Diversification, Dividends, and Volatility: A Quick Investment Update

It hasn't been an easy week for the stock market. The TSX closed the past week at a disappointing 18,737.39 points. Here's how my various portfolios fared: My non-registered portfolio closed the week just shy of $130, at exactly $129,615.46. My US portfolio is at $4,930.69 US, my RRSP stocks-only portfolio is at $57,564.31, and my TFSA portfolio stands at $117,138.96. In better days, my TFSA portfolio was nearly on par with my non-registered one, but not anymore. It seems like my TFSA investment portfolio is a bit more volatile, probably due to the presence of crypto ETFs and telecom stocks like BCE Inc. (BCE), which aren't performing well lately.

My TFSA holds various investments, and despite the uncertainties, some are doing well. One of my recent investments, Ninepoint Energy Income Fund ETF (NRGI), is shining with a gain of +8.52%.

Yesterday was a better day for my stock portfolio, gaining $2,500. The numbers now look like this: My non-registered portfolio closed at $130,663.63, my US portfolio at $4,963.03, my RRSP stocks-only portfolio at $58,152.39, and my TFSA portfolio at $118,959.70.

It was a challenging week, but I put in some overtime. I should receive a nice paycheck next week. My margin account debt currently stands at $28,630. TFI International Inc. (TFII) pleasantly surprised with a 14% increase in its quarterly dividend distribution. Inside my non-registered portfolio, Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) is a major holding, and I received a substantial dividend yesterday, which I plan to reinvest to acquire more shares. The dividend income from my TFSA and non-registered portfolios now amounts to approximately $936 per month. I hope my stocks maintain their dividend distribution without any cuts.

Not long ago, Corus Entertainment suspended its dividend, but thankfully, I don't have any of their shares in my portfolio. I can't help but hope that none of my other stocks follow that path. An extra income of $936 per month has become a significant addition for me to manage. At least, it is for me.

I'm enjoying my last few days in New Brunswick before returning to Montreal for my dermatologist appointment in two weeks.

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Exploring Three New Investment Opportunities: Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (IVN), ARC Resources Ltd. (ARX) and Sprott Physical Gold Trust (PHYS)

I was off this past Friday and went hunting. This year, hunting hasn't been easy. The weather has been too warm. Even if I start to complain about the "cold" weather, it's not our typical cold autumn weather. I didn't closely follow the TSX this past Friday, which closed the week at 19,115.64 points, so I'm not exactly sure why it closed on a lower note. I suppose it's due to a mix of different reasons. My US portfolio closed today's session at $4,907.09, my RRSP stocks-only portfolio at $57,816.39, my TFSA portfolio at $119,920.27, and my non-registered portfolio at $130,041.30.

My margin debt is currently at $28,741. I had to borrow a couple of hundred dollars from my margin to pay my credit card bill, which came to... $3,500. I don't remember the last time I spent so much, but I know exactly where my money went, and I don't regret any of those expenses. Ready? I got a haircut and some highlights for my hair, I bought a Kobo Sage eReader and its matching pen, Timberland boots for autumn, two pairs of winter boots, I spent on clothes, visited Sephora, purchased bus tickets for my visit to New Brunswick. The weather was exceptionally warm in Montreal during the month of September, so I renewed my pass for the swimming pool, went to the movies several times, and so on. I had a very enjoyable time.

I recently received over $300 in my TFSA portfolio as a dividend. I transferred that money to pay down my margin debt. My dividend income from both my TFSA and non-registered portfolio now totals $932 per month. It's a good extra income to have at my disposal. Currently, I mostly use the money to pay down my margin when I don't use it to pay my high credit card bills. Generally, I manage my spending quite well. Despite having spent a considerable amount, my margin account is still in a favorable position. Back in July, my margin debt was at $36,095, so I'm doing alright. I should have a good amount to put towards paying it down. However, in mid-November, I'm returning to Montreal for a minor dermatologist intervention which will cost around $1,200. I received a quote, but I forgot to ask if it includes taxes or not.

I have a few dollars in my RRSP portfolio from dividend distributions available for investment. Whether I have money to invest or not, I like to remain open to new stock investment ideas. Technically, I always have funds available for investment due to my margin account. However, since I'm focused on paying down my margin account, I'm trying to exercise restraint and not dip into it too much. Recently, on BNN Bloomberg, the show Market Call featured Rick Rule of Rule Investment Media as a guest. It was a highly engaging episode. Two stocks discussed by Rick Rule caught my attention: ARC Resources Ltd. (ARX) and Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (IVN). Between the two, I prefer Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (IVN) because its overall chart appears stronger and more stable. The overall chart is something that is really important for me.

I'm not particularly interested in the mining sector, and currently, I don't have any mining companies in my investment portfolio. However, I can envision investing a small sum of money in Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (IVN), even though it's not a dividend-paying stock. When evaluating a potential stock for my portfolio, I like to examine the overall chart, but the 5-year and 1-year charts are also important. As for ARC Resources Ltd. (ARX), the overall chart is somewhat challenging to assess.

The 5-year chart for ARC Resources Ltd. (ARX) looks quite good, actually very good.

But don't let that fabulous 5-year chart cloud your judgment. Typically, ARC Resources Ltd. (ARX) would be a big no-no for me, mainly because at the moment, ARC Resources is trading lower than what appears to be its highest value ever, at $33.95, which it reached somewhere around 2008. It seems to me that ARC never fully recovered from the 2008 stock crash, and many stocks never did. While considering its impressive 5-year chart and what Rick Rule had to say about the stock, I wouldn't completely rule out ARX, but it would only be a small investment. When it comes to investing in stocks, it's okay to step out of your comfort zone, but it should be done in moderation. I always find it enjoyable to introduce newcomers to my investment portfolio. I have a passion for stocks and the TSX.

Sprott Physical Gold Trust (PHYS) wasn't recommended by Rick Rule, but it's an investment idea that was suggested by another guest on Market Call. At one point, I was trading silver through the Sprott Silver Gold Trust. That was many years ago, and since then, I haven't held anything related to silver or gold in my investment portfolio. I find the idea of getting back into the Sprott Physical Gold Trust (PHYS) to be a good one, especially for my RRSP portfolio. Gold is gold, and in my view, it surpasses Bitcoin in terms of quality investment for the long term. These days, it may seem like gold isn't receiving as much attention, but it still has its place in any well-rounded portfolio.

The overall chart for Sprott Physical Gold Trust (PHYS) is, in my view, quite appealing. You can see that it can offer growth with stability, which is precisely what I need.

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A Warm Welcome to the New Additions in My Investment Portfolio

As the TSX closed at 19,700 points, my stock portfolio gained $2,700. My non-registered portfolio closed the session at $134,018.11, my US portfolio at $5,002.95, my RRSP stocks-only portfolio at $61,230.91, and my TFSA portfolio at $125,925.86. With these significant gains, my net worth is likely around $353,000. I'm only $15,000 away from reaching my previous net worth from this past August. It's been a challenging journey, but we're heading in the right direction.

I've recently made some investments, and you may have noticed some newcomers in my latest investment portfolio. For certain investments, we're only talking about a small to a very small amount of money being invested. Since I don't incur any brokerage commission fees, believe me when I say I'm taking full advantage of this. These days, I often invest only small amounts of money.

For my TFSA portfolio, I invested in the following stocks:
A&W Revenue Royalties Income Fund (AW.UN)
Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund (CHE.UN)
Element Fleet Management Corp. (EFN)
Exchange Income Corporation (EIF)
Finning International Inc. (FTT)
Hamilton Enhanced U.S. Covered Call ETF (HYLD)
Ninepoint Energy Income Fund ETF (NRGI)
Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL)
Suncor Energy Inc. (SU)
TMX Group Inc. (X)
Wajax Corporation (WJX)
National Bank of Canada (NA)
Total Energy Services Inc. (TOT)
Westshore Terminals Investment Corporation (WTE)

For my RRSP portfolio:

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) - because why not?

And for my non-registered portfolio:
Ag Growth International Inc. (AFN)
Alaris Equity Partners Income Trust (AD.UN)
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
BCE Inc. (BCE)
Canadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce (CM)
National Bank of Canada (NA)
Royal Bank of Canada (RY)
TMX Group Inc. (X)
Telus Corp (T)
Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD)

Westshore Terminals Investment Corporation (WTE) is no stranger to my investment portfolio. I used to hold some WTE stocks. I don't view this as my next goldmine investment, but I wanted to make a small comeback with this one. I only invested a modest amount in WTE. I already had some shares of Wajax Corporation (WJX) in my portfolio. I've experienced great gains with what I already had, so I decided to add a few other stocks. I didn't renew my subscription to Stockopedia, and right now, my inspiration for investment picks is quite limited. This didn't really bother me because I wanted to focus on paying down my margin debt. However, since we had a stock market correction with the TSX a few days ago, the opportunity was too good to pass up, and I decided to invest in a few stocks.

For inspiration, I basically delved into stocks that I already own and those held in the JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN). While many stocks went down during the correction, the JFS.UN wasn't much affected. My newest investments in Ag Growth International Inc. (AFN), Alaris Equity Partners Income Trust (AD.UN), Total Energy Services Inc. (TOT), and Wajax Corporation (WJX) come from Jean-François Tardif's JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN) and/or from the other fund that he manages.

I strive to maintain diversification in my portfolio. I must say that stocks with significant dividend yields, such as BCE Inc. (BCE), Telus Corp (T), and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), just to name a few, are extremely appealing. I recently invested in them, albeit with relatively small amounts each time. In terms of high dividend yield, the Hamilton Enhanced U.S. Covered Call ETF (HYLD) doesn't take a back seat, offering a generous 12% yield. I don't understand how this Hamilton ETF manages to sustain such a high dividend yield distribution to its investors, but that's not my concern, is it? However, here too, I've only invested a small amount. The Hamilton Enhanced U.S. Covered Call ETF (HYLD) dividend yield was simply too tempting to ignore. I was pleased to acquire my units for under $12 each. With these new investments, the dividend income from my non-registered and TFSA portfolios now totals approximately $931 per month.

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The Top Performers of My Investment Portfolio on date of October 6, 2023

Earlier, I updated my investment portfolio and discovered that I currently have $373,267.72 in assets. My net worth stands at $345,282.56, which is a decrease compared to my last portfolio update back in August when my net worth was $367,685.60. I'm trailing by $22,403, and there's a lot of red in my portfolio at the moment. However, amidst the turbulence, there are several investments that are helping keep the boat afloat. Curious about my top performers? Here they are, broken down by portfolio:

Non registered portfolio:
WSP Global Inc. (WSP): +276.50%
Sector: Industrials

Canadian National Railway Co (CNR): +267.73%

Sector: Industrials
Methanex Corporation (MX): +257.27%

Sector: Materials
Loblaw Companies (L): +218.93%

Sector: Consumer Staples
George Weston Limited (WN): +193.37%
Sector: Consumer Staples

TMX Group Inc. (X): +138.52%
Sector: Finance

Fortis Inc. (FTS): +74.87%
Sector: Utilities

Brookfield Asset Management Inc. Class A Limited Voting Shares (BAM.A): +70.95%
Sector: Finance

K-Bro Linen Inc. (KBL): +59.71%
Sector: Industrials

Power Corporation of Canada Subordinate Voting Shares (POW): +41.25%
Sector: Finance

Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL): +38.74%
Sector: Energy

Savaria Corporation (SIS): +36.29%
Sector: Industrials

Enbridge Inc. (ENB): +32.40%
Sector: Energy

Emera Inc. (EMA): +31.38%
Sector: Utilities

TransCanada Corp (TRP): +12.44%
Sector: Energy

Telus Corp (T): +5.67%
Sector: Media

iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index (XRE): +4.99%
Alaris Equity Partners Income Trust (AD.UN): +4.37%

Sector: Finance

Ag Growth International Inc. (AFN): +3.90%
Sector: Industrials

BCE Inc. (BCE): +2.06%
Sector: Media

National Bank of Canada (NA): +1.50%
Sector: Finance

Canadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce (CM): +1.13%
Sector: Finance

Royal Bank of Canada (RY): +1.06%
Sector: Finance

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) : +0.86%
Sector: Finance

US portfolio:
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B): +139.60%

Sector: Financial Services
General Mills Inc. (GIS): +35.73%

Sector: Consumer Defensive
CSX Corporation (CSX): +1.56%

Sector: Industrials

TFSA portfolio:
TFI International Inc. (TFII): +340.73%
Sector: Industrials

WSP Global Inc. (WSP): +181.74%
Sector: Industrials

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (BIP.UN): +159.53%
Sector: Utilities

Toromont Industries Ltd (TIH): +134.94%
Sector: Industrials

Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners L.P. (BEP.UN):+131.51%
Sector: Utilities

Hammond Manufacturing Company Limited Class A Subordinate Voting Shares (HMM.A): +118.85%
Sector: Industrials

Brookfield Asset Management Inc. Class A Limited Voting Shares (BAM.A): +111.52%
Sector: Finance

Canadian National Railway Co (CNR): +89.60%
Sector: Industrials

Calian Group Ltd. (CGY): +65.08%
Sector: Industrials

Canadian Apartment Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (CAR.UN): +64.40%
Sector: Real Estate

Suncor Energy Inc. (SU): +61.66%
Sector: Energy

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (ATD.A): +60.77%
Sector: Consumer Discretionary

CT Real Estate Investment Trust (CRT.UN): +40.86%
Sector: REITs

CGI Inc. (GIB.A): +38.98%
Sector: Technology

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD): +37.69%
Sector: Finance

Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation Class A Exchangeable Subordinate Voting Shares (BIPC): +35.74%
Sector: Utilities

Royal Bank of Canada (RY): +31.34%
Sector: Finance

Granite Real Estate Investment Trust (GRT.UN): +28.87%
Sector: Real Estate

TMX Group Limited (X): +25.50%
Sector: Finance

Nutrien Ltd. (NTR): +24.99%
Sector: Materials

Boralex Inc. Class A Shares (BLX): +24.90%
Sector: Utilities

Goodfellow Inc. (GDL): +24.41%
Sector: Materials

Metro Inc. (MRU): +21.61%
Sector: Consumer Staples

Park Lawn Corporation (PLC): +19.47%
Sector: Consumer Discretionary

Whitecap Resources Inc. (WCP)): +14.36%
Sector: Energy

Wajax Corporation (WJX): +13.12%
Sector: Industrials

Boyd Group Services Inc. (BYD): +11.53%
Sector: Consumer Discretionary

Cargojet Inc. (CJT): +11.07%
Sector: Industrials

North West Company Inc. (The) (NWC): +6.86%
Sector: Consumer Staples

SIR Royalty Income Fund (SRV.UN): +6.07%
Sector: Consumer Discretionary

Brookfield Asset Management Inc. Class A Limited Voting Shares (BN): +5.81%
Sector: Finance

Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund (CHE.UN): +5.19%
Sector: Materials

Ninepoint Energy Income Fund ETF (NRGI): +3.93%
Total Energy Services Inc. (TOT): +3.14%

Sector: Energy

Element Fleet Management Corp. (EFN): +2.83%
Sector: Industrials

Exchange Income Corporation (EIF): +2.08%
Sector: Industrials

Empire Company Limited Non-Voting Class A Shares (EMP.A): +1.84%
Sector: Consumer Staples

Hamilton Enhanced U.S. Covered Call ETF (HYLD): +1.56%
Finning International Inc. (FTT): +1.27%

Sector: Industrials

RRSP portfolio:
Thomson Reuters Corporation (TRI): +274%
Sector: Corporate Services

Toromont Industries Ltd (TIH): +132.53%
Sector: Industrials

Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (BEP.UN): +100.95%
Sector: Utilities

CGI Group Inc. Class A Subordinate Voting Shares (GIB.A): +99.37%
Sector: Technology

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD): +73.12%
Sector: Finance

Savaria Corporation (SIS): +70.32%
Sector: Industrials

Richards Packaging Income Fund (RPI.UN): +61.25%
Sector: Consumer Cyclical

Royal Bank of Canada (RY): +45.76%
Sector: Finance

Emera Inc. (EMA): +45%
Sector: Utilities

CAE Inc. (CAE): +39.12%
Sector: Industrials

Park Lawn Corporation (PLC): +33.57%
Sector: Consumer Discretionary

Boralex Inc. Class A Shares (BLX): +25.23%
Sector: Utilities

Suncor Energy Inc. (SU): +21.14%
Sector: Energy

Leon's Furniture Limited (LNF): +21.01%
Sector: Consumer Discretionary

Wajax Corporation (WJX): +20.33%
Sector: Industrials

Telus Corp (T): +19.71%
Sector: Media

Quebecor Inc. (QBR.B): +17.41%
Sector: Media

Finning International Inc. (FTT): +17.13%
Sector: Industrials

Guardian Capital Group Limited (GCG): +10.47%
Sector: Finance

ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. (ATA): +9.82%
Sector: 

Taiga Building Products Ltd. (TBL): +8.15%
Sector: Materials

Logistec Corporation Class B Subordinate Voting Shares (LGT.B): +6.54%

Sector: Industrials
Hammond Manufacturing Company Limited Class A Subordinate Voting Shares (HMM.A): +5.82%
Sector: Industrials

Vitreous Glass Inc. (VCI): +3.88%
Sector: Industrials

North West Company Inc. (The) (NWC): +2.46%
Sector: Consumer Staples

JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN): +0.93%
TMX Group Inc. (X): +0.42%

Sector: Finance

I started investing in stocks shortly before the stock crash of 2008, and I've continued to invest in stocks ever since. Along the way, I've made some very nice investments - not just one, but many of them. My current net worth of $345,000 is built on the success of TFI International Inc. (TFII) with a gain of +340.73%, making it my highest gainer. In second place, we have WSP Global Inc. (WSP) with a gain of +276.50%, and in third place, Thomson Reuters Corporation (TRI) with a gain of +274%. Starting to invest in high-quality stocks early makes it easier to stay on top of your financial goals as you progress.

Historic of my Total assets and Net worth values on date of October 6, 2023

2023

Total in assets: $373,267.72/Net worth: $345,282.56: October 6, 2023

Total in assets: $393,849.39/Net worth: $367,685.60: August 11, 2023

Total in assets: $397,595.65/Net worth: $361,500.59: July 18, 2023

Total in assets: $416,472.91/Net worth: $370,235.74: May 6, 2023

Total in assets: $419,167.77/Net worth: $373,150.19: April 21, 2023 - MY HIGHEST NET WORTH EVER 

Total in assets: $416,945.17/Net worth: $370,829.18: April 13, 2023 - first time I am in the 370k net worth

Total in assets: $415,945.38/Net worth: $369,820.54: April 11, 2023

Total in assets: $413,311.52/Net worth: $366,524.01: February 13, 2023

Total in assets: $411,186.99/Net worth: $364,399.48: February 10, 2023

Total in assets: $408,656.95/Net worth: $361,844.12: February 7, 2023

Total in assets: $407,606.87/Net worth: $361,043.28: January 17, 2023

Total in assets: $405,708.89/Net worth: $359,060.31: January 16, 2023

Total in assets: $404,983.22/Net worth: $358,324.64: January 13, 2023

Total in assets: $403,429.72/Net worth: $356,771.14: January 12, 2023

Total in assets: $399,232.95/Net worth: $352,574.37: January 11, 2023

Total in assets: $396,629.76/Net worth $349,971.18: January 10, 2023

Total in assets: $395,568.27/Net worth $348,909.69: January 9, 2023
Total in assets: $393,444.59/Net worth $346,786.01: January 6, 2023

2022

Total in assets: $384,602.29/Net worth $337,875.65: December 30, 2022

Total in assets: $394,205.35/Net worth $347,621.02: November 25, 2022

Total in assets: $383,659.43/Net worth $337,227.95: November 11, 2022

Total in assets: $373,493.10/Net worth $327,061.62: November 4, 2022

Total in assets: $356,147.14/Net worth $309,920.82: October 11, 2022

Total in assets: $396,620.95/Net worth $350,590.82: August 14, 2022

Total in assets: $369,523.83/Net worth $323,815.43: June 24, 2022

Total in assets: $367,287.71/Net worth $321,579.31: June 20, 2022

Total in assets: $364,145.55/Net worth $318,437.15: June 18, 2022

Total in assets: $398,010.84/Net worth $352,164.94: June 2, 2022

Total in assets: $385,843.39/Net worth  May 20, 2022: $340,156.47

Total in assets: $407,547.23/Net worth $361,442.42: April 20, 2022 

Total in assets: $405,658.35/Net worth $358,941.11: March 29, 2022

Total in assets: $403,792.28/Net worth $357,075.04: March 25, 2022

Total in assets: $402,081.01/Net worth $355,363.77: March 22, 2022

Total in assets: $400,979.64/Net worth $354,262.40: March 21, 2022 - First time I ever hit on the $400,000 in total assets!

Total in assets: $398,652.13/Net worth $352,071.24: March 18, 2022 - First time I ever hit on the $350,000 in net worth value!

Total in assets: $396,355.91/Net worth $349,713.01: March 10, 2022

Total in assets: $393,037.13/Net worth: $347,573.53: March 4, 2022

Total in assets: $391,766.36/Net worth: $345,622.80: February 9, 2022

Total in assets: $382,726.19/Net worth: $341,862.36: February 2, 2022

Total in assets: $386,320.32/Net worth: $340,128.37: February 1st, 2022

2021

Total in assets: $385,979.66/Net worth: $339,434.39: December 31, 2021

Total in assets: $382,726.19/Net worth: $336,268.16: December 23, 2021

Total in assets: $388,421.37/Net worth: $340,312.77 - FIRST TIME I EVER REACHED A $340,000 NET WORTH!
November 8, 2021

Total in assets: $387,068.51/Net worth: $338,959.91: November 5, 2021

Total in assets: $384,785.92/Net worth: $336,781.52: October 20, 2021

Total in assets: $382,580.80/Net worth: $334,576.40: October 19, 2021

Total in assets: $379,263.95/Net worth: $330,680.17: October 14, 2021

Total in assets: $364,072.52/Net worth: $315,407.64: July 26, 2021
Total in assets: $358,867.59/Net worth: $311,858.22: June 15, 2021
Total in assets: $354,774.64/Net worth: $307,559.30: June 10, 2021
Total in assets: $348,042.77/Net worth: $300,799.45 - FIRST TIME I EVER REACHED 300k in net worth, on May 26, 2021
Total in assets: $346,583.88/Net worth: $298,486.93: May 20, 2021
Total in assets: $349,651.45/Net worth: $298,435.31: May 7, 2021
Total in assets: $347,002.53/Net worth: $297,614.64: April 16, 2021
Total in assets: $338,188.16/Net worth: $287,914.75: March 11, 2021
Total in assets: $333,970.92/Net worth: $283,675.99: March 9, 2021
Total in assets: $328,881.12/Net worth: $279,611.57: February 10, 2021
Total in assets: $326,670.02/Net worth: $278,758.37: February 8, 2021
Total in assets: $324,891.52/Net worth: $276,979.87: February 4, 2021
Total in assets: $322,236.52/Net worth: $274,318.36: February 3, 2021
Total in assets: $327,639.01/Net worth: $274,298.23: January 19, 2021
Total in assets: $316,192.85/Net worth: $268,180.14: January 7, 2021
Total in assets: $313,003.95/Net worth: $264,915.22: January 6, 2021
Total in assets: $310,587.36/Net worth: $262,498.63: January 5, 2021

2020
Total in assets: $310,392.38/Net worth: $259,661.24: December 31, 2020
Total in assets: $307,812.05/Net worth: $259,070.79: December 24, 2020
Total in assets: $306,444.25/Net worth: $258,948.73: December 4, 2020
Total in assets: $304,701.39/Net worth: $257,331.58: November 27, 2020
Total in assets: $300,956.84/Net worth: $253,587.03: November 24, 2020
Total in assets: $298,903.01/Net worth: $251,533.20: November 23, 2020
Total in assets: $296,643.60/Net worth: $249,158.71: November 20, 2020
Total in assets: $294,514.87/Net worth: $247,145.87: November 11, 2020
Total in assets: $291,172.40/Net worth: $243,802.59: November 10, 2020
Total in assets: $287 803.13/Net worth: $240 433.32: November 9, 2020
Total in assets: $277,872.92/Net worth: $226,678.26: August 5, 2020
Total in assets: $276,627.27/Net worth: $227,745.47: June 6, 2020
Total in assets: $263,304.63/Net worth: $211,395.63: April 29, 2020
Total in assets: $241 461,13/Net worth: $194 558,29: March 13, 2020
Total in assets: $282,640.61/Net worth: $235,284.72: February 21, 2020
Total in assets: $304,955.72/Net worth: $257,187.44: February 12, 2020
Total in assets: $296,200.07/Net worth: $250,595: January 16, 2020
Total in assets: $292,715.58/Net worth: $244,970.41: January 9, 2020

2019
Total in assets: $288,237.52/Net worth: $239,582.44: December 31, 2019
Total in assets: $278,823.27/Net worth: $230,902.04: September 17, 2019
Total in assets: $271,896.19/Net worth: 226,137.05: June 24, 2019
Total in assets: $269 950.21/Net worth: $222 942.87: April 5, 2019
Total in assets: $251 634.94/Net worth: $206 278.84: January 18, 2019
Total in assets: $238 656.07/Net worth: $191 009.83: January 4, 2019

2018
Total in assets: $270 679.86/Net worth: $204 306.57: November 16, 2018
Total in assets: $332 750.88/Net worth: $232 609.15: August 3, 2018
Total in assets: $331 413.83/Net worth: $232 280.40: June 20, 2018
Total in assets: $326 085.75/Net worth: $226 801.92: June 3, 2018
Total in assets: $322 479.23/Net worth: $222 850.15: May 4, 2018
Total in assets: $319 644.86/Net worth: $217 246.23: March 16, 2018

2017
Total in assets: $318 544.64/Net worth: $221 989.65: December 29, 2017
Net worth on the date of November 17, 2017: $211 430.89
Net worth on the date of October 27, 2017: $212 633.39
Net worth on the date of September 29, 2017: $206 352.49
Net worth on the date of April 24, 2017: $204 277.66
Net worth on the date of March 31, 2017: $200 325.69
Net worth on the date of March 29, 2017: $198 299.73
Net worth on the date of March 18, 2017: $193 969.21

2016
Net worth on the date of December 30, 2016: $184 074.35

Net worth after debt on the date of January 1, 2014:
$101 172.99 (yes, finally, IN NET WORTH!).

On the date of February 16, 2011, the TMX hit 14 000+ points, and I exceeded the 150k in assets! (Not net worth yet).

On September 9, 2010, I reached $100,000 in assets! (not in net worth yet).

On the date of August 5, 2009, I reached my investment goal: I reached $50 000 worth of assets! (NOW, net worth).

On the date of December 5, 2009, I had exceeded $60 000 in assets! (not in net worth yet).  

My investment portfolio on date of October 6, 2023

Cold cash: $1,899.68

Stocks and Units investment portfolio $CAN 

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)

Methanex Corporation (MX)

Fortis Inc. (FTS)

Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL)

iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index (XRE)

New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI)

TMX Group Inc. (X)

K-Bro Linen Inc. (KBL)

TransCanada Corp (TRP)

Canadian National Railway Co (CNR)

Enbridge Inc. (ENB)

Emera Inc. (EMA)

Loblaw Companies (L)

Savaria Corporation (SIS)

WSP Global Inc. (WSP)

George Weston Limited (WN)

Power Corporation of Canada Subordinate Voting Shares (POW)

Brookfield Asset Management Inc. Class A Limited Voting Shares (BAM.A)

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD)

Canadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce (CM)

Royal Bank of Canada (RY)

Alaris Equity Partners Income Trust (AD.UN)

Ag Growth International Inc. (AFN)

BCE Inc. (BCE)

National Bank of Canada (NA)

Telus Corp (T)

TOTAL: $130,581.90  

Stocks and Units investment portfolio $US:

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B)

General Mills Inc. (GIS)

Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund (VONG)

Pfizer Inc. (PFE) 

CSX Corporation (CSX)

Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation (BIPC)

TOTAL: $4,975.07 US: $6,726.29 CAN

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):

Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI)

CT Real Estate Investment Trust (CRT.UN)

Canadian National Railway Co (CNR)

Exchange Income Corporation (EIF)

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (BIP.UN)

Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners L.P. (BEP.UN)

Andrew Peller Limited (ADW.A)

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD)

Boyd Group Services Inc. (BYD)

Canadian Apartment Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (CAR.UN)

Data Communications Mgmt (DCM)

Royal Bank of Canada (RY)

Park Lawn Corporation (PLC)

Toromont Industries Ltd (TIH)

BCE Inc. (BCE)

Boralex Inc. Class A Shares (BLX)

Savaria Corporation (SIS)

Northland Power Inc. (NPI)

Calian Group Ltd. (CGY)

Canadian Utilities Limited (CU)

WSP Global Inc. (WSP)

Granite Real Estate Investment Trust (GRT.UN)

Cargojet Inc. (CJT)

Nutrien Ltd. (NTR)

TFI International Inc. (TFII)

Canadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce (CM)

SIR Royalty Income Fund (SRV.UN)

ATCO Ltd. (ACO.Y)

Aecon Group Inc. (ARE)

Brookfield Asset Management Inc. Class A Limited Voting Shares (BAM.A)

Metro Inc. (MRU)

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (ATD.A)

Fortis Inc. (FTS)

CGI Inc. (GIB.A)

TMX Group Limited (X)

Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation Class A Exchangeable Subordinate Voting Shares (BIPC)

Brookfield Renewable Corporation Class A Exchangeable Subordinate Voting Shares (BEPC)

Suncor Energy Inc. (SU)

Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI.B)

Telus Corp (T)

JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN)

Bitcoin Fund The Class A units (QBTC)

Purpose Bitcoin ETF CAD ETF non-currency hedged units (BTCC.B)

3iQ CoinShares Ether ETF (ETHQ)

Tilray Inc (TLRY)

North West Company Inc. (The) (NWC)

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)

National Bank of Canada (NA)

Stelco Holdings Inc. (STLC)

Hammond Manufacturing Company Limited Class A Subordinate Voting Shares (HMM.A)

Saputo Inc. (SAP)

Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Corporation (LIF)

Intertape Polymer Group Inc. (ITP)

Parex Resources Inc. (PXT)

Wescan Energy Corp. (WCE)

Verde Agritech Plc Ordinary Shares (NPK)

Wajax Corporation (WJX)

Whitecap Resources Inc. (WCP)

Goodfellow Inc. (GDL)

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN)

Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL)

TransCanada Corp (TRP)

A&W Revenue Royalties Income Fund (AW.UN)

Total Energy Services Inc. (TOT)

Empire Company Limited Non-Voting Class A Shares (EMP.A)

Power Corporation of Canada Subordinate Voting Shares (POW)

Enbridge Inc. (ENB)

Alaris Equity Partners Income Trust (AD.UN)

Westshore Terminals Investment Corporation (WTE)

Finning International Inc. (FTT)

Element Fleet Management Corp. (EFN)

Ninepoint Energy Income Fund ETF (NRGI)

Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund (CHE.UN)

Hamilton Enhanced U.S. Covered Call ETF (HYLD)

TOTAL: $123,807.56

RSP investment portfolio: 

Emera Incorporated (EMA)

Ovintiv Inc. (OVV)

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD)

Telus Corp (T)

Royal Bank of Canada (RY)

Savaria Corporation (SIS)

Thomson Reuters Corporation (TRI)

Park Lawn Corporation (PLC)

Richards Packaging Income Fund (RPI.UN)

Toromont Industries Ltd (TIH)

CAE Inc. (CAE)

CGI Group Inc. Class A Subordinate Voting Shares (GIB.A)

Boralex Inc. Class A Shares (BLX)

Quebecor Inc. (QBR.B)

Logistec Corporation Class B Subordinate Voting Shares (LGT.B)

Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (BEP.UN)

Leon's Furniture Limited (LNF)

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)

Brookfield Renewable Corporation Class A Exchangeable Subordinate Voting Shares (BEPC)

Cascades Inc. (CAS)

JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN)

AirBoss of America Corp. (BOS)

Suncor Energy Inc. (SU)

Pender Growth Fund Inc. (PTF)

Rogers Communications Inc. Class B Non-voting Shares (RCI.B)

ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. (ATA)

Algoma Central Corporation (ALC)

Finning International Inc. (FTT)

Guardian Capital Group Limited (GCG)

Information Services Corporation Class A Limited Voting Shares (ISV)

Interfor Corporation (IFP)

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (MFI)

National Bank of Canada (NA)

Nutrien Ltd. (NTR)

Open Text Corporation (OTEX)

Taiga Building Products Ltd. (TBL)

Vitreous Glass Inc. (VCI)

Power Corporation of Canada Subordinate Voting Shares (POW)

North West Company Inc. (The) (NWC)

Whitecap Resources Inc. (WCP)

Parex Resources Inc. (PXT)

Wajax Corporation (WJX)

Canadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce (CM)

Hamilton Enhanced U.S. Covered Call ETF (HYLD)

TMX Group Limited (X)

iA Financial Corporation Inc. (IAG)

Ninepoint Energy Income Fund ETF (NRGI)

Total: $60,153.50

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund + CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund + CIBC Monthly Income Fund: $3,208.78

Others: $1,159.90

NBI Income Fund: $1,175.14

Manulife Fidelity NorthStar GIF CAP

Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio 

Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund

Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund

Manulife GIF MLIA B World Invest

Total: $8,245.52

Other various: $36,203.45

TOTAL: $110,146.29

Social Capital at Desjardins Membership share: $35

Online money: $71

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-free Savings account + RRSP:

TOTAL: $373,267.72

My debt situation on date of October 6, 2023

Margin Account Debt: $27,985.16 at 8.50%

Annual Interest: $2,378.74

As of October 6, 2023

For a complete update on my debt situation, please click on the label "Debt Situation" located in the right column of this blog.

My annual dividend income is now at $13,310

Today, my stock portfolio gained almost $2,500. While we're not quite back in the 20,000-point range, seeing the TSX in the 19,000-point range is encouraging. I must admit, I dislike it when the TSX isn't in the 20,000s, but witnessing it in the 18,000s can be quite disheartening.

Here's a breakdown of my portfolios:

• Non-registered portfolio: $130,090.82
• US portfolio: $4,959.30
• RRSP stocks-only portfolio: $60,026.18
• TFSA portfolio: $123,287.93

Due to recent investments, my margin debt has risen to $27,985.16. I had to allocate funds somewhere, after all.

Fortunately, tomorrow is payday, and I'm not expecting many expenses for October, except for hunting. It costs about $35 per day in gas, which will sum up to around $490 for two weeks. The weather in New Brunswick is surprisingly warm, allowing me to enjoy daily walks.

Thanks to my latest investments, my dividend income from my non-registered and TFSA portfolios now totals an equivalent of $931.66 per month. I'm not far from reaching the coveted $1,000 monthly mark, but I'm unable to invest more at this time. I have an upcoming dermatologist appointment to pay for in November, and I plan to get a haircut when I return to Montreal. Additionally, there are credit card bills from my September shopping spree, including my new gadget, a Kobo Sage eReader. After all, what's the point of earning money if you can't enjoy it from time to time?

I also need to keep in mind that I have a few thousand dollars to contribute to my RRSP. While I may not be a fan of investing in my RRSP, it does help with taxes, ensuring I don't pay too much in income taxes. I'm thinking of planning a $3,000 to $4,000 investment for my RRSP.

Before my departure to New Brunswick, during my last week in Montreal, I tried following the cabbage soup diet. I didn't eat cabbage soup for every meal, but I incorporated it into many of them. The results were quite satisfying, as I managed to shed a few pounds. Now, I'm considering making cabbage soup one of my main dishes. I thought about having it for lunch alongside a salad and opting for something else for dinner. This idea appeals to me because cabbage soup is budget-friendly. I typically have oatmeal for breakfast, another cost-effective choice. By having two economical meals during the day, I can easily save money and maintain a healthy diet. Groceries can be quite pricey in New Brunswick, so this plan aligns perfectly with my financial goals. Of course, my evening meal will be heartier than just cabbage soup.

I hope you find these insights and updates from my financial journey helpful. Stay tuned for more!

Investing Amidst Chaos: A Look at My Portfolios and Recent Decision

It's been a while since I last posted. September was a whirlwind month for me in Montreal. I thoroughly enjoyed the warm weather and made the most of it by spending a lot of time at the pool. However, work kept me incredibly busy during that time, with many extra hours logged. My typical day involved finishing work at 5 p.m., taking a quick break at the pool or doing something else, and then returning to work for another 1 to 3 hours. These long days left me with little time for blogging, but I've remained quite active on Twitter. If you haven't already, please follow me there. I'm on a mission to reach 5 million impressions within 3 months to monetize my account.

In August, I spent the entire month in New Brunswick, and now I find myself back there again. I'll be returning to Montreal in mid-November, just in time for a dermatologist appointment. Initially, I expected the procedure to cost around $2,000, but it turns out it will be $1,149.75, excluding the $250 initial consultation fee. This 30-minute procedure isn't related to Botox or fillers; it's a small yet costly intervention to address some skin issues.

Since I didn't spend as much as expected, I decided to invest in an eReader. While I prefer physical books, I've been wanting an eReader for a while now. When I visit my family in New Brunswick, which is quite often, I don't have access to the wide variety of books I want to read like I do in Montreal. This can be frustrating for me, as I read almost every day, and not being able to access a specific book when I want can be quite vexing. An eReader, particularly a Kobo which is compatible with Canadian libraries, is a game-changer. The BAnQ offers a vast selection of online books that I can borrow, even while I'm in New Brunswick. Currently, I'm working my way through all of Paul Auster's books, and one of his, "4321," is quite massive. Having the convenience of accessing the book online instead of lugging around a heavy tome between provinces makes reading more enjoyable for me.

The TSX has been quite volatile lately, closing at 19,020.92 points today. At one point during the day, it even dipped below 19,000 points, hitting as low as 18,945.79 points. I'm currently on vacation, so I'm observing all this from a distance. It's hunting season in New Brunswick, and with the TSX at 19,020.92 points, my non-registered portfolio closed the day at $128,155.97, my US portfolio at $4,961.20, my RRSP stock-only portfolio at $58,621.27, and my TFSA portfolio at $120,618.32. My numbers are obviously lower, which isn't fun, but it's the reality. What matters most to me is keeping my margin account in good shape.

I have a margin account linked to my non-registered portfolio, which is currently worth $128,155.97. As of yesterday, I had $59,565 available on my margin, providing a safety buffer against a margin call. This is crucial to me as I aim to avoid any financial worries. These days, I'm away from my laptop, making it challenging to manage any potential issues. I'm fully immersed in enjoying the hunting season in New Brunswick.

Today, I managed to make investments in a few stocks that are already part of my investment portfolio, including Brookfield Asset Management Inc. Class A Limited Voting Shares (BAM.A), Royal Bank of Canada (RY), National Bank of Canada (NA), Alaris Equity Partners Income Trust (AD.UN), Ag Growth International Inc. (AFN), Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD), BCE Inc. (BCE), Canadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce (CM), and Telus Corp (T).

I would like to invest a bit more, but for now, I think these additions will suffice. I'm also considering investments in A&W Revenue Royalties Income Fund (AW.UN), Hamilton Enhanced U.S. Covered Call ETF (HYLD), and TMX Group Limited (X).