RBC O'Shaughnessy International Equity Fund still in red

I gave a quick look at my fund. All of them are in green (no money loose, only gain), except the RBC O'Shaughnessy International Equity Fund. I begin to really hate that fund. Or not that fund, but the International Equity Fund.

It's been more than 90 days since I buy my parts and I will sell as soon as I will recover from my lost. In date of today, October 5, 2007, my $$$ in the fund is of: 996.61$. I initially invest 1000$ in that fund back in January 9, 2007. In date of day, my lost are of 3.39$. I didn't make any money with the fund and I really don't like it. I will say it in my words: the fund suck.

And since the 1 000$ in that fund wasn't put in RRSP, it is not tax efficient.

I am now more concern about tax when it come to mutual fund.

I take a look at the Morningstar's report of RBC O'Shaughnessy International Equity Fund and they don't seem to like the high fees of the fund. To the high fees, add to that the low result. I am definitely looking to sell this fund.

I am looking for efficient mutual fund. I guess I will follow what say the Morningstar, or at least take a look of what they have to say regarding different funds.

I lost my credit card and metro pass on Tuesday morning

And it was really awful. It was this last Tuesday morning and I had put my credit card and my metro pass in my jeans pockets. I get up early that morning, so I was able to leave home sooner than usual. Maybe that's the things who make me loss my card.

Anyway, once in my way out outside, I check for my card that I have put in my pocket because I wanted to buy an orange juice and a muffin at the McDo that's just at the metro station where I take the metro. But for a reason or another, both cards were no longer in my pocket. I came back to me room and check around, but I couldn't find them. So in a hurry, I took some change to pay the metro and I took a CIBC credit card statement that I had with me.

While waiting for the metro, I did a quick call at CIBC and I told them that I had lost my card. Everything had been done very quick, just in time so I can take the metro. Anyway, I call again CIBC later on in the morning telling them I wanted to make sure with them that the card had been cancel, and it did. So I don't have to worry any longer for that card.

But what cost be was the lost of my metro pass. I had to repay 65$ in order to have a new card. And it make an extra 65$ expense. It came at a very bad time because I spent a little money, I just arrive from the movies. I watch the new Resident Evil and it was quite nice. I am trying so hard to save money and that 65$ lost is a big lost for me. It's like nothing can just be all right for once in my life. I was doing so fine, I did my lunch every single day of the week, and I really try to make things work and I am really trying to save my money.

It's hard to get organized and make things work in other to be abl to save money. I will be working at my part-time job 37 hours this week, so I might recover from the lost. I am working this Monday, an 8 hours shift. Anyway, I learn my lesson. No more card in my jean pocket. Never again.

I didn't find my credit card or my metro pass still. I believe I might really lost them somewhere.

My mutual funds are doing great

If the summer haven't been a good season for the mutul funds, maybe this autumn is going to be super great!

My RBC mutual funds are all in green. Even my RBC O'Shaughnessy International Equity Fund is in green, which is quite something, because I noticed the fund had some problems to catch it up, if I can say. International Equity Fund is my my favorite one. But because it's a O'Shaughnessy fund, I might keep it in my portfolio, just to make sure I have something else than the good Canadian mutual funds.

I won't expose the result for the mutual funds and I didn't calculate them because it take me some times and then, I have to recalculate all of my earnings, for my 50 000$ goal, which is quite something for me and I am not much as an accountant, just a girl trying to reach her first 50 000$.

I am very impress with the result of my portfolio right now. Can the credit crisis might now be behind us? I just cross my fingers. So far, the result are so good that I feel that I have a somewhat of a very rich portfolio, only one that can have the richess among us. But only with my little savings, I have been able to make a lot of money and it's mean a lot for me.

Save save save

I just did my lunch for the week. Time is passing so quickly and there's nothing I can do about it. I am keeping a track of my expenses. I have been burning money away by eating out, and a lot on coffes.

Earlier this morning, I buy myself some tea to avoid the weekly coffee expense. I hope I will be able to avoid the coffee expense. Since I cannot make more money that I am doing now, I cannot work more, I have been trying to cut on where I know that I can cut.

I can certainly cut on McDo and coffees and other fast food. I just have to stick to the plan. But I find it quite difficult to cut off like that on things I am so use. But it will be better for my pockets and for my health. Not that I eat MCDo and fast food everyday, but I am use to buy whatever I want whenever I want. And knowing that I finish my day work contract on December help me to do all the savings that I can do until December and further.

I have been writing down my expenses and for this wekend, I spent about 165$ on food and my metro pass for October. I am keeping a track of the expenses to see where I can cut. It will be quite difficult for me to cut on coffees and food, but I know I can do it. With the money save, I would like to pay myself a gym pass.

I took it off this Friday from my evening work. I want to spend more time for myself and I want to look if I can check for ways to make money via Internet so I can reach my 50 000$ quicker. I will do after my evenings spend at job and this Friday evening. It has been a long time since I didn't do nothing for a evening and I know there's ways I cna make money online, I just have to focus on them. I know a litle about them but I just didn't have the time to invest in it. Maybe 2 evenings off per week will help to get started over the Web.

I just cannot help it, I have to try.

I am not too far from my goal

I am only missing 19 052.67$ to reach my goal, which is too reach my first 50 000$. I hope I will be able to get the 19 052.67$ by the end of the year 2008. That will be really great. But I won’t be too disappointed if I am not able to do so. If not, I might easily be able to make it by 2009, without too much difficulties. I am looking for Internet’s program that could help me reach my goal so it can accelerate the progress.

RRSP Money

Desjardins:
Energy and Base Metals Term Savings (Indexed term savings): 585.02$

National Bank:
CPG: 1 102.90$

TD:
TD CPG : 1 513.97$

Manuvie:
Maritime Life International Equity Fund (Templeton) (closed): 914.94$
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: 1 012.50$
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: 1 100.19$
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund: 1 136.68$
Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund: 901.21$

Great West:
Various: 1 539.50$

Total of RRSP money: 9 806.91$

Segregated funds of Manuvie

Last year, for my RRSP, I invest in segregated funds. It's seemed to be a good solution at first my RRSP. It's still is, at least for me. I have been reading, previously before about segregated funds, but they don't seem to be that much popular. One of the reasons for this is the high MER fees for the segregated funds. Some can reach 3.75%.

The reason why I invest with them is because I choose, for some funds, the "capitalisateur" option. I know in a year they will give an extra few bucks on the fund in a couple of years and the initial placement is 100% protect. I am a little bit confused about the "capitalisateur" option because I did that placement almost a year ago and I didn't really get through the documentation. Anyway, at the time, what was important for me is that the initial deposit was 100% protect for 2 segregated funds I pick. For the 3 other one, the initial investment is protect at 75%.

I read in Canadian Business that it wasn't a smart thing to invest in segregated funds because of their high fees. I post a new thread in Canadian Business. My posts can be see under "myfirst50000". I had post a thread were I call segregated funds "distinct funds" because in French, segregated funds are call "fonds distincts". It's just hilarious. I am practicing my English online in a very funny way. Or maybe should I write in French, but it will be very less challenging...

The question that still remains for me tonight is: which placement to choose from for my RRSP?

I am asking the question quite early, but I would like to place the money in RRSP at the beginning of January 2007. There's still time, but last year, I was busy like I am right now and I have wait at the last minute to place my money in the RRSP and it was quite frustrating after that to wait for the paper for the tax and everything.

My search for RRSP solution continue

I just don't want to be stuck like last year, being at the last minute to invest in my RRSP. I might try to invest in December. My day contract will end on December 4, so I will have time after that to do the little things I need to do.

Last year, for my RRSP, I went to Manuvie and I buy distinct funds. I sign for a period of 20 years. I will a future post on distinct funds and I will explain further why I pick distinct funds last year for my RRSP.

On of the reason is that I am searching for risk free investments for my RRSP. Since I don't have right now a stable situation, I have been going on like that on contract since I graduate, I am looking for risk free, capital guarantee investment. And exception for that might be Canadian dividends. The BMO Dividends appears to me to be a good one. I might invest half of the amount in Canadian Dividends (in a mutual fund) and the other half in a save money pocket product.

I continue my search for capital guaranteed product and it's exhausting me, since I don't want to rely only on advisor advice for this. It's my money and I want to make sure I am making the right decision. I have something like more than 5 000$ to play with for my RRSP. The question that still remains to me is: where should invest my RRSP money?

I know distinct funds fees are pretty high, but since a contract is sign, that include a specific period of time (for mines, I sign for about 20 years if I remember), I felt more safe about the investment.

Money in mutual funds still remains mysterious for me. I know the money is put at my name, put where's really the money? Is there a risk it can be stole? That's what I am really concern about. But at the same time, after noticing that some mutual funds have millions and millions put in them, I told myself that if their some many people who invest money in mutual funds, that's mean that they are safe products. But am I right? By safe product, I mean no one can touch the money except me, and that the money I gain from the funds remains mine, even if it's not money that I have in my bank account.

I am having the same scaring thoughts about stocks. What if the system crack down and loose everyone name and amount of money the people had made so far. Can this is something that could happen at any time? I just think too deeply and stocks and mutual funds still remain mysterious for me, even if I had bought my first mutual fund in 2005. I am just a beginner trying to make my way out, but comforting me by saying that millions of other person are doing the same thing as me and are making money not only from mutual funds, but also stocks, there should be no fear. The only thing is the fear remains and I believe it will still remains until I truly understand what stocks and mutual funds are really about.

About my RBC Global Resources Fund

On August 31, 2007, I invest 1 000$ in the RBC Global Resources Fund. Back then, we were still in the credit crisis and I wasn't sure if it was a good time to invest. I listen to my little voice and I invest a little 1 000$. It does appear to be one of the best decisions I have ever made.

On August 31, I buy a total of 28.39 units of the RBC Global Resources Fund at 35.2159$. That was in August 31, 2007. Now, in date of September 24, 2007, I made a total of 65.39$ with the RBC Global Resources Fund.

I just like mutual funds and I just don't understand why people try to avoid so many fees when buying mutual fund and I don't understand the "couch potato" thing, when people buy e funds or try to buy funds having the lowest fees. Focus should be put on how much the manager is able to get from is fund and not the fees.

I have a good example I can take from my Fonds Desjardins Fidelity Frontière Nord. this is the first fund I buy, back in 2006 I believe. I buy each part at 13$ and something, and now each unit worth 17,966$. I have made 1291.95$. I made 291.95$ with the fund, in date of today. The fees might be more than 2% for the fund, but I have here a really good Fidelity fund, and my money is well protecting in here. Does my money would be doing as well in a lower cost fund? I don't think so.

I will aloud any manager to take as much as 3% of my money if they can give me a fund that will be able to take it if I can say whenever the "bourse" crash down. Because of my lack of knowledge in stocks, I prefer to buy mutual funds, feel secured about my money and pay high fees. The fees for the RBC Global Resources are 2.40% or 2.18%. And I really don't care.

Thank you Mr. Chris Beer.

[Chris Beer is the main manager of the RBC Global Resources Fund]

A 4% savings account with RBC

It's seemed like RBC have it all! Good mutual funds, 10 000$ credit card and... high interest savings account!

If I will not use the 10 000 credit card I had with them, I will, instead, open a savings account. The interest is of 4%. On 9 459.13$, it's make a return of at least 378.37$. I can definitely add 378.37$ to my actual 28 704.03$ (in date of September 24, 2007). It' quite amazing that I have so much money. Having 28 000$ is like having a little fortune for myself.

But surprise, with that 378.37$, I can happily say that I have 29 082.40$... I don't have it yet, but hey, I have to motivate myself in a way in another, so I hope no one will mind if I change the actual 28 704.03$, for 29 082.40$... I am changing it right away... And I am forgiving the tax once again...

I learn that with PC, I could have a free bank account, but they don't offer it to Quebec residents, which is really too bad.

Same thing with ING Direct. ING have start offering mutual funds, but they only expose this offer in the English version of their Web site. It's because they do not sell mutual funds to Quebec residents. Being in Quebec is very frustrated for me because I pay more tax in my non RRSP investing and their are some good offers that I am missing.