinions in this letter belong solely to the author and no other body is responsible for the content expressed here. We value opportunity to coordinate with your legal and accounting advisers to further your financial goals in home and business. We are grateful always to receive your comments and questions.