- Home
- Industry Changes + Trends
Archive for the ‘Industry Changes + Trends’ Category
A simple but successful actively managed portfolio
Fifteen years ago, writer and broadcaster Alison Griffiths asked University of Toronto professor Eric Kirzner to create what was named the ‘Easy Chair Portfolio’. The goal was to create a simple portfolio structure that provided...
Covered-call funds haven’t delivered the goods
Covered-call writing is an investment strategy that promises significantly lower risk with little or no give-up in return potential. But I argued in a recent post that the odds were fundamentally against investors realizing this potential since I...
Covered-call strategy offers no free lunch
Extra-lean bond yields are prompting investors to reach for yield with corporate, high yield and emerging markets bonds. Their appetite for stocks is meagre overall but investors still hunger for those that regularly spit out cash –...
Desperately seeking income
The Globe and Mail recently reported that Michael Lee-Chin was planning a return to the retail investment industry. He has spoken specifically about his desire to bring institutional private equity exposure to retail investors in Canada. ...
Facebook IPO separates investors from speculators
Like many, I have been watching the Facebook public market debut and post-IPO activity with great interest. While watching from the sidelines I came across an article regarding regulatory inquiries about what went wrong with the overhyped IPO....
Return Of The Pension Investment Fiduciary
THE CHALLENGES: With the globalization of capital markets over the last few decades, there has been a marked increase in the range and complexity of investment opportunities available to investors. In fact, the array of investment options available...
Look past emerging markets bond funds’ sales pitch
I was quoted in a recent Globe & Mail article warning that higher yields available in emerging markets bonds (compared to Canada bonds) come with additional risk. Given that the investment fund industry has launched several emerging markets...
Mutual fund critics missing the big picture
Every time markets bleed red, mutual fund investors and the media become much more price-sensitive. So it’s no surprise that print media have featured a barrage of anti-fee articles. (See the National Post on December 6 and the Globe &...
NFL champs’ owners ante up for the experience not the profits
Today sports fans may be able to fulfill one of their dreams for a mere $275 USD. Starting December 6 Green Bay Packers, Inc (“GBP”), the corporation that owns the reigning NFL champions of the same name, starts selling at least...
Getting Back To Pension Plan Basics For Private Companies
Private Companies & Defined Benefit Pension Plans: The global financial challenges over the past several years have been a catalyst for the solvency issues facing so many defined benefit pension plans, not only in Canada but globally. Although...
