Peter Guay

If you’re feeling anxious about the U.S. presidential election, you’re not alone.

Polls consistently indicate Canadians feel a high level of pride in their country. This one, for example, found 90% of respondents are proud to be Canadian compared to 74% of Americans who expressed the same sentiment toward their country.

You may have heard last month about a series of cyber-attacks on the Canadian Revenue Agency. They were just the latest in a long list of similar incidents that have left many people feeling vulnerable to having their identity stolen by fraudsters.

The first half of 2020 was one of the most volatile periods on record in stock markets. The crash and rapid recovery has contributed to what’s been an emotionally challenging time on many levels during the pandemic.

In this 30-minute video presentation, Peter Guay takes an in-depth look at the first half of 2020 with an emphasis on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on stock markets.

The first half of 2020 has certainly kept us on our toes. Stock markets have experienced the fastest decline and rebound of this magnitude in history. Even the most seasoned investors have difficulty stomaching that much volatility.

Dividend investing has long been a favourite strategy for Canadian investors who are attracted by the prospect of earning a large stream of income, especially in an era of declining interest rates.
However, the poor performance of dividend stocks during the pandemic-induced market decline and subsequent recovery highlights some of the risks associated with this strategy.

You’re probably familiar with the concerns that contributed to the drop in REIT prices as the economy locked down in March. One important worry has been the trend to work from home. The other has been the difficulties of bricks-and-mortar retail.

Do you have to give up returns when you opt for responsible investments? That’s an important question for many people who are considering whether to switch to a portfolio more aligned with their personal values.

A recent article in the Globe and Mail forcefully made the case that the huge growth of passive investing is distorting markets and creating unintended risks for investors.