Canadian Personal Finance Blog

As can be seen from this actual photo my daughter took this weekend, it’s always good to see what is behind you. The T-Rex looks quite vicious doesn’t it? If you are driving on Highway 6 near Hamilton you’ll know which T-Rex I mean.

Financially, you need to remember the very important advice once given me, about when a predator is chasing you. You don’t have to be the fastest, you just have to be faster than the slowest prey. Getting back into the equity markets the fastest may not be what your goal should be, maybe you should aim to be in before MOST of the folks get back in, or else you might end up someones lunch.

Go faster it is catching up!

The Market is like a T-Rex

It’s fast, it eats anything it can catch and it has really short arms, well, maybe that last one isn’t quite correct, but right now investors must feel like the T-Rex prey, because a lot of us are being chewed up, but then again, maybe if we just stand there, the T-Rex might run by us (if you don’t understand that reference, re-read Jurassic Park by the late Michael Crichton)?

For folks that are investing for the long term, continue not watching what is coming behind you, you shouldn’t be worrying, you are in the market for the long term, relax and it will all settle down, eventually. 

Just another pitiful analogy by the Big Cajun Man so he can include a funny picture his daughter made on the weekend? Maybe, but I like it.

My opinion is this will be another very volatile week with  some very bad news from some companies (like Nortel) and maybe some heartening news for a few others, but tighten your safety belts the ride is bound to get a lot more bumpy before it finally calms down.

TFSA Advertising In All Financial Institutions

If you haven’t received something from your bank about a TFSA account, be prepared to be barraged soon. Each bank or Insurance company is trying to get you back into their doors by offering this savings vehicle in some fashion or another. Many want you to buy Mutual Funds, others are setting up straight savings accounts and others will let you create a full service trading account. Which TFSA set up is right for you? Go find out, there is a lot of info out there about it, come January 1, you should be ready to get going on this.

Carnivals

This week I am mentioned in:

• The Digerati Life is hosting the Fierce Financial Tips: The Carnival of Personal Finance #178, Struwwelpeter Edition where my post about Pensions and Severance is featured.
• Weight Loss Journal is hosting Carnival of Weight Loss — Barack Obama Edition #3 where my article on Debt is Like Fat is featured as well.
• Greener Pastures is hosting the Carnival of Debt Reduction #165: A History of the National Debt where my article I Should Divorce My Wife is featured