Canadian Personal Finance Blog

Archive for January 23rd, 2008

That was an interesting expression I heard a financial pundit make once, about a short lived rebound in the markets, during a severe down turn, and it is very true, was yesterday a recovery? I have no idea, will it continue? Ask me tomorrow. As the Canadian Capitalist said in a very eloquent statement (which I will shamelessly steal):

If you panicked during yesterday’s sell-off, you should take a hard look at your asset allocation and see if you are taking on more risk than you can stomach. There is nothing worse than selling in a panic and locking in your losses.

Very true words, and much better than, “With great power comes great responsibility”.

Personal Experience

During Monday’s panic, I actually went out and bought more banks. I can’t tell you that it was an epiphany, or some other thing, but I decided I was going to get a Dividend paying asset “on sale”, so I went out and bought it. Was it the right move? Again, ask me in about 6 months and I’ll tell you then.

Small c conservative

Many folks have assumed I am a Big “C” conservative (and a member of the party), I am actually a small “c’ conservative and vote as my conscience suggests at each election. I am conservative in investing only because I have been burned so many times being way too excited about possible profits.

Make an Investment Plan

If anything has been learned, you must have a financial plan, and a plan on how you want to deal with your investments, so you aren’t part of the panicking masses during these market downturns. Do what you think is comfortable for you.

Let me repeat one point that I have read in Michael James’ blog and in others, that I repeated yesterday as my own strategy as well. If you have short term money that I need to live on or pay off debts, it should not be in equities, because I need that money not to shrink or disappear. If this is conservative, then I am conservative. All my equity investments are in funds I will need in 5 years or more.

Interest Rates Lower

I understand that this is needed to save some folks in peril in the states, but I really don’t understand a 3/4 point slash by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Hope they know what they are doing, because it seems a little extreme to me.

Give Blood

I am giving blood for the 11th time (I hope), I challenge my readers and fellow financial bloggers to do the same. No you don’t get a tax write off, but you do help save lives.