Is it already over?

The TSX had quite of a strange problem today. Something about stocks from M to Z... Whatever!! I didn’t trade today... But tonight is pay night! So what am I going to do with those couple of hundreds of dollars?

I had talked before about the difficulties I am living now as a “stock addict”. Truly, I don’t know if I am a stock addict, but what I know for sure is that I really like to trade, I absolutely love to be 100% fully invested, even if it come with some risk. I think I had been very honest about my financial situation. I couldn’t explain what a margin account is better than I did in my last post. Now, you know once for good what margin is really is.

Ok, this is all very interesting as always, but I still don’t know what I am going to invest in! This is tragic. Especially knowing that my non-registered portfolio section is EXTREMELY close to the 112k! Yeahhhhh!

I always wanted to add new stuff in my portfolio. I once wanted ENB, TRP, CNR, SFI.UN and all the other ones. All of what I ever wanted and dream of is now in my portfolio. I feel completed, financially speaking. Nothing new really appeals me. And what about Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (POT)? And Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC)? I really don’t know. I don’t feel it.

In a desperate act, I may, for once, put the money aside to pay off some debt. But I really try to seek for something that will get my interest. I didn’t get a buzz over POT or CTC or any other thing. To invest in a stock, I need to be completely emerge, be excited over the stock I will be investing in. Right now, I am not having a love affair with anything and I find it quite scary, actually. This is the first time that it’s happening to me in the 7 years that I had been investing (since 2005).

Is it the beginning of the end for the Dividend Girl?

Am I going to pay off my debt from now on?

Stay tune, because we are going to find out!

This blog is going to be reallll boring without new lovers! Sorry if I am slow at falling again for a stock.

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Margin Class: Everything you need to know about a margin broker account

Margin Class #1: Get use to the stock market BEFORE opening a margin account

I first open my margin broker account in 2008. I open the account at TD Waterhouse. At first, I didn’t have margin in my broker account. I wait until 2010 to add that wonderful margin feature in. If the stock world is all new to you, I strongly suggest skipping, at least at first, the margin part of the broker account. You’ll be able to add margin on later, once you’ll be use to be around stocks.

I began to invest in 2005. So we can say that I had wait 5 years before getting a margin account. Back in 2005, I wasn’t investing in stocks and I didn’t know back than what margin is. But I quickly learn. I began to invest in stock in 2008. And following what, I open my margin account in December 2010.

Fact is, the stock market alone is complicated enough, you should have a good sense of what the stock market is really is before even opening a margin account. Simply things like just following your investment, reading financial stuff every week, watching the TSX going up and down... Those simply things will help you to quickly have an overview of what the stock market is all about. Once you get in touch with that reality, you’ll be able to understand that the stock market is volatile.

Margin Class #2: Build up a nice investment portfolio with your own money BEFORE opening a margin account

In December 2010, my portfolio was pretty much established. I had all the big players in. Not all, but a lot of them. I had some very hot stuff like PPL, ENF, FTS etc. I had in my portfolio very good investments that bring very strong value and that value had been quite stable and reliable. And that gave me the opportunity to open a margin account. Because I was already established, when I open my margin account, my stock value was so strong that I had more than something 50k available coming from my margin account itself. 50k is quite some money. But I had been able to get that money from an already established portfolio. I truly believe that the best way to start margin is to start when you are already establish. That way, you get more a complete overview of what the stock market is, you get a better pulse of the market and more important, you know how to react to the stock volatility. And that’s by giving no reaction at all. But even there, you need to be able to recognize the difference between a normal stock volatility and a trouble stock.

My personal example of that kind of situation would be with Yellow Pages (YLO). I was an investor of YLO for a couple of years. But when the stock value declined, I quickly sell. YLO is a Quebec based company that had already a bad reputation. It wasn’t stable, the dividend income was excessively high, the company had a large amount of debt, investors complain about the lack of direction – they were not able to see the company vision, etc. You could easily tell that YLO was a Quebec company because of the extreme bad management. So when YLO decline in value, I did what I had to do. I sell. I experiment a capital loss of 300$, but 300$ only. How many investors had lost a fortune on YLO? Unfortunately many of them because they just ignore my blog. So continue ignoring me, continue to invest in Quebec companies and continue to lose your money. I don’t care. But I what I do know is that I had came with a technique to manage margin account and that stuff can help you if you are like me 100% fully invested and if, like me, you have a margin account situation.

Margin Class #3: BEFORE opening a margin account, set yourself some rules and ALWAYS follow them

Ok, for my part, I didn’t respect this third Margin class rule. Because when I open my margin account, I was supposed to use 30% of the available money on the margin account to pay off some credit lines of mine who are at higher interest than the margin. And that was supposed to be it. That was the plan. Pay off debt using margin. It wasn’t made for investment purposes. At least at first. No matter what, I did not respect the initial plan. I don’t regret my moves and what I did with my margin, but this expose myself to a very extremely high level of risk. The only reason why I sleep well at night is that I have an infinite confidence in the market. It’s a confidence that the stock market crash of 2008 did not destroy and it’s a confidence that the August 2011 stock crash did not destroy either. I wasn’t destroyed because my margin situation did not destroy my portfolio. But no matter what, that could change because I am fully exposed to stock. I don’t control the stock market, tomorrow or the day after, the economy worldwide could collapse. The only reason why I sleep well at night, actually, is that I strongly believed that the nightmare won’t ever happen. But it’s something I am totally aware of. You need to be aware of that reality and accept the risk. Margin is dangerous.

Margin Class #4: Follow the 30% using margin rule

No matter how much you have available in your margin account, you shouldn’t use more than 30% of the money available on the margin account. Let say that currently, your margin worth 50k, you shouldn’t use more than 15k of that 50k for investment purposes. In case of market volatility, you won’t be under a margin call. Fact is, the value of money available on your margin fluctuate. One day you can have 60k available, and the next day, just 40k. It’s something you need to realize; the margin value is not steady, you don’t have any control over it. Currently, I do not respect this 30% rule. That makes me confront to a high level of risk.

Margin Class #5: From the time you open a margin account, you need to understand that your broker now have control over you

This is very important. Let say we are living an in deep stock crash. TD Waterhouse has plenty of customers like myself who have margin account. Margin is money that the bank gave to you in form of a credit line kind of. And the money available on that “credit line” vary depending of your portfolio value. If the stock market crash, your portfolio will lose value immediately. If the situation is critical and the market take an in deep plunge, well, it could happen that because TD had borrowed money to a serial of investors like myself, well, it could happen that while facing a disaster, TD could sell my stocks without informing me first. There could be no margin call.

A margin call is when your broker call you because your stocks had lost so much value that you own in your account. Your account is negative. Let say I had borrowed 50k on my margin account. Because the market lost points let say today, my margin account do no worth 50k anymore, it only worth 40k. Well, at that time, I immediately need to put 10k in order to stabilize the situation.

While facing such situation, TD may or may not call. It’s under their discretion.

So you need to be aware of that.

Ok, you may say: if that investor babe had been able to manage her margin account properly, I can too. LOL. It is not that easy. It’s a miracle that I am doing that great on the stock market. Simply remind you of who I am. I am the Beauty Queen Next Door.

Conclusion

Before thinking of margin account, you need to have a good understanding of the stock market. Also, your portfolio needs to be established. If you really want a margin account, do it, but establish yourself with real cash first.

Learn how to deal in front of the market volatility before going further. Are you nervous while facing volatility in your portfolio? Is it a source of stress? If so, you should totally forget about margin.

Margin is what I will name a “product” that brokers like TD Waterhouse had came around with to make even more money from their business. You pay a commission to your broker each time you sell or buy stocks. Well, that was simply not enough for them. They decided to set up a loan service based on the value of your portfolio. And because your portfolio value varies every day, margin could quickly become a source of unnecessary stress. Margin is a risky loan. You are taking a huge amount of risk just to get a 4.25% interest rate. Does it worth it? Not at all.

Be careful with margin, realize the risk and, if possible, don’t open a margin account. It is not healthy and on the loan run, you’ll realize that only getting in control is hard enough. Everything regarding the stock market is not especially easy and margin is difficult. The only reason why it is remaining in my account is because I had been doing great. But great for how long?

Nothing is define when it come to the stock market, nothing is sure. With margin, you double the risk.

That's pretty much what I had to say about margin for today.

Despite owning a margin account situation in my very own broker account, I don’t recommend you to do the same. I hope my 2 cents about margin will help you to understand better what a margin account is all about in a broker account.

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Suze Orman Money Class at TV: taking advantage of the US recession to sale books – Part 2

While living in Montreal, I didn’t have a TV, but I had my laptop and the Internet. That been my reality for a couple of years but I never missed watching TV. I was quite busy working at my multiple jobs, blogging, building my portfolio and following my stocks.

Now that I am move back to my hometown (I had the chance to get a better job, better salary better everything right where I least expected it to come from), I have my mom listening to her TV in the launch and I have my father watching his own channel in their bedroom. Here at night, I hear TV noises one over the other. What I miss the most from Montreal is the dead silence of my one and a half apartment. It was silent, I could hear myself think.

Moving back with my parent wasn’t something planned but while living in this small not even city, moving back with my old folks had been a strategic move. My expenses are lower than over. The only thing that changed is me now driving a car. I have a few related expenses but that’s not a big deal. I am about to get my passport soon and I just cannot wait to travel to the US! I haven’t gone in the US in an eternity. According to what I had heard, the little X town hasn’t changed that much in the past couple of years. I am just extremely curious to go and seek around. It will be fun.

My lifestyle had changed, but the adjustment had gone through pretty smoothly. Since I am from New Brunswick, I knew what to expect. I find myself more relax and calm. While living in Montreal, I was working at different jobs, all paying a terribly low wage, I was burned. The August 2011 stock crash didn’t help me in any way. However, I had the surprised of my life when I learned I got a job here in New Brunswick. But not just here, in my XX hometown. Hitting back to New Brunswick with a job in my field, better paid, better everything, well, it cut my breath away.

And that’s why how I found watching one of the two TV we have here in this house. And there I was yesterday, watching Suze Orman desperately trying to sale her financial books. She gave good advices ok, no doubt about it. I am able to recognize the importance of having an emergency fund even if I don’t have one ok. But yesterday, one man appears at the Money Class of Suze Orman.

The courageous man had 18 000$ in credit card debt and he had 100 000$ worth in student loan debt following a master degree. I don’t get if the degree he took was an MBA. I know MBA are the kind of degrees who are extremely expensive like that. I don’t know. But the guy spoke to Suze Orman about his situation. He was earning 20 000$ a year while holding a master degree. And if I understand correctly, the guy had declared bankruptcy before. And his question seems to be at the time about declaring bankruptcy regarding his huge student loan. Well, good news being that no one can clear off a student loan while declaring bankruptcy. The way Suze Orman was talking to the man, it seem like for him, there was no hope.

Come on! A 100k worth in debt is not the end of the world. Myself, I have close to 90k worth in debt and I can manage everything quite properly. During the past couple of years, my earning salary had exceeded the 40k. But that’s nothing considering how much in tax I had paid on that salary. In a certain way, I am pretty much to the same level of that man who earned 20k annually and have 118k worth of debt.

Instead of explaining to the guy that bankruptcy won’t clear his student loan, Suze Orman should have say something intelligent enough and motivate the guy to get a second and, why not, a third job. I handle 3 jobs at a time for quite a while when I was living in Montreal. And on top of that I was managing my portfolio and I was blogging. I had built my portfolio even if I wasn’t earning much, but what I had earned; I make it work for me.

No one should declared bankruptcy just because of a 118k worth in debt. That level of debt is manageable. It’s just the individual have to seek for another source of income. That’s difficult of course, but once again, it is manageable. I won’t be saying the same thing if we would be talking here about a 200k, 300k or up worth of debt. Anywhere below 150k in debt is manageable. You don’t need to destroy your life and your spirit by declaring bankruptcy. There’s nothing an individual cannot handle, I think I am the living proof of that. But Suze Orman totally goes in the opposite way.

Also Suze Orman said during her yesterday show that student loan debts are the type of debt that an individual should be looking to pay as soon as possible. Why? Because a student loan debt cannot be add in a bankruptcy procedure. So see, for Suze Orman, bankruptcy is the financial solution that resolves all problems. But it’s not the case. Bankruptcy destroyed life, it’s the most difficult event that can’t happen to somebody.

If you take the marvelous me (who’s now a superstar on Raymi the Minx by the way – go check it out), I am on the MINX!! as example, I still carry a student debt loan even now and I don’t give a damn. Why? For several reasons. Here they are:

I preferred to build myself a super portfolio for the future instead paying my debt.

Student loan interest is low (below 5%).

A student loan is not a credit line. Once you make a payment on a student loan, you cannot access the money no more. The money disappeared forever. So why should I stressed about paying a student loan? Please explain Suze Orman!

A student loan interest gives you a tax receipt.

For all those reasons, I decided to completely flush the payment on my student loan. Well, not totally flush, because I make the minimum payment on the loan every months but that all. The payment is of 98$.

I think Suze Orman is out there just to make people feel bad about their debt.
It’s just money after all.

My best advice: manage to make the minimum required payment on your loan every single month. Make sure the total of those multiple minimum payments is reasonable. Mine is something like 400$ only.

Asked yourself: if I would be to go under unemployment insurance, would I still be able to make the minimum required payment on my debt? If the answer is yes, your situation is not that bad at all.

Also, always make sure that you have something worth in term of net worth following an improvised payment on your debt.

My personal example:

Total in assets: 156 233.56$
Total in debt: 87 123.22$
Net worth after debt: 69 110.34$

See, even after I paid off completely my debt, I would still have a little something left.

My personal example is dangerous because I am even lucky to be at this stage. I took several risks that I was aware of. However, I considered myself extremely lucky. You have to handle your debt in an extremely efficient manner that it will make you a winner at the end. But be careful on the amount of debt and ho, please, don’t get under a margin account if you are a stock lover because you will sooner or later satisfy your impulse on your broker margin account. I wasn’t able to control myself and I used more than 40k to purchase, not clothes, not boots (I still didn’t purchase a new pair of boots) , no men BUT STOCKS.

It’s important to turn yourself into a passionate investor because the stock market will bring you to a level of richness you cannot simply imagine. Quite powerful stuff. So powerful that it can ruin you or make you rich. One or the other.

And yes, at 69k net worth, I consider myself quite rich. But don’t forget, I am in New Brunswick. A net worth of more than 50k is considered a million here, or almost.

People need to feel confident about their future but Suze Orman is not helping in any way. And at a point, by emphases too much about bankruptcy, she’s bringing it to nothing.

It’s possible to have debt, be enjoying those debts and have a terrific portfolio. It’s possible and achievable, no matter what Suze Orman has to say. That’s my word over her. And I always get the final word. At least here on my blog. :)

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Suze Orman Money Class at TV: taking advantage of the US recession to sale books

I am currently listening to Suze Orman Money Class at the television. It’s pretty much a sale book pinch. However, her stuff that can eventually help people with dealing with their money, there’s no doubt about that. I am not that a fan of Suze Orman since the time she mistreated Nadya Suleman with the help of Oprah, the TV queen. I think she must be a very frustrated person thinking she knows it all. It’s not because Suze Orman is a bestselling author that she’s necessarily a good person. Personally, I never had been able to watch a full TV episode of the Oprah show. There’s something about her that disturbed me and I don’t know exactly what it is.

But my feelings are completely different when it comes to Rosie O’Donnell. Back when I was a teenager, I used to listen to her show and I was just very entertain by her interaction with her guests and also the piano man even if I didn’t exactly understand all of what it was said because it was all in English. However, the Rosie O’Donnell show was absolutely terrific. She now has a new show on the Oprah channel but I didn’t have the chance to watch since it started.

Suze Orman is a big talker of emergency fund. And I am not. I don’t have saving. Everything is pretty much pack in stocks. That’s because of what I am trying to build. And it does also have a lot to do with my personal situation. I am a single fresh babe (lol) with basically no responsibilities what so ever and I am proud of that. I don’t have a huge payment to do on a mortgage each month and I don’t have children to take care of. Emergency funds are a must, but are not a necessity when your portfolio is full of stocks and especially when you are a single fresh babe like myself or single fresh man.

There’s many ways to deal with money and it’s all about finding the right way for you.

In my case, the risks I am taking are calculated. Being in Canada help also. We are not completely immunized from a recession, but chances are lower here in this side of the bother than it is in the US. How could had predicted that one day, the American dream would had become Canadian? I wasn’t ready for the 2008 events and for everything else that followed after that.

Currently, Suze Orman is talking about dividend saying that is have nothing to do if the market is down or up, it’s about getting paid each quarter. And I think that this reach a lot of what Susan Brunner was said in her last comment, to focus more on dividend payment and not that much on the current value of my portfolio. I must be around 10k in capital loss right now. Major part of the current capital loss I am experiencing is related to the current value of my portfolio. There’s no real capital loss unless stocks are being sold. While holding, capital losses are papers stuff only. It has nothing to do with the real value. There’s the market value that played the yo-yo all the time and there’s the essence value.

Do you really think that the real value of Just Energy (JE) is below 10$? I don’t think so, but that’s the value it is trading on in the market. The smartest move would be to buy now when some amazing stocks like Just Energy are trading so low. Because those stocks won’t remain under valued forever. But this is certainly the most difficult part of all, to think outside the box. Each single time a stock crash happens, it’s extremely difficult to remain believer and think that, one day, again, the market will rebound. Right now, that’s the major problem I am dealing whit.

There’s a huge space in between what I really want and hoping for and what is happening right now in the market. And that in between became to be quite frightening. Just like if it will never get better.

In the right column of my blog, I have this section name “My investment portfolio is now at 156 233.56$”. Under that section I had “Only missing 43 766.44$ before reaching my FIRST 200 000$”. I am getting rid of that second line right away. No more money goal, no more cold hard contact with the reality that is disturbing and disgusting. I think it best way to protect myself from doing anything stupid, like selling my stocks, that being just one example.

In case you’re asking, I am not a fan of Suze Orman. Not at all.

While Suze Orman with her blond short hair and super white teeth is desperately trying to sell her books at television, I am going to check on what’s going to be my next investment while wearing my brand new perfume if you don’t mind. This upcoming week is payday. So be ready.

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Precious readers, you’re awesome

Readers to a blog are what fans are to a singer: $$$.

In my case, the big $$$ is not coming from anything I sold. I don’t sell myself on the Web, I am not exactly a Raymi The Minx in the making of. I don’t have tattoos and I am not popular either. However, the best about being me is that I HAVE U. I would give almost everything to have her slim shape and her sexy kitten eyes. And her Teacher? I will skip that part if you don’t mind. LOL.

I would give a lot to be Raymi but I wouldn’t give a cent of my very awesome portfolio because a part of my portfolio is coming from people just like yourself. So it’s kind of nice to be me be. Even if I don’t have any tattoos. Because of my blog, I get a lot of hate messages, but I am also getting some pretty good investment advices. Why would some complete stranger care that much to provide me with some very awesome advices and investment ideas? Why, I don’t know, but I certainly appreciate getting investment ideas. I almost never failed following the sense of oh-yeas-I-want-that-in-my-portfolio! Yeahhhhhh! And here it does again, another X investment in my portfolio.

I invested in WesternOne Equity Income Fund (WEQ.UN) after a long time reader recommends it to me. I bought my units at 5.40$. Made the calculation for yourself. I win big on this + dividend income on top of that makes a lot of cash for a girl.

I invested in Westshore Terminals Invest Corp (WTE.UN) after receiving an email from a BC reader saying that the owner of WTE.UN was one of the richest men of Canada. Great! I of course wanted to invest in a company hold by a very rich man. OH yes! So I invested in WTE.UN because it made sense to me to invest in a company own by a rich man. I did very well on WTE.UN. EXTREMELY MARVELOUSLY WELL. And if I am lucky enough, the Maple Group deal will go through and I will make a big profit on the sell of my TMX Group (X) stocks. I really need to decrease my margin usage and I want that to happen naturally, without any temptation to sell anything coming from my part.

I consider myself to be still on top of my margin situation anyway. I hope that readers get that margin investment is not healthy and it’s not the correct way to build an investment portfolio. I did not use margin because I taught I was better than anyone else, I use margin because there was more than 50k available in fresh cash that I was able to satisfy my investment pulsions. I had been lucky, but I am also currently experiencing a 10k in capital loss. The game will be over the day TD Waterhouse decided to clear my portfolio to clear my margin debt. But that’s not going to happen.

Want to know why? Well, that’s all because one of the most sophisticated woman investor of the Canadian nation, Susan Brunner, happen to comment on my blog saying that I should get a loan, a credit line or something that equal the money own on the margin. That way, in case of a margin call, I could simply pick on the credit line or whatever. It was a real good advice. While facing the August 2011 stock crash, I was facing a disaster and I needed to do something to cover my back. In date of today, I did not apply to extend my credit line limit, but it something I need to take care of. it never really hit me that I could face a terrible situation out of my control. You mean that could have to sell my stocks purchase on margin? You mean me?

Even me, I am not better than anyone else. In front of a stock crash, I crash too. I don’t have the capacity to go over it, if you see what I mean. 

But nothing of that ever scared me to the point of selling my stocks and I continue to invest every month.

And what if I would be doing a huge mistake right there? What if the worldwide economy would have to collapse?

It something I had thinks of, especially since the time I knew that Jean-François Tardif is only 30% invested. Jean-François Tardif is a completed turn on and I take everything he says very seriously. It was a shock for me to learn that he was only 30% invested. Of all what he own, he’s 30% invested. I think only the poor people like myself can have the gut to be stupid enough to be 100% invested. Well, not exactly stupid, but I mean, investing in stocks come at a high risk and trust me, I have paid the price for being adventurous on the stock market. 

But while being 100% invested, I decided to remain 100% invested. It’s too late for me, but if I would be starting all over again, I wouldn’t go on a margin situation, I would had kept some cash in my banking account. Because fact is, the most valuable thing is fresh cold cash.

Just to come back to my margin situation: but what if there will be no margin call? What if my stocks get sell without my authorization to cover my deficit while the market collapses while I am at work?

With TD Waterhouse, nothing is clear like water. They are pretty much a bit like BMO Bank of Montreal in the way they do their customer service but that’s because too much of their business is being manage in Quebec province.

I don’t want to be a victim of Quebec mediocrity.

TD Waterhouse once wrote me an email in response to my blog. It was the most hilarious thing I ever went through in my life. Of course, I find the attention gentle and kind. They acknowledge of the problem, they did not try to hide anything. I also must said that everything that had been done as mistake had been mix very very quickly. I don’t think they really wanted to hear me scream at them anyway. I didn’t have to scream, but I always hate TD Waterhouse from that date. An undeep feeling of I HATE U SO MUCH! Giving me a compensation of 50$ for the shit they give me was simply not enough. I really have that deep anger and it never really go away. 50$ wasn’t good enough. Money cannot buy my respect and peace of mind.

But this doesn’t have anything to do with readers right. Kind of not.

This is where the hot stuff is getting out.

Read this:

Exchange Income Corporation (EIF)

I had invested in Exchange Income Corporation (EIF) following a reader suggestion and it was just one of those moves that, today, make me think that I may not be totally perfect ok, but I certainly have that money drive and in face of the marvellous, I did not hesitate. So I jump in Exchange Income Corporation (EIF) and since that time, I had been extremely please with. EIF had jump to the 22$+ today because of that great new 3 years contract with AT&T. Ok, like that, I sound smart, but it’s because of a reader too lol.

Remember when I sold my YLO stocks? I made a 300$ capital loss by selling YLO. But I sell it when it was about time. I reinvested all of the money left in EIF.

And that was the best decision of my life.

I can be stupid, but I can also be extremely smart.

I am amazing.

And so are you.

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American Express credit card is a girl best friend: super promotional interest rate of 0.99% for one full year

I went to a shopping trip to Quebec City. I needed a pair of boots but I didn’t get them because everything was full price and it didn’t worth it from my perspective. But today, we got our first snow in New Brunswick and I regret not buying a pair of boots, even full price.

Anyway, great news is that American Express is going to help me to get a decent pair of boots. For all purchases made between November 30, 2011 and November 29, 2012 on my American Express credit card, I will get the special interest rate of 0.99% until December 9, 2012. This involved making the minimum payment every month on the American Express. But for the balance left, the rate will of a very fantastic 0.99%.

Don’t you find that 0.99% is pretty much close to the 0%?

I do.

I am just going to get the strict stuff I need and that’s all but still, I very happy to be able to benefit of an opportunity to shop and look dividendly lovely. Just like that. I rock this place.

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What happen when the Canadian stock market decided to flush me... I flush too

Today, we had our first snow in New Brunswick. On the same day, the TSX lost more than 200 points to establish itself to a very poor 11 571.71 points. I know, that’s hurt.

Major part of me turn around stocks, the stock market, my personal finance. So when the TSX down it’s all me that is down too. However, I can easily detach myself from what happen on the stock market despite being 100% invested. Despite being 100% there. My biggest mistake could turn out to be to have no cash, no savings in term of real cold cash left at the bank. I manage my budget dollar after dollar. Maybe in another life I had been a very brilliant accountant. Maybe.

Biggest part of my savings no longer belong to me. Over the year, I invested thousands and thousands of dollars on the Canadian stock exchange. I never doubt of what I was doing. I never doubt of myself. I never doubt of my investments. Never. Each time a stock of mine drop in value, it’s a surprise. And trust me, that happen more than once.

I am never scared of losing my money. That’s in reason of my relationship to money. Money is not a problem to me. That’s probably why I don’t mind holding more close to 90k in debt. Money paid my bill, but it happen that all of my life, I always had more than needed and at a point, I find all of that investment hobby very interesting. And what if I could eventually make a living from my dividend like Derek Foster?

It’s a real good thing that he’s married because it’s the only reason why I leave him alone.

LOL.

See, that idea quite of obsess me since 2007. In my 5 years of obsession, I trade and trade, buy stocks, sell stocks, got in all the directions. Since 2007, my passion never stops growing and it’s not now, because of a stupid economic situation that I am going to stop now.

The stock market? I control it (or almost). It’s in my mind. It’s in my Dividend Girl spirit.

I know I know I know! :0)

If you ever think that I am going to stop now, you are wrong.

Wow, I don’t quite get what’s happening like right now. It must be what I had eaten for supper. It’s name magic mushrooms.

LOL.

In case you want to know, my always fabulous non-registered portfolio closed today at 107 947.50$ and I am going to stop here because I have an idea for another post.

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Review of Derek Foster newest book The Worried Boomer: No Pension? Not wealthy? Here’s your plan!

Derek Foster 6th book is the direct continuity of his first book, Stop Working.

But this time, 6 years later, Derek Foster is taking a different path. For people who had problem to manage their money, Derek Foster had included financial exercises of the like of those proposed by Gail Vaz-Oxlade, author of many “debt books”, including Debt Free Forever. I would like Derek Foster to skip that boring part to really deliver exclusively at what he does best: stock investment.

If you want my point of view, someone how cannot manage its own money have a long way to go before being able to invest. Derek Foster should leave the manage-your-money-and-debt part to authors like Gail Vaz-Oxlade who don’t really have anything to say when it comes to the real stuff: investment. Because if you are wise enough, you’ll become quickly rich by closely following Derek Foster moves. I may not be rich yet, but I can push the vanity to write that yeah, I, the Dividend Girl, well, I have a net worth of close to 70k. And 70k is quite a lot of money! And don’t forget my 7k in annual dividend income that I should hit by the end of 2011...

If you are intelligent enough, you’ll get Derek stuff pretty quickly and his stuff will blow your mind.

Derek Foster first book had been published in 2005. I only read Derek Foster Stop Working master piece in 2007-2008. Following what, I start investing in stock and my portfolio seriously starts growing. I won’t denied, I had lost money on the stock market. I did day trading, I trade silver like if it was bananas, I over trade... But great news, I still have that close to 70k in net income and I am currently experiencing a capital loss of somewhere of 8 or 9k. For all the risk I took, I find myself extremely lucky to be just behind of 9k or so. But if I would had simply follow Derek Foster advices, I wouldn’t have experience of a capital loss of 9k or something for 2011. Maybe just 7k. I never took time to calculate but I should, of course. Overall, I don’t have any problem to follow the pulse, I accept my mistakes.

I am a serious type of girl but nothing much scared me, and especially not the stock market. In life, I do what I want. Let say that I had paid the price for being an adventurous investor-gambler. BUT – because I am now back in track, because I kept investing every month in blue chips, because I had read Derek Foster latest book The Wealthy Boomer (!) now more than ever, my chances to recover from my mess are actually pretty good. But of course, I need to have the stock market by my side. I will only be able to move on in a good stock market condition. If not, I have all the rest of my life to work on this and recover.

Otherwise, Derek Foster 6th book is not very different of his other books. However, it definitively worth the reading because even I miss-know-it-all learn some great new stuff by reading The Worried Boomer: No Pension? Not wealthy? Here’s your plan! In the past books, if I am not mistaking, Derek Foster had mostly cover stock investment. In The Worried Boomer, Derek Foster covers some other investment products that can help investors to, if not, retire early, well at least earn a few extra pennies and enjoy life while still being on a 9 to 5 lifestyle.

The only thing that is missing is an update of Derek Foster portfolio. THE DEREK FOSTER PORTFOLIO is more than an ordinary portfolio. I build the most part of my fortune on stuff like PPL, ENF just to name those 2. PPL and ENF are Derek Foster stocks. Usually, Derek Foster publishes at the last pages of his book an update on his portfolio. Unless I am mistaking, Derek Foster is not talking of his portfolio in his newest book and that is quite dramatic. Forget about all the blabla on debt and on how to manage money and spending... I don’t care!! What I want is the real deal. What I care about is to know on what Derek Foster is currently holding to in order to generate an income to support his family.

Also, in this new book, you’ll find be please to learn that Derek Foster is the proud father of a baby girl. I remember that picture from the Toronto Star where we had an article about Derek Foster with a nice family picture of him, his wife and their 4 little boys wearing sunglasses. Derek Foster daughter is now 3 years old.

And no, I won’t tell you more about anything related to the content of the book, but you can always buy it here.

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Welcome in my non-registered Enbridge Inc. (ENB)!

Today, the TSX crash again. Personally, whenever the TSX lost more than 200 points in a day, well, I can that kind of events more of the like of a stock crash rather than just the market volatility. Today stock crash was the first thing.

Secondly, I finally invested in Enbridge (ENB). I invested a bit less than 1 000$ at 35.34$ per stock. ENB closed the day at 35.93$, which is quite good. I really like it when the stock I invest in suddenly decided to grow just because I am now in.

My non-registered portfolio closed today session at 109 704.45$. I am below the 110k mark, but whatever.

Third thing, I had received today Derek Foster new book The Worried Boomer: No Pension? Not wealthy? Here’s your plan! I almost complete the reading in one shoot because I really wanted to know what this new book was about. Now I know. I will certainly give it a second more in deep reading. I learn a great deal and PLEASE, check it out at page 103, you’ll learn something very awesome for your RRSP. Just for that new founding, it really worth it for me to buy The Worried Boomer.

Fourth thing, tomorrow is FRIDAY.

Fifth thing, have all a good weekend and don’t feel too bad about the stock market crash of today.

:)

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Show me your money, I will show you mine

What look at first be a bad market day turns out to be quite a good day after all. My now famous all over the world non-registered portfolio closed today session at a fantastic 110 240.17$. At this point, if my non-registered portfolio can exceed the 110k, I will be just pleased with that.

I had invested every single pennies I own just to be on top of everything and right now, I am on top of world. Or kind of.

In just 2 days, I will be investing again! So far, I am pretty set to move into the grove of Enbridge (ENB). For the past couple months, I had been quite careful with my stock picks. I had been quite of an adventurous investor. It’s difficult to focus on blue chips because in the immediate, the dividend is boring and the stocks not very exciting BUT reward could come later.

I can easily see myself hitting the 200k by the end of 2012 if 2012 turn out to be better than 2011.

I am no longer in front of my laptop during daytime so I need an extra reliable portfolio that I don’t have to worry about. So hitting the jackpot by buying extra boring blue chips is what I am doing at this time. But believe it or not, it haven’t been this great since I got a taste of hell in August 2011. A taste of a completely retarded stock crash. Some will have to pay for that and it’s not going to be me. Like Ffffffff offffffffffff. It’s simply not going to happen the way it was meant to be. So be ready! :)

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Experiment the power of nickel with DNI Metals Inc. (DNI)

DNI Metals Inc. (DNI) closed today session at 29 cents, for an increase of close to 30%. I made my initial investment in my non-registered portfolio on June 2009 of 23 000 stocks at 3 cents of the old Dumont Nickel (DNI). Dumont Nickel had become DNI Metals Inc. (DNI) following a restructuration. Following the transformation into DNI Metals Inc. (DNI), I transferred what I had left of DNI into my TFSA.

From the start, I knew that I was going to make money from this stock, but the strategy change among the way. At first, I wanted a quick buy-and-sell scheme. I wanted a 200$ profit to have extra money to spend for the summer. 200$ is not that much, but I wasn’t really looking for more. In the month of June 2009, for whatever reason, DNI make a nice little jump. So I taught I could easily make a profit from that one. But...

I was 28, wild as I am now, I wanted a profit, but I barely knew what I was doing.

Not that I am much better now, but I learn a few things among the way.

Because see, DNI is the kind of stock that jump a couple of times during the year for no special reason. That being a couple of times a year ONLY. The trading volume on DNI is very light. It’s extremely difficult to make a quick buy-and-sell deal on this one for that reason.

In June 2009, I became a trader. I wasn’t an investor anymore.

And in June 2009, I didn’t know what I now know.

I happily bought 23 000 stocks of DNI in June 2009 without knowing what I was doing.

However, I turn out well. Fact is, DNI Metals Inc. (DNI) turn out to be an interesting company to hold, especially inside a TFSA. Previously this year, DNI jump to the 40 cents per stock. But when it happen, I decided to hold. It was clear for me that I could make much more than 40 cents per stock on DNI. As for now, DNI is under the 40 cents, but I am confident that DNI could became a dollars stock soon instead of a penny stock, meaning DNI could eventually reached the 1$ per stock in a matter of if not months, a couple of years. I have all the time of the world and I am certainly not in a rush to sell my precious DNI Metals Inc. (DNI) stocks. From penny stock to a dollars stock, DNI can make it!

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My investment portfolio on date of November 11, 2011

Savings:
240.17$

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio CAN$
Sprott Inc. (SII): 7 355.37$
Timminco (TIM): 46$
Blue Note Mining (BNT): 32$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 5 547.96$
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): 39$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 2 516.29$
Fortis Inc. (FTS): 3 622.32$
Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL): 12 474.66$
Just Energy Group Inc. (JE): 7 184.84$
Pengrowth Energy Corporation (PGF): 2 337.04$
Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (ENF): 6 656.60$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 1 833.40$
Davis + Henderson Corporation (DH):
3 517.50$
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):
6 881.16$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 4 198.32$
iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index (XRE): 2 279.20$
Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN): 2 046.26$
Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (CFX): 1 209.10$
New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI): 1 237.60$
Exchange Income Corporation (EIF): 6 425.26$
Rogers Sugar Inc. (RSI): 1 624.47$
Student Transportation (STB): 1 216.80$
Colabor Group Inc. (GCL): 2 196.72$
TMX Group Inc. (X): 4 555.32$
Data Group Income Fund (DGI.UN): 2 356.62$
K-Bro Linen Inc. (KBL): 2 084$
Westshore Terminals Invest Corp (WTE.UN): 4 780$
WesternOne Equity Income Fund (WEQ.UN): 2 485.20$
Atlantic Power Corp (ATP): 3 171.70$
First Majestic Silver Corp (FR): 1 751$
Kinross Gold Corp (K): 2 163$
TransCanada Corp (TRP): 1 020.25$
Canadian National Railway Co (CNR): 2 423.40$
Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (FC): 514.80$
Sprott Strategic Fixed Income Fund (SFI.UN): 477$

TOTAL: 110 260.16$

Stocks and Units investment portfolio $US:
Sprott Physical Silver Trust ET (PSLV): 2 512$
US cash: 4.12$

TOTAL: 2 516.12 $ US

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
EnerCare Inc. (ECI): 25.17$
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): 632.50$
Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U): 3 253.80$
Cash: 3.08$

TOTAL: 3 914.55$

RSP investment portfolio:
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund: 6 644.08$
Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL): 5 424.90$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 2 058$
Emera Incorporated (EMA): 6 811.56$
Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U): 1 084.60$
Cash: 124.25$

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: 538.85$
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: 340.09$
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: 1 058.79$

Energy and Base Metals Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
577.30$
Natural Resources Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
502.06$

GIC National Bank: 1 219.70$
GIC Plus TD: 500$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund
(Templeton): 593.08$
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: 866.09$
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: 1 042.13$
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund:
1 002.21$
Manulife GIF MLIA B World Invest: 602.44$

Great-West – various: 1 834.72$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund: 533.88$
RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$: 1 969.91$
RBC Global Resources Fund: 1 082.40$
RBC O'Shaughnessy International Equity Fund: 594.67$
RBC O'Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity
Fund: 1 167.31$
RBC Global Precious Metals Fund: 952.15$

TOTAL: 39 125.17$

Social Capital at Desjardins Membership share
for 3 accounts: 40$

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-
free Savings account + RRSP + Online Income
(137.39$):
156 233.56$

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My one day trip to Quebec City

Yesterday, I was in Quebec City! It was a one day trip that went off really too quickly. We went at the Place Laurier and went to the other mall there’s there, Place Ste-Foy and Place de la Cité. Fun, but shopping was difficult. There were so many things to see and doing it all in a couple of hours only was too much asking. It has been a little while since I went to Quebec City so I barely remember how the malls were. In my memory, there was 2 malls one behind the other, not 3. The third one actually look pretty new, so it could be a new mall. It has a huge Gap store and also an Apple store. The pictures I took from my iPod are not that great, but I am posting anyway.

Also, while being in Quebec City, I notice in a store that Mariloup Wolfe, a Quebec actress was going to be at a specific store in the afternoon. Too bad, but I could not relocated the store when it was time. lol!

I didn’t need anything expect a good pair of boots. The boots I spot were about 350$ after taxes. So I went to the girl and said if you make a rebate of 50$, I will buy those boots right away. Unfortunately, my offer had been refused. But I gave it a try! The girl didn’t give me a funny look, but I guess it’s not everyday that she received that kind of offer.. YEAH. But that’s not the most hilarious thing.

Fact is, I find 350$ too expensive. I could have bought a pair of boots whatever price they were. But 350$ was kind of too much. I have a special foots condition and I cannot wear any kind of shoes. The shoes need to be as comfortable as running shoes. For my work shoes, I got in Montreal way back Naturalizer dressing shoes. I pay 70$ for them and I can wear them every day without hurting my foot.

I wanted a pair of boots from the same brand, but unfortunately, there wasn’t a Naturalizer store like in Montreal. There was some Naturalizer at La Baie but they were not what I was looking for. I try different pair of boots but they were not soft in the inside and I knew they were going to hurt my foot. So I didn’t purchase any boots.

I went shopping like I wanted to buy but I didn’t find any bargain. I was lucky in August because there was a lot of sales. It was the perfect time to shop in Montreal but at this time of the year, it doesn’t really worth it to shop and buy.

However, me and my mom stop by the Body shop store where I bought some stuff for my hair. My mom bought herself a pair of boots. I bough myself some cute earrings, but just one pair:

That's a part of the Dividend Girl pretty face you are seeing in here... I know, you probably just curious to see more right? But that won't happen!

I also got some chocolates, 1.35$ a piece:

The day went fine. They received snow in Quebec City yesterday.

Shopping trips are great, but doing it in one single day is a challenge. Also, the timing was not that appreciate, personally speaking, as I never pay full price for clothes. But it worth to go there for the 26 of December and if possible stay a couple of days to go to the île d’Orléans and also visit the Old Quebec. One day is definitively not enough and you leave while wanted more. Actually, that what happens to me. However, my 2 ways ticket was cheap, less than 50$. I don’t take trips really often.

Oh, and this is the hilarious part. Before leaving, me and my mom went to the Cage aux sports for a beer and my mom asked to be serve right away because we had a bus to take lol... You should have seen the girl... Priority service for those people coming from New Brunswick please!

The place wasn’t full, but there was a football game going on and the waitresses and waiters were busy. We wait, but then I notice the bar so I went directly. We drank our beer quickly and on the way out took the wrong direction, went out, and went the bus stop.......

We got St-Hubert for supper. We don’t have any St-Hubert restaurant here in NB, at least not in my town. We don't have any Body Shop stores either. So this was a little trip that was fun to take.

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Radio Radio Cargué dans ma chaise music video

One of the Atlantic hottest band, Radio Radio, just launch today, on this mystical date, 11th day of the 11th month of 2011, their latest music video.

At first, it could seem strange for a band to launch a video on Remember Day, but knowing the Maya theme of the video, the special date of today just perfectly match with the vibe.

You had been reading in English a blog wrote by a real NB French speaker. Good. But are you ready for Radio Radio now? That's what we're going to find out. Be ready..

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Remember the date: 11th day of the 11th month. The year? 2011

 

I went to the remembrance ceremony this morning. It was quite cold, but at least, there was no snow. You can check it out on the pictures I took. The TSX is open today. My non-registered portfolio is hitting the 110 535.19$! That’s very good actually!

And I have a major announcement to make!!!

I had hit the 6k in dividend income so far for the year 2011!!!!

Yeahhhhhh

And the best is that next week is pay day so I will have some cash to invest. So another investment(s) is/are about to join in very soon! It could be interesting to add some Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) stocks in my portfolio. I think it could add diversification. And I also wanted to invest in Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (POT).

For December, I could easily see myself invest in Enbridge (ENB) and also in Bell Aliant (BA), but we’ll see.

Following what, for the first time of my life, I will be more or less out of investment stocks idea. It will be the perfect time to pay off some debt... or go shopping.

And talking about shopping, I am going tomorrow to a shopping trip to Quebec City. I need a good pair of boots and a pair of earrings. And I am sure, I will get some other stuff.

Remember, money had been made to be spend.

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Capital Power Income L.P. (CPA.UN) is forever gone

These past couple days had been quite busy here in New Brunswick! First of all, I find out that my boss cannot handle on his own single salary the mortgage payment for his house. He can treat me like shit as long as he wants, talk in my back, but I know for sure that with my superior portfolio, I am on track to hit gold baby. Forget about driving the car of the year or getting the big house that will just eat more than half of your paycheck every single month of the best years of your life. In today reality, it’s really important to be completely out of track, be very off and be off of the popular gigs. I build up myself gracefully by being always at the complete opposite where no one expected me to be, maybe just as graceful as getting my punch in a or in your face, maybe, depending if you like me or not.

Days passed by, stock crashes after stock crashes... Unfortunately, my non-registered portfolio is now below the mark of the 110k. I was getting excited when it exceed the 110k. This is simply the result of the current economy we are in right now. My non-registered portfolio closed today session at 108 573.83$. It’s really rough to invest in today’s market condition. There’s absolutely no stability what so ever. Retail investors need to get a good beat of the Canadian stock market and really see how things are crazy out there. While facing the disaster, no one can really tell which way is better to follow. It’s at the discretion of the investor to choose to sell, or to buy, to cash in some capital gain or capital loss. I am certainly not in position to provide any advices, but what I know for sure, it’s not anytime soon I will stop investing. I wrote about that multiple times before. But let’s do it again ok.

I had received recently great dividend from CFX (41.60$) and HGY.UN (16.58$). So for the dividend part, my portfolio is very great, but it could be even better in a close future. The only problem I am getting at this time a time management problem. I need to fix a more regular routine so I can do everything I want to do. I had been here in NB since September now, but I cannot say I am 100% in the damn investment thing. Because see, it’s great to pick my stocks depending of what guys like Derek Foster, Eric Sprott, Gordon Pape and please let’s not forget about Jean-François Tardif and other people have to say about the stock market, not to forget the girls, Susan Brunner as well and readers, of course. The process has to come from my own self. And this is the challenge I am facing at this time, to be more efficient on the way I pick my stocks.

Because of a poor time management, I don’t do as much as I would like and in result, I have what I have as portfolio. However, I really like my portfolio and I simply don’t get over it how much it is good. It’s a mix of blue chips low dividend payer with a mix of high dividend payer and also some small cap, silver, gold.

I haven’t have time to say that the company that had been around here for quite some time in my non-registered portfolio, that you used to know as Capital Power Income L.P. (CPA.UN) does no longer exist. CPA.UN got eaten up by another company that is from my very wonderful portfolio Atlantic Power Corp (ATP). This means that I now own more stocks of ATP, which is great. ATP had been a great little small cap to hold, paying a good monthly dividend, I don’t have anything to complain about. However, a small cap remain what it is, a small cap. ATP has a bit of volatility in the value. However, it worth the investment.

Small caps are sensible to the market volatility. Most of the small caps directly interact with the investor behaviours. That’s why it’s really important to invest in blue chips only at this time and that’s what I am trying to do. Investing in those difficult times is a personal choice, but you may want to greatly consider Jean-François Tardif decision of being only 30 % invested. That’s really something that caught my attention. And the only reason why I continue to invest whenever I can well it’s in the hope of being able to recover from my capital loss. I proceed this way following every and single stock crashes I had gone through since 2008. Will this strategy eventually paid off? I cannot tell from my own experience because I haven’t been investing in stocks long enough, but I truly believe in my chances. If it wouldn’t be of my personal situation, after knowing that Tardif is only 30 % invested, I will do the same.

The stock market is a complete disaster. No one can say if it’s going to get better or worst. It’s too in deep in the financial system. So I could do differently, I would be investing 30% of what I have available in cash and not a penny more. While recession facing, only cash will allow to buy gas for the car and food for the table. That’s a reality that we live in and following what, I had decided to do an enormous garden this summer and I will improvise myself not a stock market, but a little farm market but of course, I don’t have a clue of how this is going to take form. The dividend Girl is going to be a farmer this summer!

The stock market is cool, but better to play it safe and plan something out of it. That’s really what I think at this time.

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As a good politican, Stephen Harper broke his promises

Lately, my portfolio had performed well. My non-registered portfolio close today session at a very good 110 505.18$. CNR is moving forward into the 80$. I got very lucky to get some stocks at 65$. Just for stuff like that, I strongly believe I can recover from my capital loss within a matter of 6 months or even less but to do so, I need a good market condition. However, while talking about capital loss in my non-registered portfolio, it’s pretty much virtual, because the money is in the stock market.

Stephen Harper had failed. Tories won’t be able to repair their irreparable damages to the Canadian economy. I had lived in Ottawa and I can tell for sure that the staff working for the government is overpaid and they get too much advantage on our tax money. But that’s not all. Staffing agencies are the worst. In Ottawa area, the federal government give each year millions and millions of dollars to staff their minister. Staffing agencies are getting a good percentage of the money, not the actual workers.

I disliked the time I lived in Ottawa as much as I did for Montreal. There’s way too much Quebeckers is the federal capital area. The result? Corruption, corruption, corruption. Staffing agencies are making millions but the fed is ok about it. The system is pretty much corrupt there. But the staffing agencies are not alone. The translation agencies are making big money on our tax money. In term of translation, ministers, federal organizations give too much money to get their shit translate. Masha Krupp Translation Group is among the kind of agencies who made themselves millionaires on such thing. It’s a real shame. Francophone needs to learn English – I don’t need a sophisticated level of English – it can be as raw as myself. I don’t care. What we should look forward to is economy, common sense and energy. The scheme doesn’t have to be perfect just cut cut cut, laid off half of the government staff, create a real economy base on the power of the middle class, create business, richness, but please, the government need to stop the waste of time and money. It’s not Wall Street or Bay Street the problem, we are in the place and space we are in because of governments like the one of Stephen Harper who had failed in their duty. And do you think they care? Hell no, they get paid anyway.

Ii don’t think Stephen Harper government has what it take to push Canada over the edge. I saw all kind of financial abuses while living in Ottawa a couple of years ago. Trust me, it was ugly. Most of the government workers I had worked for were extremely fresh. They are well-off, and get paid a fortune not to work, but just to be there. Most of government jobs are not of a big deal and not a living necessity. Stephen Harper is a lot like Brian Mulroney: a liar. Fact is, Stephen Harper broke his promises. He won’t be able to deliver Canada from debt for 2015. But guess what, Stephen Harper is getting paid anyway.

At a point, middle class worker like myself can do better than any Brian Mulroney or Stephen Harper there is out there. Why? Simply because we care and they don't. They key words will be: PRIORITY and more CARING.

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The Worried Boomer: No Pension? Not Wealthy? Here’s YOUR Plan! (Yeah!!)

Ok, this is truly fascinating. It won't be of the usual long post but still..

Shortly after updating my debt situation, Derek Foster just had came with a new book: The Worried Boomer: No Pension? Not Wealthy? Here’s YOUR Plan!

I own more than 80k in debt. Do you think that's wealthy? Certainly not, but having a 6 figures portfolio make me happy.

So I wonder what Foster has in his book about the ones who are not financial healthy like myself. That's the book I needed like RIGHT NOW :)

Fascinating isn't? It's coming shortly after I complaint to Derek Foster about him who doesn't like lottery and gaming. That was his second last newsletter. And with all his powerful intelligence, he has replied to me.

Yeah I know, sometime I don't make that much sense but I cannot wait to read about the not wealthy in the newest Derek Foster book!

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My deb situation on date of November 6, 2011

9 550.18$ at a low interest rate of 4.75% (RRSP credit line rates) = 453.63$ in annual interest

4 800$ at a low interest rate of 4% (credit line rates) = 192$ in annual interest

7 811.51$ on a TD Canada Trust credit card at a low interest rate of 2.9% (result of a credit card balance transfer) = 226.53$ in annual interest

7 178.89$ at low interest rate loan at 5.50% (student loan) = 394.84$ in annual interest

5 000$ at 8.75% (credit line) = 437.50$ in annual interest PAID OFF

9 018.28$ at 7.52% (credit line rates) = 678.17$ in annual interest

48 764.36$ at a low interest rates of 4.25% (margin money coming from TD Water house): =
2 072.49$ in annual interest

TOTAL: 87 123.22$

TOTAL in annual interest: 4 017.66$
[In date of November 6, 2011]

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Welcome in Sprott Strategic Fixed Income Fund (SFI.UN)!

Tonight is pay time (I am waiting for my paycheck), and in preparation to that, I buy some extra stocks of CNR to add up the number of stocks I already own of that company. I also buy some units of the Sprott Strategic Fixed Income Fund (SFI.UN). I had an eye on that one for quite some time. I already own a lot of Sprott stuff. I have some Sprott Inc. (SII) stocks, I had invested quite some money in the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund. I also invested in silver in both Sprott Physical Silver Trust ET (PSLV) and Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U). I am a bit familiar with Sprott financial products. Most of them, well at least the ones I had invested in, are super aggressive, meaning that they are subject to the volatility of the stock market and they are all super sensitive to it. But the Sprott Strategic Fixed Income Fund (SFI.UN) is quite different.

I could have invested all of my money in the CNR, but I decided to diversify myself and move on something less volatile than stocks. During the stock crash of August 2011, even at that time, SFI.UN had remained quite stable. See, in my portfolio, I want it all. I want to earn dividend, I want a portfolio that will grow in value and at the same time, I am also looking for stability in the value, meaning I don’t want a portfolio that will experience some too quick capital loss.

Personally, that’s why I never invested in oil. I really dislike everything related to oil. I day trade on an oil something index in the past – this summer actually – and I learn my lesson. Oil sector is very difficult to understand, I find and it’s extra volatile. It’s also produce pollution and a lot of environmental concern. Just have to remember about the Louisiana disaster and its oil spill. That wasn’t too long ago. For all of those reasons, oil companies are a big no no for me.

I agree that pipelines are not far behind oil for environmental concern, but I prefer pipeline over oil. Thanks to Derek Foster, I made a little fortune on PPL title. Pipeline yes, oil no. So there’s a bunch of concerns that play in when it comes time for me to pick my stocks. That’s why there’s so many changes. If I would have more money to invest, I would have also invested in Enbridge (ENB). SFI.UN had been launched this year, but because we had experienced a terrible stock crash in August 2011 and at that time, SFI.UN was still over 9$ per unit. SFI.UN was launched at 10$ per unit. So right there, it’s a wow factor. However, I am aware that the potential of grow is less than it is with stock. I am already very much exposed to the stock market. Adding some income fund in is my way to diversify my asset and, at the same time, add a great dividend (SFI.UN dividend yield is of a very great 6%), and also bring in stability in the value, even if I am talking here of less than 100 units. But still the effort is there.

I first invested in Canadian National Railway Co (CNR) when the stocks were only 65$. Today, CNR closed today session at a very good almost 80$ per stock. I know, I made a 15$ profit per stock in a matter of a couple of weeks. That’s another wow factor. Unfortunately, it’s not everything in my portfolio that’s performing that well. But I believe in my chances to recover. Just today, my non-registered portfolio closed today session at 109 309.23$. It’s a good move forward and I just hope to be able to survive the Euro crisis. The 2 investments I made today was for close 1 500$.

I was surprised when the market gain points today. I don’t get it because following referendum Greece news, I taught I was about to face another disaster. But it didn’t happen that way. Actually, if you read my blog very carefully, things never really happen the way it was initially plan and truly, the stock market, I don’t understand it. Voilà. But what I do know for sure is that I am going to recover from my capital loss. One day.

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And now, a referendum

Taught that the stock crash of August 2011 was hard? I personally go through a complete nightmare and I was just coming back from a 2 weeks vacation when it happens. I taught everything was pretty much fixed for the Euro. Well, it seems I was completely wrong. Greece wants a referendum regarding its financial situation, which is very stupid, I find. While having the chance to get an in-extremis emergency fund, Greece should be grateful. But instead, they decided to show up some leadership and play it smart with their referendum idea. I just don’t get it. 

This could make things extremely difficult on the stock market. It’s like living a nightmare. I had been doing well so far, but I don’t have enough in cash to be able to survive to an in deep recession. At this time, the plan I have to invest in blue chips is getting stronger than ever because if we get another dip of the August 2011 crash, well, nothing else but blue chips will help me to survive. I need to minimize the capital loss. I am not that stress however because I had been able to keep my margin situation in good shape so far. I had a bit more than 1 000$ to invest.

Following last Susan Brunner comment, well, I decided I could maybe invest more in CNR instead of investing in ENB but I have one day to actually think and decided. Reason why is because I am already very much exposed to the pipeline world in my portfolio with stuff like TRP, ENF, PPL... So thanks to her, I may increase my position in CNR.

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