Using Videotron as Internet service provider?

If its the case, well than, be aware, you should stop using Videotron as a service provider. Why? Well, Videotron is just a Quebecor company and you might know Quebeckers as well as I do, they don't give a damn about anything. Here's another proof of Quebec unwillingness to be good toward others.

The Montreal Gazette had reported the story of Amber Hunter. Amber Hunter is an university student of Concordia. She studied political science. Amber work at a bar to pay up her bills. But now, Amber Hunter has more than she can afford to pay. What happen?

Amber use Videotron as a service provider. Since she studied and work at the same time, Amber need the Internet at home. Amber used a Wireless connection for her Internet. In the past couple of months, an unauthorized user has hacked Amber Hunter account. And than the problems began. Amber Hunter own Videotron 1 800$ in Internet fees.

Since Amber account had been hacked, someone has used Amber account and did a massive usage of it, leaving Amber with a bill of 1 800$.

This is the kind of situation that could happen to anyone. Amber is a student, the income she earns go for her tuition and living expenses.

In this case, Videotron claimed that Amber Hunter is responsible for the fees, despite the fact that she got hacked. The Quebec based company Videotron only credited Amber for 313$. Is that suppose to be fair?

A Videotron representative of the name of Isabelle Dessureault had declared that Videotron "don't like these kind of situations". Videotron doesn't like those kind of situation, and they are not willing to do anything else to help other than crediting a tiny 313$.

I know what it is to live in Quebec and having to deal with stupid Quebec independentist people everyday. The kind of individual you really don't want to deal with.

Videotron decision to not fully credit the hacking fees is just another example of Quebec stupidity. Just another example.

Hacking is something that exist. It's a criminal act that is being perform by individual who knows how the system work. Those criminals don't hesitate when it come to steel from individual.

Also, Videotron should credit Amber in totality because Videotron system is not well build. According to the Gazette, Videotron "has tools for users to monitor their usage but doesn't advise customers when they have exceeded their limits". Which mean that in case of hacking, the account user won't have a clue of what is going on until receiving the invoice.

If you are with Videotron, you should think about switching of service provider. A hack happen to Amber Hunter, but it could happen to anyone. It's not common, but it can happen. It's just like Interac fraud or other kind of informatics fraud. I think that Videotron should reversed the charges, all of them, not just 313$. And you, what do you think? Like wow, those Quebeckers...

The Canada Revenue Agency is after me - Part 2

Today was my day off, as a colleague of mine desperately need its Saturday off. Since I am not currently working at my weekend job, I decided to give a hand. So today, I had time to write everything I felt about Canada Revenue Agency. I have to say, despite my very hard feeling, our agency is doing one of those good job... let me explain.

2009 had been a very good year financially speaking. I had made over 40k in salary, I had earn thousands of dollars in dividend income. Yeah 2009 was an awesome year. But it was the first year I had massively invested in stock and income trust funds, the same one that had been converted in corporation just in time for 2011. And there was from where I got problem from. From the income trust funds. TD Waterhouse is very great to use because if you registered to their eService, they won't ever send you tax papers over the mail. So this mean that you have personally have to print them.

Myself as an individual, I am always in a ruch, working at several jobs, etc etc etc. But myself as an individual, I might have forget to print one of the form, because when I visit my accountant just an hour ago, I was told that the form that Canada Revenue Agency refer to in their letter, well, that form was not from my tax declaration. Not at all.

So the mistake was all mine and I am taking the whole responsability and yes, despite the governement people having access to free French courses, yes, I will be paying that $168 and something cent I own Canada Revenue Agency.

The Canada Revenue Agency is after me

Just when things are going so well, something have to happen. This time, the something is coming directly from Canada Revenue Agency. When I open the envelop, I freak out: I own the Canada Revenue Agency 165.88$. Reason behind: there is an extra payment that need to be made for my taxes. Those federal government jerks have really nothing better to do than reviewing my tax declaration of 2009 almost one year after it's been done and completed. Brian Mulroney can be out in the world when he had steeled million of dollars from federal taxes money but I, small investor is being ripped off! Totally being ripped off. Those people working at federal agencies shouldn't be getting any benefit or pension privilege because myself, I don't get any of those privileges but on top of that, those government idiots are sucking me to dead. I am the one who work hard for my money, I am the one who invest and create financial health with MY OWN MONEY. I am not a money sucker. I am not a cheater like Brian Mulroney.

Ok, so now, you will ask yourself, what's going on? In 2009, the total income that I declared was of 40 916$. Quite some money! But the people of the Canada Revenue Agency had revised my 2009 declaration and had decided that my total income was not of 40 916$, but of 42 195$. We are talking here of a difference of 1 279$!

According to Canada Revenue Agency, the money is coming from my dividend income received from Bell Aliant, Livingston, Energy Savings, Yellow Pages, Pembina, Enbridge Income Fund and Pengrowth. That's what they say in the letter without commenting more.

In 2009, I had gave to the accountant who did my tax declaration all of the papers received from TD Waterhouse. My tax declaration had been done correctly the first time. It's just those Ottawa morons who are messing up with my taxes. On top of that, the little jerks had charged me an interest of 5.43$ on the amount due!!!! MORONS!

I am going to write to those jerks of Canada Revenue Agency that I don't own them any money because I had declared the dividend that were on my T5 form. The jerks should had access to the information, since the T5 directly come from the Canada Revenue Agency itself!!!

I worked in Ottawa previously before and I know how selfish the federal government employees are. They don't give a damn about anything. They only care about their salaries and pension benefit. In Ottawa, a lot of are federal agents are taking free French courses. They had all of their life to learn French, they never care about the French language. Where the money is coming from to finance those French courses? FROM MY TAXES.

This is the way Canada is for French Canadians. Enough of the bullshit. I had pay my taxes in April 2010, the little idiots of Canada Revenue Agency.

If, like me, you had received such letter, you have the right to contest. The jerks even provide ways you can contest their decision... Yah.

Conversion now completed for JE.UN, BA.UN, PGF.UN, ENF.UN, DHF.UN and CWI.UN

I use to be an income trusts lover for the awesome dividend they were provided me every single month of the year. With the new legislation regarding taxable Canadian corporation, income trust companies had until 2011 to convert into corporation. Because I hold many income trust companies in my portfolio, lately, a lot of changes happen recently. A lot of changes, but it's always the same good companies. In my portfolio, I hold Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN), Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN), Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN), Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN), Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) and the The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN). Let's see the changes that occur now for those companies:

Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) conversion into Just Energy Group Inc. (JE)

I begin this post with Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) because JE.UN is my favorite stock! I like everything related to Just Energy, I like the story of their CEO Rebecca MacDonald, their newest US acquisitions and, more importantly, Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) awesome dividend. I am a huge Just Energy fan and I am very proud to be one of their unitholders! As a unitholder, Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) never failed at meeting my expectations. Since I began to invest in Just Energy, the company had paid me year after year a special dividend of 20 cents per unit.

Like other income trusts, Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) paid a dividend income on a monthly basis. Just Energy Income Fund dividend is of 1.24$ annually. To this you can add what is now commonly usual, the annual special dividend of 20 cents per unit. That make an awesome 1.44$!!!!

Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) is not Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) anymore. But that's only to get better. Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) is now Just Energy Group Inc. and its trade ticket is JE. Good news for stockholder: the dividend of Just Energy Group Inc. (JE) will remain exactly the same!

No news regarding the special dividend yet, but please, one thing at a time! lol...

Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN) conversion into Bell Aliant Inc. (BA)

I am coming from New Brunswick and I am always very happy to be able to hold stocks from "back home" if I can say. In Maritimes provinces, Bell Aliant is huge. No one outside New Brunswick can have a taste of what's Bell Aliant represent for New Brunswickers.

Before its conversion, Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN) was generous enough to pay its investors a dividend of close to 3$ per unit (2.90$ exactly annually per unit). So yeah, that's a lot of cash!

Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN) conversion into a corporation is affecting the company in many different ways. In result, Bell Aliant had decided to cut its dividend. But when dealing with companies who are paying a huge dividend like close to 3$ per unit, you need to be ready for dividend cut one day or the other. That's my own opinion. I live a similar experience with Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) before, but we will get back to it.

Anyhow, Bell Aliant Inc. (BA) dividend is quite still generous and it's still interesting to hold Bell Aliant Inc. (BA). Even after conversion, Bell Aliant dividend is quite strong and way much better than what BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO) can offer to their investors.

Bell Aliant Inc. (BA) new dividend is going to be of 7.3% per cent. That 7.3% is based on the closing price of Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN) on date of December 31, 2010. Bell Aliant Inc. (BA) is going to be of 1.90$ annually. The dividend will be paid quarterly, which mean that Bell Aliant Inc. (BA) will no longer be paying a monthly dividend. Bell Aliant Inc. (BA) dividend will be of $0.475 per share quarterly. Quite interesting, don't you think so?

Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) conversion into Pengrowth Energy Corporation (PGF)

Ahhhhhhhh Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN)! If Just Energy is my number one stock pick, Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) arrived on second place. I "just" love Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) and I have a longtime trade story with them.

Back in 2008, I had purchased my first units of Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) following the discovery of Derek Foster. The Stop Working strategy? It's seemed unreal to me and I wasn't really interested in reading Derek Foster book at first. But time pass, I was getting no where with my mutual fund investments and while reading Derek Foster posts on the Canadian Business forum, I told myself: Why not? 

That's was the beginning of quite of a journey for me in the stock market. In now almost 3 years of trading, I could say I almost saw it all: the 2008 stock crash, the quick up and downs. I made money, lost money.  The stock market is not the same anymore and so I am. But overall, I did quite well, but the reason behind my trading success in the stock market was Derek Foster, that we discuss quite a bit in the past couple of years together readers, but things needed to be say.

Believe it or not, I was holding Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) units when its dividend was of an awesome 2.70$ per unit! Those were wonderful time for me. The dividend of Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) was so huge! That was back in the year of 2008.

In November 2008, Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) announced its first dividend cut from a monthly amount of $0.225 to $0.17. Nothing major, I continue to hold the units. That dividend cut wasn't drastic. At $0.17 a month per unit, I was still enjoying a great dividend. Since I like the company and it was a Derek Foster stock, I decided to stick and hold, what I do the best.

But things were going to get more difficult for Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) during the recession. 2008 was just the beginning of the years of capitalist destruction. But overall, the recession, I benefit from it. I build my stock portfolio, I get those debt to use for leverage, got laid off from BMO Bank of Montreal for no valuable reason but what no one was going to know but know certainly now: I was going to make money like crazy in a recession world. Ok, well like "crazy" I guess its depend of your criteria of success, but 4 000$ in dividend earning + a close to 8 000$ increase value of my investment for 2010 is what I call crazy money... Crazy money for a crazy girl lol...

My story with Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) do not end here. In September 2009, Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) reduced its dividend for the second time. That time, the dividend was reduced to 7 cents per unit. That's when I decided to sell all of the units I was holding of Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) to invest the vast majority of the money in Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL). And gees, that was so an incredible good move coming from my part!

Later on, while searching something cheap to invest in, I decided to invest again in Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN). I currently hold just a bit more than 200 units of Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN). Me and Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN), its a love story set for life. Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) were the first stock I was selling on the stock market. My very first sell. WOW.

And now today in 2011, Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) converted into a corporation. Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) new name is Pengrowth Energy Corporation. The new symbol ticket is PGF. The dividend of Pengrowth Energy Corporation (PGF) remains the same, $0.07 per stock. And good news for investors: Pengrowth Energy Corporation (PGF) will continue to pay a monthly dividend just like before! YEAHHHH!

Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN) conversion into Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (EIFH)

Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN) is another Derek Foster stock. I was bright enough to purchase 300 units when their price was around 13$ only... Now, at more than 18$ per stock, Enbridge Income Fund is fabulous. And I own it to who? To myself, of course because I am the one who decided to invest in Enbridge on the first place lol.

Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN) new name following its conversion is now Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (EIFH). Guess I will have to get use to the new trading symbol.

The dividend for the new Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (EIFH) will remain the same as it is now, 1.152$ per unit. The only change is in the payout of those dividend. Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (EIFH) plans to pay its dividend on a quarterly basis.

Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) conversion into Davis + Henderson Corporation (DH)

Things are going pretty well for Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN). What catch my attention at first in this company is the + symbol between Davis and Henderson, that I always found quite mysterious, no matter how bizarre it can sound. Like why Davis + Henderson and not simply Davis and Henderson? No matter what catch my attention, this is good stuff because I made a profit of 320.84$ this year on Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN). Yeah! And the dividend was also very great.

Ok, so regarding the name, nothing to worry about, the magical + remains were it belong! Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) had now become Davis + Henderson Corporation (DH).

Davis + Henderson Corporation (DH) is going to pay a quarterly dividend of $0.30 cents per unit or, if you prefer, an annual $1.20 dividend per stock. Still great stuff, despite the dividend cut. Before Davis + Henderson Corporation (DH), Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) dividend was of an extraordinary $1.8396.

The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN) conversion into EnerCare Inc. (ECI)

We had talked of the future of The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN) previously before. The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund is another Derek Foster pick that I decided to add to my portfolio. After Derek Foster announced that he had sold his units, The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN) has some hard time in the sense that the value of its units was somewhere around 5$.

In the last quarter of 2010, The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN) had done extremely well. As a stick and hold investor, I didn't sell my The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund units when I found out that Derek Foster sold his. I am grateful for taking the decision of not selling. I hate to sell my investment. Whenever I sell, there's a good reason behind.

I had confident in The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund. I like the company and I always remember what Jean-François Tardif had said about The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund, that it was a really safe company to invest in or something of that nature.

However, I still hold The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN) in my portfolio. All of the units I hold from CWI.UN are inside my TFSA. 

The now EnerCare Inc. (ECI) will maintain the same dividend amount as for the late The Consumers' Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN): $0.648 per share annually or, if you prefer, $0.054 monthly per stock. And yes, EnerCare Inc. (ECI) will maintain a monthly dividend! Bravo to EnerCare Inc. (ECI)!

Conclusion

2011 marks the end of my success story with income fund. Conversion had been done quite smoothly for those companies. But I just can't imagine what kind of work all of those changes might had represent in term of work for all of those companies.

JE.UN, BA.UN, PGF.UN, ENF.UN, DHF.UN and CWI.UN no longer exist, but the same companies will continue to operate a different name and symbol ticket. A dividend cut is being experiment in some cases, but some very strong companies like Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (EIFH) and Just Energy Group Inc. (JE) just to name those 2, had been able to maintain their dividends at the same level.

The conversion of Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL), Yellow Media Inc. (YLO) and Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH) had been done during the year of 2010. Personally, I only hold Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH) since its become a corporation. Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH) is a Jean-François Tardif stock pick, which well for me at this time, despite that I previously taught about selling Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH). But I won't be selling Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH) anytime soon. Unless an emergency need of cash emerge.

Happy 2011 investment party! Can't believe we are here. Are you ready for 2011?

My 2010 trading year in review

 

I am very lucky not to wake up with the flue because it was raining for New Year Eve in Montreal and I didn't have an umbrella. But who will carry an umbrella in January anyway? Some did, but they must had take a look at the weather forecast - something I barely ever do. You'll find in here some pictures I took from my iPod on New Year Eve. I was in Montreal in the Old Port.

Another year had come to an end. Overall, 2010 had been a good year for my commodity investment. I work like crazy, but I was able to made all the commodity investment I wanted and that's what was important to me, despite a laid off from the worst Canadian bank ever, BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO). They are disgusting, I know. And their online commodity broker BMO InvestorLine is absolutely horrible. I wasn't expecting much anyway coming from a Quebec provincial bank, an emigrant bank. And by the way, don't expect anything good from Quebeckers. 2011 will be just the same as 2010 for Quebec people: a black hole.

Ok, I got laid off from BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO) in 2010. Despite the laid off, I can assure you, I am a good investor and below is the proof. I took all of my commodity investment in this review - there's a lot of them as you'll see. I took all of them. but all of those investments were not made in 2010. My online investment in some RBC growth stock mutual funds were made somewhere in 2007-2008. Same thing for my Manulife investment. Anyhow, I wanted to take the whole monster and see where I am located in all that. Let's see how things went for the Dividend Girl online investing in 2010:

Non registered Investments:

Stocks and Units investment portfolio

Sprott Inc. (SII):

Investment initial value: 5 009.78$
Current value: 4 191.20$

-818.58$

Timminco (TIM):

Investment initial value: 4 065$
Current value: 66$

-3 999$

Blue Note Mining (BNT):

Investment initial value: 689$
Current value: 52$

-637$

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS):

Investment initial value: 16 298.14$
Current value: 17 529.70$

+1 231.56$

Hanwei Energy Services (HE):

Investment initial value: 674$
Current value: 133.50$

-540.50$

Methanex Corporation (MX):

Investment initial value: 1 626.80$
Current value: 3 115.75$

+1 488.95$

Fortis (FTS):

Investment initial value: 2 680.06$
Current value: 3 635.86$

+955.80$

Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL):

Investment initial value: 6 313.20$
Current value: 9 309.60$

+2 996.40$

Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN):
Investment initial value: 10 473.45$
Current value: 11 496.96$

+1 023.51$

Yellow Media Inc. (YLO):

Investment initial value: 2 467.68$
Current value: 2 914$

+446.32$

Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund

(BA.UN):

Investment initial value: 5 513.40$
Current value: 5 223.99$

-289.41$

Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN):
Investment initial value: 2 290.55$
Current value: 2 722.14$

+431.59$

Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN):

Investment initial value: 3 584$
Current value: 5 792$

+2 208$

Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A):

Investment initial value: 3 087.99$
Current value: 3 399.66$

+311.67$

Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN):

Investment initial value: 3 664.99$
Current value: 3 985.83$

+320.84$

Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):

Investment initial value: 2 955.16$
Current value: 2 851.92$

-103.24$

EnCana Corporation (ECA):

Investment initial value: 5 946.88$
Current value: 5 847.09$

-99.79$

Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U):

Investment initial value: 2 190.49$
Current value: 2 814$

+623.51$

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

Investment initial value: 738.99$
Current value: 727.38$

-11.61$

Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN):

Investment initial value: 2 000$
Current value: 2 020$

+20$

Total of gains: +12 058.15$
Total of losses: -6 499.13$
TOTAL: +5 559.02$

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):

RBC O’Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund:

Investment initial value: 3 000$
Current value: 2 946.19$

-53.81$

The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN):

Investment initial value: 2 288.37$
Current value: 2 898.50$

+610.13$

Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI):

Investment initial value: 719$
Current value: 345$

-374$

Total of gains: +610.13$
Total of losses: -427.81$
TOTAL: +182.32$

RSP investment portfolio:

Sprott Canadian Equity Fund:

Investment initial value: 7 000$
Current value: 7 773.76$

+773.76$

Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL):

Investment initial value: 3 587.30$
Current value: 4 316.26$

+728.96$

EnCana Corporation (ECA):

Investment initial value: 3 230$
Current value: 2 909$

-321$

Emera Incorporated (EMA):

Investment initial value: 5 103.79$
Current value: 6 458.10$

+1 354.31$

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund:

Investment initial value: 500$
Current value: 554.19$

+54.19$

CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund:

Investment initial value: 500$
Current value: 427.11$

-72.89$

CIBC Monthly Income Fund:

Investment initial value: 1 000$
Current value: 1 048.40$

+48.40$

TD Canadian Bond:

Investment initial value: 113.04$
Current value: 115.42$

+2.38$

TD Monthly Income:

Investment initial value: 110.45$
Current value: 109.13$

-1.32$

TD Emerging Markets:

Investment initial value: 100$
Current value: 91.38$

-8.62$

TD Energy:

Investment initial value: 102.76$
Current value: 96.46$

-6.30$

TD Precious Metals:

Investment initial value: 100$
Current value: 151.86$

+51.86$

TD Latin American Growth:

Investment initial value: 100$
Current value: 106.58$

+6.58$

TD Entertainment and Communications:

Investment initial value: 100$
Current value: 122.37$

+22.37$

TD Dividend Growth:

Investment initial value: 208.80$
Current value: 207.48$

-1.32$

TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth:

Investment initial value: 100$
Current value: 115.85$

+15.85$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund (Templeton):

Investment initial value: 1 000$
Current value: 654.89$

-345.11$

Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio:

Investment initial value: 1 000$
Current value: 926.31$

-73.69$

Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund:

Investment initial value: 1 000$
Current value: 1 097.67$

+97.67$

Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund:

Investment initial value: 1 000$
Current value: 1 066.40$

+66.40$

Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund:

Investment initial value: 1 000$
Current value: 644.05$

-355.95$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund:

Investment initial value: 500$
Current value: 548.88$

+48.88$

RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$:

Investment initial value: 2 300$
Current value: 1 995.84$

-304.16$

RBC Global Resources Fund:

Investment initial value: 1 000$
Current value: 1 238.61$

+238.61$

RBC O’Shaughnessy International Equity Fund:

Investment initial value: 1 000$
Current value: 648.67$

-351.33$

RBC O’Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity Fund:

Investment initial value: 1 100$
Current value: 1 208.58$

+108.58$

Total of gains: +3 618.80$
Total of losses: -1 841.69$
TOTAL: +1 777.11$

OVERALL GAINS: +16 287.08$
OVERALL LOSSES: -8 768.63$
TOTAL: +7 518.45$

Overall, I can say I did well. I invest without the help of any financial planners. but while living in Quebec, I prefer to invest just through my fabulous TD Waterhouse securities as  online future trading brokerage. A gain of 7 518.45$ in one year of Canadian online stock trading? From my point of view, for a small investor like myself, I can say I did pretty well. And 2011 should be even better. But remember 2010 had been an investment year in a recession one. Not easy for anyone, but even harder for smaller investors.

To all of my fellow readers, Quebeckers or not, I wish you a Happy 2011 Trading Year! Health and prosperity to you all. May my blog be helpful to you by sharing my trading experience on the Toronto stock exchange market.

My debt situation on date of January 1, 2011

9 431.36$ at a low interest rate of 4.75% (RRSP credit line rates) = 447.99$ in annual interest

4 900$ at a low interest rate of 4% (credit line rates) = 169$ in annual interest

7 978.32$ on a TD Canada Trust credit card at a low interest rate of 4.9% ending in April 2011 (result of a credit card balance transfer)

= 390.94$ in annual interest

4 911$ at 8.75% (credit line) = 429.71$ in annual interest PAID OFF

7 906.87$ at low interest rate loan at 5.50% (student loan) = 434.88$ in annual interest

10 000$ at 7.27% (credit line rates) = 727$ in annual interest

18 083.63$ at a low interest rates of 4.25% (margin money coming from TD Water house): = 768.55$ in annual interest

TOTAL: 58 300.18$

TOTAL in annual interest: 2 965.36$

[In date of January 1, 2011]

Special New Year Edition: My investment portfolio on date of January 1, 2011

Savings:
2 348.35$

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio
Sprott Inc. (SII): 4 191.20$
Timminco (TIM): 66$
Blue Note Mining (BNT): 52$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 17 529.70$
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): 133.50$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 3 115.75$
Fortis (FTS): 3 635.86$
Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL):
9 309.60$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 11 496.96$
Yellow Media Inc. (YLO): 2 914$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund
(BA.UN): 5 223.99$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 2 722.14$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 5 792$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 3 399.66$
Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN):
3 985.83$
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):
2 851.92$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 5 847.09$
Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U): 2 814$
iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index (XRE): 727.38$
Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN): 2 020$
Cash: 215.53$

TOTAL: 88 044.11$

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
RBC O’Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund:
2 946.19$
The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund
(CWI.UN): 2 898.50$
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): 345$
Cash: 5.59$

TOTAL: 6 195.28$

RSP investment portfolio:
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund: 7 773.76$
Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL): 4 316.26$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 2 909$
Emera Incorporated (EMA): 6 458.10$
Cash: 66.99$

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: 554.19$
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: 427.11$
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: 1 048.40$

Energy and Base Metals Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
503.46$
Natural Resources Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
502.06$

GIC National Bank: 1 147.42$
GIC Plus: 500$

TD Canadian Bond: 115.42$
TD Monthly Income: 109.13$
TD Emerging Markets: 91.38$
TD Energy: 96.46$
TD Precious Metals: 151.86$
TD Latin American Growth: 106.58$
TD Entertainment and Communications: 122.37$
TD Dividend Growth: 207.48$
TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth: 115.85$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund
(Templeton): 654.89$
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: 926.31$
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: 1 097.67$
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund:
1 066.40$
Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund: 644.05$

Great-West – various: 1 751.69$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund: 548.88$
RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$: 1 995.84$
RBC Global Resources Fund: 1238.61$
RBC O’Shaughnessy International Equity Fund: 648.67$
RBC O’Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity
Fund: 1 208.58$

GIC Canadian Market: 1 000$

TOTAL: 40 104.87$

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

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-
free Savings account + RRSP + Online Income
(53.35$):

136 785.96$

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) stocks + TD Waterhouse margin account = $$$

Today, without any further announcement, I decided to invest in 200 stocks of Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) using my stock margin account at TD Waterhouse securities. At the time I place my purchase order, BNS stocks were at 57.41$. This investment value, after commission, is of 11 491.99$. I previously talk about trading again before the end of 2010, but I didn't plan something very major, not something of the type of 11 491.99$ which is kind of an important sum of money for a small investor, isn't? My margin account provide me a 70% on the online investment. Which mean that my 11 491.99$ only debit 3 447.60$ from my margin money available. Before that new investment, I had something like close to 40 000$ left in margin money. Now, after making this new investment, I have left available 36 561.82$ in margin money. Actually, the money left available on the margin will vary from commodity day trading to commodity day trading, depending of the value of my non registered stocks portfolio.

I own TD Waterhouse 18 290.66$. I now understand better the minus sign (-) I see in my cash column.

While having a margin account, the money borrow on the stock margin account appear in the cash account as a debit (minus sign meaning this: -). It's practical to have that -18 290.66$ in the cash column because this is the amount that I use on my stock margin account through my online future trading brokerage.

So far, I use my margin money the following way:
-I use 4 985.74$ to pay off my 5 000$ line of credit at 8.75%;
-I use 2 000$ to invest in the gold commodity Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN) and,
-just today, I use 11 491.99$ to invest in 200 stocks of Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS).

For a total of 18 477.73$

18 477.73$ is not 18 290.66$. The difference of 187.07$ come from a payment of close to 150$ I made previously on the margin to cover the low interest rate + some left-over coming from dividend DRIP. That's from where the 187.07$ is coming from. But why the Canadian stock Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)?

Buying stocks on margin: Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)

I decide to use margin money to invest at a low interest rate despite the fact that I said previously that I was going to only use the margin money to pay off debt at a higher interest rate.

The reason behind my 200 purchase stocks of Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) is quite simple. Today was the latest day to invest in Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in order to received its next dividend payment on January 27, 2011. At that time, I will be receiving 150.43$ in dividend from Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS). This should be enough to bring in 2 new stocks of Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS). I am looking forward to sell the same 200 Canadian dividend paying stocks later on to make a small profit on it. I can easily see Nova Scotia (BNS) stock price hitting soon the 60$ per stock. It will happen eventually. And when it will happen, I will cash in 508$.

So far, doing those kind of flexible investment, buying for the short term was never really my thing. I am recovring from my 4 000$ lost in Timminco (TIM), so I cannot failed. For that reason, I need to be careful. Going with a good quality stock like Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) preserve me from any failures.

But I have to say, I catch up with my investment mistakes quite quickly. My 7 000$ investment in the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund now worth 7 737$. My 1 626.80$ online investment made in Methanex Corporation (MX) now worth 3 139$ (I am very proud of this one!). My 2680.06$ investment in Fortis (FTS) now worth 3 640$ (not bad at all!). My 2 467.68$ investment made in Yellow Media (YLO) now worth 2 938$ (WOW! lol..). My 2 190.49$ online investment made in the silver commodity Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U) now worth... 2 715$!

Remember that I had invested 5 000$ in Sprott Inc. (SII) back in 2008? 2009 and 2010 haven't been easy years for Sprott Inc. (SII), but the latest quarter of 2010 had been an exceptional one for Sprott Inc. (SII). I am recovering very well form my losses with Sprott Inc. (SII). Currently, my online investment in Sprott Inc. (SII) worth 4 206.80$. I am just missing less than 800$ to recover. Not bad at all.

Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN) had lost a bit of value, but I wouldn't like to sell my Bell Aliant units for anything in the world. Funny fact, some readers of mine had warmed me that this was going to happen and a very good reader from BC suggested me to sell my Bell Aliant units because of the announcement made regarding the dividend cut. I didn't listen to him, but the advice was good. Because see what's going on now, Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN) is loosing a bit in value.

Today was a fantastic day for the silver commodity Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U)! Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U) win an increase of 6.27%. The price of its units now at 13.55$.

Incredible things are happening right now and I just hope that 2011 will be the continuation of all those good things.

200 new stocks of Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in my online future trading brokerage

I just purchase 200 stocks of BNS - Bank of Nova Scotia using margin in my online future trading brokerage... 200 stocks at 57.41$. You should do the same before December 30 to get the dividend of January (to be verified of course).

Boxing Day Special Edition!

I went to the Boxing Day today. I took my time to wake up as I stay up late yesterday night, trying to work on some HubPages. I think I will be good to hit the 100 HubPages by the end of the year, but it required a lot of work. I am just missing 16 HubPages before reaching the 100.

Earlier today, I walk down through boulevard St-Laurent and went straight to the Eaton Centre. I arrived pass noon. Some stores where open, other not. I had some prepaid credit card that I got from work. I didn't even use it up. Reason why being that those prepaid credit card, American Express ones, are not being taking everywhere. And also, I didn't spend that much. I had one emergency purchase that I needed: a new purse. The one I had was ok, but I had a problem with the zipper. My purse wasn't closing properly anymore and for a little why I had to be extra careful with it. Anyhow, I won't have that headache anymore as I get a nice big one for less than 25$.

Boxing Day was great. I purchase one of my favorite sweetheart jeans at Old Navy for only 20$. I also purchase some new tops. Gap was ok, but nothing too much interesting. I did Reitmans, Body Shop. And it was it, but certainly enough. It was crack of people downtown Montreal but it was nice. After what I went saw the latest Natalie Portman movie, the Black Swan. Beautiful movie, very fascinating but also very deep, mysterious and crazy at the same time, not to say disturbing. I have no clue Natalie Portman was a ballet dancer. She's an actress, but I guess she could be a full-time ballet dancer if she wanted.

As you may have notice, I am now at 123586.51$ in assets. This represent an increase of 1 117.75$ - without new investment being made. Could I wish for a better Christmas gift than an extra 1 117.75$ in my pocket? No, I don't think so... If not a little cat ;o)

On top of that, I had received a 81.54$ in dividend and I just can't wait to call TD Waterhouse tomorrow to find out what I had received. Very soon, next month or so, I won't have the same problem. It's frustrating to not be able to see my dividend deposit because I cannot update my dividend section of my blog. I love receive dividend. Dividend + earning money online is a nice way to create a passive income. But as for now, my project is to reach the 100 articles on HubPages so got to go!

    (My new purse!)

Special Christmas edition: My investment portfolio on date of December 25, 2010

Savings:
1 592.41$

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio
Sprott Inc. (SII): 4 082$
Timminco (TIM): 68$
Blue Note Mining (BNT): 50$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 6 110.77$
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): 118.50$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 3 121.93$
Fortis (FTS): 3 627.30$
Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL):
9 408.73$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 11 197.44$
Yellow Media Inc. (YLO): 2 956.30$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund
(BA.UN): 5 266.20$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 2 758.35$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 5 616$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 3 409.76$
Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN):
4 086.33$
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):
2 866.20$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 5 833.02$
Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U): 2 550$
iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index (XRE): 724.68$
Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN): 2 000$
Cash: 81.54$

TOTAL: 75 933.05$

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
RBC O’Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund:
2 949.42$
The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund
(CWI.UN): 2 894.92$
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): 316.25$
Cash: 3.27$

TOTAL: 6 163.86$

RSP investment portfolio:
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund: 7 517.76$
Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL): 4 225$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 2 902$
Emera Incorporated (EMA): 6 546.68$
Cash: 66.99$

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: 552.87$
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: 422.55$
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: 1 046.11$

Energy and Base Metals Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
503.46$
Natural Resources Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
502.06$

GIC National Bank: 1 147.42$
GIC Plus: 500$

TD Canadian Bond: 115.33$
TD Monthly Income: 108.93$
TD Emerging Markets: 90.51$
TD Energy: 95.70$
TD Precious Metals: 147.20$
TD Latin American Growth: 105.18$
TD Entertainment and Communications: 123.03$
TD Dividend Growth: 206.97$
TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth: 116.41$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund
(Templeton): 657.79$
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: 924.68$
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: 1 096.20$
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund:
1 061.95$
Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund: 644.05$

Great-West – various: 1 751.69$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund: 547.31$
RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$: 2 025.14$
RBC Global Resources Fund: 1 203.20$
RBC O’Shaughnessy International Equity Fund: 648.20$
RBC O’Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity
Fund: 1 206.76$

GIC Canadian Market: 1 000$

TOTAL: 39 809.13$

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

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-
free Savings account + RRSP + Online Income
(48.06$):

123 586.51$

I got an email from TD Waterhouse today

Better be careful on what you say about TD Waterhouse on the WWW because those guys are EVERYWHERE, reading ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING, including this blog! I am just joking of course, but I did received an email from TD Waterhouse today. They send me an email regarding the complaints I post on my blog, for the margin episode. They also answered my questions regarding the President's Account of TD Waterhouse. And no, I do not qualify at this time for a President's Account at TD Waterhouse. I am just missing a bit less than 300 000$ for a President's Account at TD Waterhouse. Interesting isn't?

Today before going to work, I took a quick look at my broker account and my non-registered portfolio value was at more than 75 800$! I was like whattttttt??? If it could just to straight up to 76 000$ without any new investment, I would be more than happy.

Remember when I said that I was charging 29$ in commission fee from TD Waterhouse following the arrival of my margin account? Well, its seem like that problem is now fix. I called TD Waterhouse - again - yesterday, and now everything is back to normal. I am back to the 9.99$ in commission fee. Wicked. I would like to place another trade before the end of 2010... Like right now, it's really the count down. As you can imagine, I am very tempt to use some of my margin money available to trade even more. I have more than 38 000$ available right now to do whatever I want. A getaway to Cuba whatever else lol. I already use 2 000$ of the margin money available to invest in 200 units of Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN). Investing using margin money is very appealing. But in case of a bad luck, or a sudden stock crash, I could be in trouble. In those difficult days, everything can happen. So margin yes, but carefully. I had in mind those buy-and-sell investment ideas on the back of my head. Like you know, purchase a good quality stock and sell it when a 200$ profit is made. When calling so many times TD Waterhouse about my questions on margin, I had been giving the example of TD stocks. So I had that idea to purchase 200 stocks of TD and sell them as soon as a 200$ profit would be made. Risky? Dangerous? Partly yes. But not that dangerous when the trade involve quality stocks. Anyhow, having that 38 000$ available for investment purposes is certainly giving me plenty of new ideas on how I am going to make money in the future. It's not something I plan to do, it's just an idea.

I received today some fresh new cash from my online earnings! I had received 155$. Nothing much, but earnings a couple of pennies on a hubby is great. So far so good, no other HubPages of mine got unpublished... Writing can be so difficult sometimes, especially when English is not your first language. I had many ideas for HubPages, so I should be hitting the 100 articles on HubPages by the end of 2010!

Debt situation: How I plan to save 184.11$ in annual interest money

I am not going to be debt free anytime soon. But I can certainly make things happen to save an extra 167.65$ in interest money! I won't close the door to a 167.65$ saving, even if it's only 167.65$. But saving more than 150$ in interest money is interesting enough - and that's the exact reason for this post - because saving money is interesting right?

Remember my debt situation? 47 221.68 in debt and 2 497.30$ in annual interest money paid on the 47 221.68$ debt? Not that I am looking forward anytime soon to decrease that 47 221.68$ debt of mine, but I am certainly willing to see the amount of the interest money decrease, even just a bit.

How do I plan to proceed? By using up all up 30% of the margin money that I have available at TD Waterhouse.

I currently used 2 000$ of my margin money to participate in the initial public offering of Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN). I also use 4 985.74$ to pay off my 8.75% TD Canada Trust line of credit. And now, I am going to use 6096.10$ of the 30% left available to pay on my 10 000$ line of credit at 7.27%!

Here's how my debt situation will look after:

Line of credit: 9 498.17$ at a low interest rate of 4.75% (RRSP credit line rates) = 451.16$ in annual interest

Line of credit: 4 900$ at a low interest rate of 4% (credit line rates) = 196$ in annual interest
7 946.31$ on a TD Canada Trust credit card at a low interest rate of 4.9% ending in April 2011 (result of a credit card balance transfer)
= 389.37$ in annual interest
Student loan: 7 891.46$ a low interest rate loan at 5.50% (student loan rate) = 436.87$ in annual interest
Line of credit: 3 903.90$ at 7.27% (credit line rates) = 283.81$ in annual interest
13 081.84$ at a low interest rates of 4.25% (margin money coming from TD Water house): = 555.98$ in annual interest

TOTAL: 47 221.68$
TOTAL in annual interest: 2 313.19$

Before, the annual interest rate was of 2 497.30$. At 2 313.19$, this allow me to save 184.11$. Little savings are better than no savings at all. Don't you think so?

Margin made complicated at TD Waterhouse

Just before getting started on my debt situation, I would like to say that I am now very close to the 200$ in online earnings. But just now when I start making good money, my 2 latest HubPages got refused. they are both now unpublished as I got to review them. Its quite dramatic because both of them were absolutely perfect, all back of the best keywords Google AdSense program of all time! It's not a funny situation at all, but I find it hilarious because both of those 2 HubPages had been boring to write so I guess it reflect in the overall product, and in result I got ban... I had been working hard on HubPages lately because I want to reach the 100 HubPages before the end of 2010... I had been working and working, but maybe i had been trying to hard. And to tell the true, all of that writing had exhausted me! Just very much funny situation I have to say. I just hope I will be able to reach my 100 HubPages by the end of 2010! I just have a couple of days left and I have to write 24 HubPages articles... But I like the challenge.

Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN) dividend are in!

Yes! I call TD Waterhouse again tonight because I had notice I had received something in the cash account... I was told I had received 37.57$ from Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN). I just take note of the amount but this amount of 37.57$ is very strange because I usually received around 30$ every month from Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN). Anyhow, this situation will be fix, I won't have to call TD Waterhouse and ask them what I had received as dividend very soon. In the next distribution period, everything should be back in order. Which should be for the next month or 2.

I place a test trade to see how it will appear next time I will actually be trading... nothing very strange appears lol... just the cash amount (which is a debit because I start using the margin money) and the amount left on the margin account. But the commission fee that appear was 29$, an not 9.99$. So now I am confuse again. See I am suppose to have the commission fee at 9.99$ per trade because I have more than 50 000$ in my broker account (I actually now have close to 100 000$ alone there right now, before margin of course...). Now, I am wondering if the 29$ commission fee came out because I did the test when the market was closed or if it's going to be my commission fee from now on. Hello complications!

This is just to give you a quick overview of what I am going through since I add margin to my broker account. I am now more miserable than ever before, but I can now borrow money from TD Waterhouse at the cool interest rate of not 4.52% like I was previously wrote, but 4.25%! That's the rate that is advertise on the TD Waterhouse Web site. But I taught I saw 4.52% somewhere before and its the rate I once was giving by a TD Waterhouse representative... 4.25% is better than 4.50% or 4.52% for sure... so I am willing to take the 4.25%... lol... But hey, that's not all.

With a President's Account at TD Waterhouse, the margin is at 3.75% with only $25,000 - $99,999 in investment. I am very curious about the President's Account of TD Waterhouse. I forget to ask what it take to get a President's Account. Just very curious because if we are talking about an investment value of $25, 000 and $99 999 than, the minimum needed appear to be low. Anyhow, the President's Account of TD Waterhouse is something really mysterious and I cannot find anything online regarding the President's Account.

President's Account at TD Waterhouse or not, a 4.25% in interest money is quite good. Remember that I use to pay 8.75% in interest on a 5 000$ line of credit at TD Canada Trust... Now that line of credit had been paid off using my 4.25% margin money.

I also ask the rep of TD Waterhouse about the interest. When the interest are being add to the margin? That's important stuff to know for me because I want to pay off the interest money every month. holding a margin on a broker account is not like a line of credit: you won't received a monthly statement or anything like that requesting a minimum payment. with margin: its a good or no good situation. In my case, I prefer to keep it simple and not use more than 30% of the margin money available. It's impossible for me to follow the market second after second during daytime. Most of the time while working, I will take a quick look at the market a couple of times during the day, but I cannot closely monitor the stock market. Meaning that during daytime, in case of a sudden crash, I won't probably know anything about it. At least not immediately.

When it come to the interest own on my margin, I already deposit a 149.50$ in my margin account (my Quebec provincial tax cheque). This way, I am good for a couple of months. Instead of doing things simply, TD Waterhouse had decided to go complicated when it come to margin interest money. I ask the rep the following question; when does the interest money is getting deposit in the account? And I got the following answer: on the first Friday following the 16th of each month. WOW! That's so complicated as answer. Messy... But wait, that's not all! If the 16th arrived on a Thursday or Friday, the interest money will be deposit on the following Friday... Oh lala TD Waterhouse I love u! Just to keep it simple between you and me, we'll say that the interest money will arrive sometime during the month, certainly after the 16th of each month... LOL...

TD Waterhouse + margin = awful things. I wasn't explain anything when I open the margin account at the TD Waterhouse location at the Eaton Centre. But I wasn't expecting much more better coming from Quebeckers.

I am now at 122 468.76$

2010 had been an AWESOME YEAR. I won't post my year in review for now, but just to add quickly that my investment goals had been reached. The major one was to reach 100 000$ in assets before the end of 2010 and I did. In result, I accumulate debt, but I consider those debts as being healthy because those debts are being hold for investment purposes. It's not money that been throw away on a Louis Vuitton purse.

On date of December 18, I hold 122 468.76$ in assets and 47 221.68$ in debt, for a net value of 75 247.08$. Not too bad! Currently, I have use my margin money at 4.52% to pay off a 5 000$ credit line at 8.75%. I also use 2 000$ on my margin money to invest in Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN). To evaluate the situation better, let's review my dividend income. Here's an update of my dividend earnings:

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio
Sprott Inc. (SII): 57.20$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 209.72$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 63.86$
Fortis (FTS): 120.91$
Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL): 669.24$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 952.32$
Yellow Media Inc. (YLO): 376$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund
(BA.UN): 381.90$ (I am counting the dividend for 1.90$ per unit).
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 178.08$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 366.85$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 112.56$
Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN): 241.20$
(I am counting the dividend for 1.20$ per unit)
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):
240.72$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 160.80$
iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index (XRE): 43.74$
Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN): 130$

TOTAL: 4 305.10$

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund
(CWI.UN): 274.30$

TOTAL: 274.30$

RSP investment portfolio:
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 80$
Emera Incorporated (EMA): 238.96$

TOTAL: 318.96$

OVERALL TOTAL: 4 898.36$

Good, but this calculation do not include the special dividend that usually pay Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) on an annual basis (yeah yeah, on top of the regular dividend!). The special dividend of Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) is usually of 20 cents per unit. I am adding a 153.60$ to this current 4 898.36$ because I had been paid a special dividend of Just Energy Income Fund for 2 years in a row now. That's the usual stuff now, special dividend from Just Energy.

Sprott Inc. (SII) also pay a special dividend, but the amount is not steady. But let's remember that Sprott Inc. is still a young stock (of 2008).

OVERALL OF THE OVERALL dividend earning: 5 051.96$

Ok, so here we are:

122 468.76$ in assets (WOW!);
5 051.96$ in yearly dividend payments (yeah!);
47 221.68$ in debt (!!!);
2 516.16$ on annual interest for the debt (outchh).

I have way too much debt, but adding those debts were the only I had to reach the 100 000$ I wanted so much! I currently hold more than 100k. Should I sell the 22 468.76$ left to pay off debt? Well, my answer is NO. I won't use the extra 22 468.76$ that I have in assets to pay my debt because I am not very interesting at paying debt at this time. It's a risk, but it's a risk I am willing to take. But the risk is calculated.

The amount of dividend I earn on an annual basis can pay in 2 times my annual interest paid on my debt. so this is all pretty manageable. But I should not go deeper into debt even for investment purposes because passing the 47k in debt could be passively dangerous.

Also, another reason why I don't want to pay off debt is that I want to reach 150 000$ in assets for 2011. Possible or not? We'll see, so stay tune ok? STAY TUNE :0) Because the best (or the worst?) is to come.

The benefits of adding iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index Fund (XRE) to your portfolio

Our very last investment was little (less than 800$), but its a 4 stars Morningstar Canada investment: iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index Fund (XRE). I currently own 54 units of iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index Fund (XRE).

With a net asset value of more than 1 billion of dollars (that's right, 1 billion!), the iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index Fund (XRE) offer a great exposure to the Canadian real estate investment trust, commonly known as REITs. The iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index Fund (XRE) offer exposure to the financial sector (99.95%), a sector that is still strong in Canada despite the worldwide recession. Personally, my overall portfolio didn't have a high exposure to the financial sector. As financial stocks, I hold Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) and Sprott Inc. (SII). Before iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index Fund (XRE), I wasn't involve in the real estate sector - but now I am!

If just like me, you worry about diversification (like enough is never enough right) and you want to make sure to invest in a financial product that is already ultra-diversify by itself? Well, the iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index Fund (XRE) may be a good option for you!

When investing in the iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index Fund (XRE), you directly investing in major players of the Canadian real estate sectors:

RioCan REIT (REI.UN): 24.68%
H&R REIT (HR.UN): 12.64%
Canadian REIT (REF.UN): 9.37%
Calloway REIT (CWT.DB.B): 8.31%
Boardwalk REIT (BEI.UN): 7.13%
Primaris Retail REIT (PMZ.UN): 5.95%
Dundee REIT (D.UN): 5.66%
Canadian Apartment Properties REIT ("CAPREIT") (CAR.UN): 5.40%
Cominar REIT (CUF.UN): 5.05%
Chartwell Seniors Housing REIT (CSH.UN): 4.70%

Sound interesting? Well, the iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index Fund (XRE) trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Looking for an investment for your 2010 RSP? Good news: the iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index Fund (XRE) can be hold inside a RSP register account.

In reason of its high exposure Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), I probably won't increase the number of units that I hold in the iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index Fund (XRE). REITs are new for you to? According to Investopedia, REIT is "A security that sells like a stock on the major exchanges and invests in real estate directly, either through properties or mortgages". Companies such as RioCan REIT (REI.UN) and H&R REIT (HR.UN) are involve in the real estate through different activities. And because of their direct participation in the real estate sector, the REITs, receive a special tax considerations.

iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index Fund (XRE) can be a good investment to hold in a non-registered account. The iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT pays a monthly dividend known as a monthly cash distribution. As example, for the month of November 2010, the monthly cash distribution for the iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index Fund (XRE) was of 0.06175$ per unit.

It won't represent that much of a dividend for us - only 3.3345$ per month - but still that more than enough to purchase a medium coffee at Second Cup. Merry Christmas!

My stock investment portfolio on date of December 18, 2010

Savings:
1 327.75$

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio
Sprott Inc. (SII): 3 874$
Timminco (TIM): 68$
Blue Note Mining (BNT): 52$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 6 056.20$
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): 117$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 3 139.44$
Fortis (FTS): 3 648.70$
Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL):
9 330.75$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 11 397.12$
Yellow Media Inc. (YLO): 2 961$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund
(BA.UN): 5 276.25$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 2 728.44$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 5 423$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 3 316.50$
Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN):
4 044.12$
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):
2 860.08$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 5 706.39$
Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U): 2 590$
iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index (XRE): 713.88$
Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN): 2 000$
Cash: 97.72$

TOTAL: 75 400.59$

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
RBC O’Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund:
2 935.95$
The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund
(CWI.UN): 2 823.18$
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): 316.25$
Cash: 3.27$

TOTAL: 6 078.65$

RSP investment portfolio:
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund: 7 443.34$
Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL): 4 187.82$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 2 839$
Emera Incorporated (EMA): 6 466.34$
Cash: 66.99$

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: 544.76$
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: 420.84$
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: 1 033.89$

Energy and Base Metals Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
503.46$
Natural Resources Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
502.06$

GIC National Bank: 1 147.42$
GIC Plus: 500$

TD Canadian Bond: 115.25$
TD Monthly Income: 107.99$
TD Emerging Markets: 90.28$
TD Energy: 94.13$
TD Precious Metals: 146.76$
TD Latin American Growth: 104.30$
TD Entertainment and Communications: 122.58$
TD Dividend Growth: 204.80$
TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth: 116.62$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund
(Templeton): 652.99$
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: 916.73$
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: 1 079.34$
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund:
1 041.04$
Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund: 644.05$

Great-West – various: 1 751.69$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund: 540.44$
RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$: 2 019.26$
RBC Global Resources Fund: 1 171.86$
RBC O’Shaughnessy International Equity Fund: 656.56$
RBC O’Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity
Fund: 1 207.56$

GIC Canadian Market: 1 000$

TOTAL: 39 440.15$

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

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-
free Savings account + RRSP + Online Income
(181.62$):

122 468.76$

My debt situation on date of December 18, 2010

Line of credit: 9 498.17$ at a low interest rate of 4.75% (RRSP credit line rates) = 451.16$ in annual interest
Line of credit: 4 900$ at a low interest rate of 4% (credit line rates) = 196$ in annual interest
7 946.31$ on a TD Canada Trust credit card at a low interest rate of 4.9% ending in April 2011 (result of a credit card balance transfer)
= 389.37$ in annual interest
Line of credit: 4 911$ at 8.75% (credit line) = 429.71$ in annual interest PAID OFF
Student loan: 7 891.46$ a low interest rate loan at 5.50% (student loan rate) = 436.87$ in annual interest
Line of credit: 10 000$ at 7.27% (credit line rates) = 727$ in annual interest
6 985.74$ at a low interest rates of 4.52% (margin money coming from TD Water house): = 315.76$ in annual interest

TOTAL: 47 221.68$
TOTAL in annual interest: 2 516.16$
[In date of December 18, 2010]

Public offering of Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN): I am in!

I didn't hear about it for about 2 days, but today was the day, I had been able to invest in 200 units of Horizons Gold and I just cannot wait to actually have them in my investment portfolio. I am not working this weekend, so I will be able to publish an update of my online stock trading accounts.

This is my second day under margin. I am getting use to it pretty quickly. It's just that the whole thing had bring a lot of changes in my online stock trading accounts. I gave a quick call to TD Waterhouse investor services just to find if everything was in order, and it was. Margin can appears as being complicated at first, but it's truly not.

Buying stocks on margin? I won't recommend to massively use margin accounts money to invest. In my case, only 2 000$ had been borrowed from my margin to invest. Just to keep my peace of mind, I don't plan to use 30% of the margin money available. So all this combine together, not use more than 30%, use margin to mostly pay existing debt is for me playing on the safe side. Also, I almost only hold line of credit loans (but none of them is actually a refinance home equity line of credit. Since I am not a home owner, I won't qualify to get a low interest home equity loan). This mean that I hold renewable credit. In case of need, I can reapply the money back to the margin accounts.

So thanks to the Dividend Lover (he's the debt busters who provide me the idea of using margin money to pay off some debt at a higher interest rate), my 5 000$ line of credit at 8.75% is paid off. At 8.75%, I wasn't holding one of the best line of credit rates there is out there. I currently has used 7 000$ of my margin money available.

I am now a debt busters: my 5 000$ line of credit at 8.75% with TD Canada Trust is now paid off!

The weekend is almost there and I cannot wait! It's going to be my first weekend off since quite some time and I am quite happy about it. Even if this is going to cut on the cash available for investing.

Remember that I am having problem to transfer money from my online broker day trading account of my TD Waterhouse online section to my line of credit? Well, that's because my non-registered Canadian cash broker account is technically dead, but I continue to receive dividend payment in it. This could last a little while, but I wasn't provided an exact delay. It's just annoying since during that delay, I have no clue of who's paying me those dividend because I can no longer access my cash account... I have no choose other than to call TD Waterhouse investor services to find out. Also, I cannot proceed myself to any transfers from my cash discount broker account to line of credit account or what so ever else other account. Nothing can be transfer from my cash account anymore.

Basically, this mean that my online commodity broker Canadian cash account no longer exist. From now on, if I want to trade commodities online using cash coming from my very own pockets, I have to deposit the money in what is now my margin account. Example: let's say I have 2 000$ from my personal cash that I want to use to invest in my non-registered account, I will have to deposit the 2 000$ in my margin account. My 2 000$ in personal cash will be add to the 43 653.66$ that I currently hold in my margin account, to make a total of 45 653.66$. After what, I can trade using 2 000$ from the margin account. Technically, there's no more Canadian cash account, just a margin one, but I can still purchase stocks using my own money through TD Waterhouse securities.

I had that 8$ and something cents in the Canadian cash account that I was desperately looking to get transferred into my line of credit, the one at 8.75% in interest rate. The TD Waterhouse rep proceed to the money transfer since it's now impossible for me to proceed myself. After what, I also ask her to take the margin money to pay off completely that same line of credit. This mean that my 5 000$ line of credit at 8.75% is now completely paid off. But now that I am looking into my broker account, under cash, I have minus (-) and the amount that I requested to be transfer on my line of credit.... Nice, but the minus is under cash and not the margin...

This is confusing to start with because I am not use to margin and the information appear all in a different way that what its use to be. And now, I am wondering if the transferred had been done properly or not... lol... I am pretty sure yes, but still, that minus under cash is intriguing.

The interest rate on the margin account is currently of 4.52%. This is very good compare to the 8.75% of my 5 000$ line of credit. I am very happy to now have that line of credit completely paid off - and it will remain paid off. Borrowing cash on my margin was for me one of the best creditsolutions that I could choose.

In case of a deadly situation on the stock market (stock market loosing a lot of points on the same day), the money need to be available and need to be ready to get transferred back on the margin in case of need. But can such situation could happen? Well, it happen in 2008, and it could happen again. Also using only 30% of the money available of the margin account like I was suggested to do by a TD Waterhouse rep is a very good advise that will help me to minimize the risk I take by borrowing money online on my margin account. I will definitively be sticking to the 30% rule. Because TD Waterhouse can sell the assets even without giving first a margin call. REMEMBER: TD WATERHOUSE HAS NOW THE AUTHORITY ON MY STOCK DISCOUNT BROKER ACCOUNT. (lol...) But seriously talking, that's what you need to know about margin and that's exactly the reason why you need to be careful when buying stocks on margin.

The use of 5 000$ on my margin do not requested a minimum payment every month, but I will be paying the equivalent of the interest amount on a monthly basis. In my personal financial situation, margin is a great tool to use to pay off debt hold on line of credit at a higher interest rate (8.75% in this case). Margin is a great tool, but it will require me to monitor my account on a daily basis and preferably - many times during the day (if not just the Canadian stock markets). But since I plan to use only 30% of the margin money available, I play safe and hopefully, it will be just fine. I am understanding a bit better now and know a bit more of where I am going with all this. Margin is not difficult, but as delicate as an English rose.

Some technical problems with my new TD Waterhouse stock margin account

So far, no news for my public offering in Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN). I call TD Waterhouse today as I had been promised a call back today but never got a call... It's always like that with TD Waterhouse, they always promised to call you on this or this and never return the call. If it wouldn't be for the super smooth-strong teddy bear voices of some of their male brokers, it would had been a long time ago that I would had left the Canadian online broker TD Waterhouse... lol... But hey, nothing to worry about. I won't leave TD Waterhouse anytime soon for many reasons. One of the reasons being that at 9.99$, TD Waterhouse trade commission is one of the lowest - this commodity trading broker offer one of the cheapest online trading. Overall, as a commodity trading broker, TD Waterhouse had been very good to me. I have all the credit products I needed and requested with TD financial. I basically never been refused anything. I am not looking to get the moon, just a few things of my own.

As with this public offering for Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN), the units trade at 10$ each, minimum investment needed being of 1 000$, commission free! That's right, there will be no I want to invest 2 000$ using the margin of my online stock trading account. I should know for sure by tomorrow if I can move on with my direct public offering proposition or not. Ok, it could sound silly, but it's not. Why? Well, because of the minimum required of 1 000$. At 1 000$ any investor living next door can participate in the public offering of Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN). And really, those TD Waterhouse brokers need to work so I am giving them some work to do. No work, no job right? I am the one giving TD Waterhouse discount commodity brokers business.

And talking business, the business is going well. My online earnings continue to go up. We are not talking about hundreds of dollars per day here, just a few bucks, but that's enough for now. I am still without any metro pass. I am a New Brunswick girl, use to cold weather... I am doing ok without my metro pass for now. I am just very happy to be able to keep that 70$ (price for a metro pass) in my pockets. also, Idecide not to purchase a new pair of winter boots to save more. I am still working on my HubPages. I have many articles subjects on the way. Finding time to write is not that hard, but what is hard is to write. Does that sound strange just like for all of the rest? Anyhow, I am just loooking forward to save more money and stop purchasing sushi and other foodssss. During the last couple of months, I didn't pay to much attention to my budget but now that I have that stock margin account, I want to save more because I want to pack my non registered portfolio of more units and stocks.

As for the online investing business, the overall of what I hold at the commodity trading broker TD Waterhouse is now at 97 462.04$. I am now very close to the 100 000$ in my broker account and having all that money at TD Waterhouse just show you have much I feel secure at TD. But no matter how much I like TD, seem that lately, I am experiencing some technical problems, following the apparition of my stock margin account in my non-registered Canadian account.

The problems started when I first received my latest Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) dividend. I had received the dividend in my cash account, which was not related to by now stock margin account. The dividend (7$) left over and the 5 units earn of the DRIP where lying in there all alone, in the cash account. So I call TD Waterhouse, and they proceed with the transfer from cash to the stock margin account, so the 5 new Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) units can join the rest of the units... I was able to get this done over the phone. One problem that occur also was that I was able to see, in my overall view, that I had received 80$ in my cash account, but when I click on the link, I wasn't able to access the account...

On date on today again, I have a 8$ in cash (in the cash account) that I want to transfer over my credit line, but I cannot proceed with the transfer. I had been trying in 2 different occasions now and its just not working. Also, remember that I plan to pay my 5 000$ TD Canada Trust credit line at 8.75% using my stock margin account? I was about to proceed with the transfer from my stock margin account to my TD credit line. But while selecting my stock margin account, I saw the amount of my investment (73 000$ and a bit more) instead of the amount available on the stock margin account (something around 40 000$). At the end of what, confuse, I did not proceed with the transfer. So I guess I will have to call TD Waterhouse again tomorrow see what's going on and ask them to proceed to the transfer for me.

Holding a stock margin account is even more dangerous that what I first taught!!!

Following the application of my stock margin account, TD Waterhouse send me a charming little kit containing all the information related to margin. I read all the information related to my newest stock margin account of course and well, find it discouraging to even use my stock margin account. Why?

Well, it seem like TD Waterhouse had the right to sell any of my investments without giving me a "margin call", without any notifications. Depending of the stock market conditions, TD Waterhouse reserved the right to sell investment in case of a drastic loss of assets value.

Previously before, I was told by a TD Waterhouse broker that there was a 3 days delay to put the account back in standard and that there was going to have a call before anything being done. But it appears that none of this is true! When it come to investment, I am not even sure if anyone of TD Waterhouse know what they are talking about. Really to that point. And yes, sometimes, I hate TD Waterhouse. I really do. I am frustrated.

Can you explain to me how am I suppose to use margin than? That's exactly here that come the 30% rule I guess, coming from another TD Waterhouse rep I spoke to. This mean that to play safe and not be stock on a non-authorized assets sell, better not to use more than 30% of the money available in a stock margin account. 30% or even less. It's all experimentation at this point but I won't use more than 30% of my margin money and also, I plan just to do a one time investment deal using my margin money (the 2 000$ in Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN)) and pay off my 5 000$ credit line at 8.75% and I think that after that, it will be all. I won't use more of my margin money because I am now a... margin chicken (and not margin sexy, not anymore). Not all all. Margin is not sexy at all.

Despite the margin suffering, I had receive a surprise: Quebec province send me a 149.50$ cheque! That's nice, especially before Christmas. With the money left on my line of credit (160$), it make a nice little extra. I just received my paycheck, and even after paying my laptop, I have an extra 623$ available: for a Louis Vuitton monogram wallet (lol) or... a new investment. I am thinking about my next investment, but no specific idea yet. I could simply keep the money in my banking account for once. And it could be what will happen because I won't be working at my weekend job until middle or end of January so in the meantime, having a couple of extra hundreds of dollars available just in case of need won't hurt. But to say the true, I would like to invest again in silver through the Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PHS.U). One thing I don't like about the Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PHS.U) is that no matter how good the investment is, it won't bring any dividend in. I have to say, I am very tempt to invest again before the end of 2010, no matter how little the dividend.

The Tourist with Johnny Deep and Angelina Jolie

It was great! Very fun movie! Angelina Jolie is so perfectly sophisticated. And Johnny Deep stunning and funny. I don't understand the bad critics over the film: maybe it is some jealousy? Really, I don't know. I also went saw the last Harry Potter recently. I really like as well. 

My online earnings are going well. I think it's the Maryse Ouellet effect lol... Thanks to my generous readers, I am very close to the 200$! I would like to reach the 200$ by the end of the month and even better, I would like to reach 200$ every month. With my low budget, an extra 200$ per month will make me more than happy. I didn't stick to the minimum budget I advertise in the previous post lately, but I could really make a living under 1 200$ per month.

I reached the 97 000$ mark in my TD Waterhouse broker account. I am just missing 3 000$ before hitting the 100 000$! Would that be enough to have a President account with TD Waterhouse? With a President account, I could get the margin at 3.5%.... Interesting! Do I have what it take to have a President account with TD Waterhouse? I doubt, but it doesn't cost anything to ask, even anonymously...

Remember the investment I want to do in the Horizons Gold Yield Fund? Since TD wasn't list for the public, it make it a bit more complicated but I hope it turn well. I should know by tomorrow. I will keep you post as always ;0))

Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN) will soon be from the S&P/TSX Composite Index

Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN) had performed well lately and in result, our Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN) will soon be add to the Standard & Poor's Canadian index operations! Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN) will be add to the Standard & Poor's Canadian index on December 20.

Those are really great news for Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN). Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN) is a great alternative to Enbridge Inc. (ENB) stocks. Currently, Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN) units trades at 17$ and Enbridge Inc. (ENB) stocks trade at... 55.77$!

With Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN), you get more for your money: more shares and more dividend.

I had acquired some units of Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN) when their trading price was below 14$. This investment had bring a great deal of stability to my investment portfolio, a bit like Corby Distilleries Ltd. (CDL.A).

At the opposite of Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN), Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN) will be delete from the index on December 20. In result of the quarterly S&P/TSX Composite Index review, Bell Aliant Regional will be deleted from the Standard & Poor's Canadian index operations on December 20.