Investment Planning Blog Articles
- Aug 22, 2023
- Willis Langford
Using Annuities As a Guaranteed Cash Flow Strategy in Retirement
Fixed Income Part of a Retirement Plan What happened to bonds? The traditional model of creating a retirement portfolio using a 60/40 mix of equities and bonds is broken. You end up with 40% of your portfolio adding little. . .
- Jan 07, 2023
- Willis Langford
Recession Proofing Your Portfolio
The most anticipated recession of all time is about to unfold - or is it? You can't say you didn't see it coming because you'd have to be living in a cave to miss this one. What we don't know is if it's going to happen for. . .
- Sep 27, 2022
- Willis Langford
Keeping Your Emotions In Check In The Midst of So Much Volatility
How do you keep your emotions in check in the midst of so much volatility? It's been a rough year on your portfolio, and you are most likely down more than 20% on average. It's been one of those rare years where everything is down,. . .
- Aug 30, 2022
- Willis Langford
What's The Difference Between Stocks and Bonds
Although stocks and bonds are both good investments there are big differences between the two. The old-school rule of thumb was to have a percentage of bonds in your portfolio that corresponds with your age. If you are age 60 then you would have 60%. . .
- Aug 22, 2022
- Willis Langford
The Sequence of Returns and The Impact It Has On Running out of Money In Retirement
What is Sequence of Return Risk? Oftentimes, investors are instructed to own a well-diversified portfolio in accordance with their risk tolerance and then maintain it through all market conditions until their situation changes or they are faced. . .
- Jun 08, 2022
- Willis Langford
Mid Year Market Update 2022
We have been in the midst of a market storm all year and it will continue for a while yet. YTD numbers on Friday, July 1: TSX - down 11. 18%, S&P 500 - down 20. 25%, DOW - down 15%, NASDAQ - down 29. 72% What's going on? The main. . .
- Jun 03, 2022
- Willis Langford
Inflation and The Impact It Has On Your Portfolio
The big story of 2022 has been inflation. I recently checked the price of a hotel in Kalispell, MT for the month of July and the mid-week nightly rate at The Hampton Inn would set me back more than $500/night. A bag of avocados has more than. . .
- Mar 13, 2022
- Willis Langford
Retirement Investment Planning Amid Chaos
I remember a haunting scene from a movie about the Nazi Invasion and its attempt to wipe out the Jewish people. There’s a gripping scene where 3 children are being torn from their father and the father begs the Nazi soldier to let his children. . .
- Jan 23, 2022
- Willis Langford
2022 Economic and Investing Update
2022 Economic and Market Update It's a bad news/good news story! There are several events taking place that serve as a backdrop to understanding what's going on in the world and what they mean for us. The bad news first. 1. Inflation. . . .
- Jan 01, 2022
- Willis Langford
Need Some Retirement Income or Tax Advice? - Talk To An Expert
Talk To An Expert This service is for you if you have a specific question about your financial situation that you would like to discuss with a Retirement Income & Tax Advisor. The cost is $125 for 30 minutes - You can select a phone. . .
- Oct 25, 2021
- Willis Langford
The Difference Between Inflation and Stagflation
What's the difference between Inflation and Stagflation? Inflation is the cost of goods and services going up. If you have been grocery shopping lately, you know what I mean. This past week I noticed a beef roast listed at $47. . . .
- Sep 27, 2021
- Willis Langford
Building A Sustainable Retirement Portfolio For The Next Decade
We have to rethink the way we think to create risk-appropriate and tax-efficient investment strategies. There are a lot more risks to consider than just your emotions. In an effort to simplify and standardize the investment world, most. . .
- Sep 16, 2021
- Willis Langford
9 Questions Answered about RESPs
9 Questions Answered About RESPs One of the greatest gifts we can give our kids is to help them kick off the first phase of their adult lives not drowning in debt. That’s what an RESP is for. It might not cover everything, but it’s. . .
- Sep 16, 2021
- Willis Langford
Reverse Mortgages and Other Alternatives To Increasing Cash Flow
Would you like to access more tax-free cash flow in retirement? The largest asset that you have in retirement is your home, it represents a large chunk of dormant equity. It's like you have this piggy bank, but the money is trapped inside. . . .
- Sep 09, 2021
- Willis Langford
Reshaping Your Investment Portfolio For Retirement
The investment strategies you used during your accumulation years will not be appropriate during your decumulation years. You have worked hard to build up your retirement savings and as you prepare to make the transition and start taking money. . .
- Jul 19, 2021
- Willis Langford
The 5 Essentials For Getting Started On Your Wealth-Building Journey
The 5 Essentials For Getting Started On Your Wealth-Building Journey "If you don't know where you are going any road will take you there" If you know where you want to go it's best to take the time to discover the most direct route. . . .
- Jul 08, 2021
- Willis Langford
Some Advantages To Owning Funds Instead of Individual Stocks
When it comes to investing you have many options available. The problem is understanding the tax implications of the investment vehicles you choose. Different types of income are taxed differently and will have an impact on your total. . .
- May 15, 2021
- Willis Langford
8 Investment Behaviours That Can Derail Your Retirement Income
Everyone wants to make money from their investments and it's easier to do if you can follow a plan. Understanding your behaviour is key to successful investing. Most of what we do each day is based on habits and mental shortcuts our brains have. . .
- May 06, 2021
- Willis Langford
Post Pandemic Portfolio Positioning - Part 2
The biggest mistake to avoid right now is sitting on too much cash. We are staring down the barrel of the biggest increase in inflation that most of us have ever seen and cash is losing value. There is just so much money being thrown into the. . .
- Apr 12, 2021
- Willis Langford
Post Pandemic Portfolio Positioning - Part 1
The big story so far in 2021 is the third wave of rapidly climbing cases of COVID 19. We don't know how effective a vaccine is going to be or how fast it can be administered, so we are in the midst of this pandemic for a while yet. Please follow. . .
- Mar 18, 2021
- Willis Langford
Navigating Choppy Financial Markets
Navigating Choppy Financial Waters The stock markets have had a rough start to 2021 and you may be wondering what's going on? The big story is interest rates and the threat of inflation. The truth is there always is a crisis. . .
- Mar 01, 2021
- Willis Langford
Cryptocurrency - Part I & II
Part I It seems these days you hear about Bitcoin everywhere you go. Well, I had hoped it would go away because I was not looking forward to having to explain it. Cryptocurrencies and blockchain are all the rage and I have yet to find anyone. . .
- Sep 28, 2020
- Willis Langford
Should you Have Gold and Silver In Your Retirement Income Portfolio?
During the last financial crisis, I wanted to buy some Silver, as the prices were starting to soar. I asked Nancy to go to the Scotiabank that used to be located on 8th Avenue downtown, near where she worked. She came home, on the bus, with a large. . .
- Sep 02, 2020
- Willis Langford
The Do's and Don't of Owning Rental Properties in Retirement
We love rental properties as much as anyone and believe that they can be a great source of income, especially for your retirement years, however, caution needs to be taken so that you don't end up losing other income benefits or pay unnecessary. . .
- Apr 28, 2020
- Willis Langford
When Is A Good Time To Be Investing?
One of my favourite lines that I heard over the past year is, "I have never met a rich pessimist". In order to make money, there has to be a foundational belief that things will improve, and I believe they will. Napoleon Hill's famous book,. . .
- Apr 11, 2020
- Willis Langford
Retirement Investing Basics 101
In the Spring of 2000, we received a letter from Sun Life Financial informing us that due to the demutualizing of the company we were entitled to 102 shares of the company. We did not understand it at the time so we tucked it away for a little while. . .
- Apr 01, 2020
- Willis Langford
Guide to Investment Fees and Determining Value in Retirement
If all investments were the same then fees would be important. But, not all investments are the same. If you are looking to buy gasoline for your car you would naturally buy it from the station offering it at the lowest price, because you. . .
- Aug 09, 2019
- Willis Langford
The 4 Keys to Successful Investing
Everyone wants to make money from their investments, but few do because they are constantly running in and out of the markets, however, it's easy to do if you follow these 4 keys: 1. Understanding your behaviour. Most of what we do each day. . .
- Apr 09, 2018
- Willis Langford
How To Rob A Bank
Seven years ago (2012) we were celebrating being "debt-free" and contemplating what our next financial move would be. We had a significant amount of equity built up in our house and were looking for opportunities to grow our wealth. We had already. . .
- Feb 24, 2018
- Willis Langford
You Will Not Retire 30% Richer With Questrade
As a Certified Financial Planner, I am shocked at how much of a doormat the financial services industry is in Canada. We've learned nothing from watching the slow-moving trainwreck within the Oil and Gas industry which waited too long and did. . .
- Jan 12, 2018
- Willis Langford
The Key Differences Between Mutual Funds and Segregated Funds
A mutual fund is simply a basket of individual stocks managed by either a manager or a team of managers. The team will select various investments to hold inside of the fund in order to create a return for their investors. Typically the mutual fund. . .
- Aug 04, 2017
- Willis Langford
Monthly contributions vs. Lump sum deposits
Retirement Income & Investment Advisors, Willis &. . .
- Mar 24, 2017
- Willis Langford
Creating a Retirement Investment Portfolio During Market Turmoil
Imagine with me for a moment. You are finally ready to let go of the job that has sustained you for many years and enter the wonderful world of your ideal retirement lifestyle and the Stock Market Crashes. It will probably be one of the. . .
- Oct 16, 2016
- Willis Langford
What Wealthy People Do That Others Miss
Today's wealthy investors are usually very involved in their financial matters. There is a tremendous amount of information available today on wealth management. Russ Alan Prince published, Wealth management, (Wealth Management Press 2003). . .
- Feb 24, 2016
- Willis Langford
4 Strategies for Your TFSA In Retirement
The truth is, most Canadians still do not understand what a TFSA is, never mind, what to do with it or how to maximize it. A Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) is an account that you can set up through most financial institutions in Canada. The. . .
- Feb 03, 2016
- Willis Langford
Should You Invest In Your RRSP or Your TFSA?
Should you be putting more money into your RRSP or should you contribute to your TFSA (which by-the-way has no deadline)? Here's a couple of ideas to consider: 1. ) If you have made a significant amount of employment income in. . .
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