The Challenges of Letting Go some Stuff: My Decluttering Adventure in New Brunswick

We are getting closer to the month of May, which is the month I depart for Montreal, and I am doing everything I possibly can to declutter all the little possessions I still have here in New Brunswick. Today, I decluttered my bedroom. I still have to go through some of my stuff, but I am pretty well advanced. I went through the exact same process a few years ago, so this time it's not as bad as it used to be. However, I still found some old floppy disks that were carefully hidden in my wardrobe. I went through them and saved the content on my laptop. All this decluttering is quite an annoying task, and I really dislike it, but it needs to be done. While going through the process, I found something really special... If you don't want to miss anything, follow me on Twitter at @SunnyJNB.

I had a big box with my name on it in my wardrobe, but I had no idea what was inside until I opened it. It's a messy mix of photographs - some with people I don't even recognize lol - hockey cards that belong to my brother (did I steal them from him? I don't remember...), pictures in frames, etc. So, I have to go through the box carefully. Today, I spent basically the whole day in my bedroom, and I'm not even finished yet. I prefer to do this when I have enough time to do it peacefully without rushing, which is now.

Imagine a situation where my parents finally find an apartment they like and decide to sell the house. I'll have to help pack not only their things but also mine. Like, come on, it doesn't make any sense. My brother is pretty neat in the sense that none of his stuff is here anymore, but a lot of mine still is. I doubt my parents will have the opportunity to sell the house anytime soon because there aren't enough apartments around here. However, there will come a time when my parents won't be here anymore and my stuff will need to find a new home.

After finishing my bedroom, my next step will be the basement, where I have about 5 to 6 plastic bins (from what I remember) full of stuff - mostly books and papers. I also have one suitcase full of what I used to tell my parents were "important papers"... I want to go through that suitcase. Once I'm done with everything, I'll try to figure out the moving process. It's not an emergency situation, but I need to figure out how to take the remaining items I want to keep and bring them to Montreal. I have a few options for how to proceed.

I can do this gradually when I visit New Brunswick since I am allowed two suitcases on the bus. Luckily, the bus ride from Riviere-du-Loup to Montreal is direct. I'm used to traveling with a lot of luggage. It's not the first time I'm moving stuff around using the bus. Before, it was even easier because I could ship some stuff from New Brunswick to Montreal and vice versa on the bus. However, I don't think that service is available anymore, since there's no bus between Riviere-du-Loup and New Brunswick. There are always ways to make things work out. One option would be to ship my stuff from Riviere-du-Loup to Montreal, since my old folks always give me a ride to Riviere-du-Loup anyway.

The situation is not desperate. I think it's always better to have all of your belongings in one place, in one home. This being said, I plan to leave some winter stuff in New Brunswick, but that's only because I know I will be coming back for sure for the hunting season. And that is leaving me with more space in my luggage to move some stuff over to Montreal.

Maximizing my TFSA Portfolio: How I Contribute In-Kind When I Just Don't Have Any Cash to Invest

I really like the change of springtime because even though I finish work at 6 p.m. New Brunswick time, I can still go out for a walk without it being too late. I usually walk for nearly an hour during my lunch hour, and now I will start going out for a walk after work too. If I can walk enough to reach 12,000 steps, it's a good day for me.

On the other hand, today wasn't a good day for the TSX as it closed the session with 19,588.90 points, falling behind the 20,000-point mark. My non-registered portfolio closed today's session at $143,958.26, my US portfolio at $5,151.27 US, my RRSP stocks-only portfolio at $64,310.49, and my TFSA portfolio at $124,572.51.

It's time to discuss today's topic: how to contribute to your TFSA portfolio, even if you don't have any money to invest. The solution is simple: make a contribution in kind from your non-registered portfolio to your TFSA portfolio. Personally, I consider myself to be an expert in contribution in-kind. I regularly use this method to contribute to my TFSA portfolio, which is why I have a much larger number of investments in my TFSA portfolio compared to my non-registered portfolio.

If you take a closer look at my investment portfolio, you will see that I have more holdings in my TFSA portfolio because of the contribution in-kind system. This allows me to maximize the growth potential of my investments without having to make additional cash contributions.

The concept of a contribution in-kind is quite simple. You choose an investment from your non-registered portfolio and transfer some or all of its shares to your TFSA portfolio. This method allows you to fully utilize your TFSA portfolio without having to use cash from your savings. When it comes to making contributions in-kind from my non-registered portfolio to my TFSA, I follow a few important rules.

First, the investment that I select from my non-registered portfolio needs to be a stock that I care about and that I am willing to keep as an investment for my TFSA portfolio. 

Secondly, the value of the investment that I will select from my non-registered portfolio needs to be down. While proceeding to a contribution in-kind using investments that are being held inside your non-registered portfolio, you will have to pay taxes on the transfer. If the investment selected is experiencing great growth inside your non-registered portfolio, if you transfer that successful investment to your TFSA portfolio, you'll have to pay capital gain taxes. Personally, it's something I am trying to avoid. In addition, selecting quality investments that have decreased in value in your non-registered portfolio can provide you with more contribution room in your TFSA.

Currently, my investment in BCE Inc. (BCE) within my non-registered portfolio has decreased by about $400, making it an ideal choice for a contribution in-kind to my TFSA. Additionally, I already have some BCE shares in my TFSA portfolio, so consolidating all of my BCE shares in my TFSA would help to maximize the dividend income and enable the DRIP to work effectively.

Contributing in-kind with dividend-paying stocks is an excellent strategy because, once the transfer is completed, the dividend income earned within the TFSA portfolio is essentially tax-free, which is fantastic. Last year, I earned over 80k, and while I probably may not earn as much in 2023, I'll do whatever I can to save money and keep it away from the tax man.

When transferring funds or making a contribution in-kind to grow your TFSA portfolio, it's crucial to ensure that you stay within your contribution limit. Overcontributing to your TFSA portfolio could result in significant costs. Personally, I have not yet maximized my TFSA contribution and have several thousand dollars of contribution room available for my use.

Recently, I invested a significant amount of money into my margin account to pay off some debt. The debt is linked to my non-registered portfolio. Whenever I make a contribution in-kind, I must ensure that I replace the loan value of the selected investment with cash. However, as I have been diligently working on paying down my margin account, I now have over $50,000 in cash available in my margin account. This means that my margin account is in a much more secure position. Nonetheless, when it comes to margin debt, there is always some level of risk involved, and you can never be entirely safe.

Make sure to understand the rules of the TFSA before contributing to it and ensure that you stay within your contribution limit. By doing so, you can enjoy tax-free dividend income.

Welcoming CSX Corporation (CSX) in my US portfolio!

With spring approaching, I am trying to spend more time walking outside and less time on my laptop, although there is still a lot of snow left to melt away. It has been a long and cold winter, but we are not completely done with it yet. However, one clear indication that spring is coming is the fact that there is less and less wood in the basement. One thing is certain: the worst of winter is now behind us, and I couldn't be happier. I may not post as frequently as I did during the month of February, as time passes quickly when you try to walk at least 90 minutes a day and work full-time. Work has always been busy, but now it's becoming a bit more intense.

I have a lot of decluttering to do in both my bedroom and the basement, where I have stored some of my belongings in boxes. In the basement, there are about six boxes and one suitcase, while my bedroom is filled with my own possessions and items that belong to my parents. Since I haven't lived with them full-time since my early twenties, my bedroom has become a storage space for my parents' belongings. I always kept some of my belongings in my room, and over time, as I moved out, some of the drawers were emptied, and my father started using them to store his things. I never had a problem with it, but I found it very amusing the first time I noticed my father's belongings invading my room. Soon after, my mother's clothes filled up the wardrobe, which was also okay with me.

The other half of my belongings are in my apartment in Montreal, where I will be reunited with them sometime in May. Time is flying by, and I really want to get my decluttering done before I leave for Montreal. I don't have too many clothes, but my thing is papers - A LOT OF PAPERS - and books. My old folks want eventually to sell the house if they can find an apartment and I really have to take my decluttering seriously and take some stuff with me when I will be leaving for Montreal. Papers and books are heavy, so I have a lot to do here. As always, I do things my own way, including decluttering. I write down everything that needs to be done on my cellphone, and I tackle the clutter in sections, doing one section at a time.

I started spending the months of October to May in New Brunswick last year while we were dealing with the pandemic. During those months, it's both my father's and mother's birthdays, so I thought, why not? It went well last year, so I decided to repeat the experience this year. Even though I still have to pay my monthly rent for my Montreal apartment, I save a lot of money while spending the winter in New Brunswick. I don't do a lot during the winter in Montreal anyway since I'm not a winter person. I am trying to make the most of my stay in New Brunswick by controlling my expenses.

This year, I did my 2022 taxes quite early, and I am already done with the process. I had estimated a tax return of around $1,000, but I will be receiving a return of close to $850. With that return, I will only be missing less than $700 before reaching out for the $20,000 in savings. In 2022, my income exceeds $80,000. I always thought that anything over $70,000 was an extra-large income, but even at $80,000, I find that it's - of course - a good salary, but it's not as much as I imagined.

Recently, I made a small investment in my US portfolio by investing in CSX Corporation (CSX). The overall chart of CSX is very strong. Take a look for yourself:

Unfortunately, the TSX closed well below the 20,000-point mark, at 19,774.92 points. My US portfolio closed this past Friday's session at $5,115.27, my RRSP portfolio at $64,400.42, my TFSA portfolio at $125,291.34, and my non-registered portfolio at $144,767.61. My margin account debt is now at $44,029.98, and my dividend income is at an annual $12,208.59. I currently have over $7,000 in my main chequing account, and I am looking forward to transferring some of that money to my margin account debt.

These days, you can follow me on Twitter at @SunnyJNB.

The ugly true about the hidden cost of my margin account debt

We had a strong start to the morning for the TSX. I thought we were going to exceed 20,300 points, but we closed the day at 20,260.13. It wasn't a bad day, and as long as we remain above 20,000 points, I will be happy. My non-registered portfolio closed the day at $145,789.22, my US portfolio at $5,206.19, my RRSP stocks-only portfolio at $65,387.33, and my TFSA portfolio at $127,540.48. The debt on my margin account still remains the same at $44,066.21. I have $61,290.24 available to invest on margin, but of course, I won't be investing that money anytime soon, especially at an interest rate of 8%.

In 2022, I was charged around $2,500 in interest for my margin account. It wasn't an excessive amount, but if I had kept my margin debt at $46,787.51 in 2023, the interest charged would have been $3,743. While I've never had an issue with managing a margin account, the current interest rate of 8% is becoming a concern for me.

I just filed my 2022 tax return and I'm expecting a $1,000 cash refund. This refund is due to my contributions to my RRSP, expenses for dental and eye care, and the interest earned on my margin account, which I declare as a financial fee every year. Despite my job and dividend income, and some capital gains, my income still exceeded $70,000. It's difficult to pay less tax without contributing more to my RRSP, but I'm not keen on doing that at the moment.

Since I'm expecting a tax return of $1,000, I can see that my margin cost me $1,500 directly out of my pockets for the year 2022. It's not an excessive amount for a bit of fun on margin. However, in 2023, with my margin debt at its current level of $44,000, it will cost me a whopping $3,520. If I expect to receive the same $1,000 tax refund as in 2022, my margin account will cost me $2,520, which is equivalent to $210 per month. It's beginning to add up. Additionally, there may be tax increases to consider, so I may not receive a $1,000 refund for my 2023 tax income.

At a certain point, it's not worth keeping my margin debt that high, which is why I began to pay it down. I am thinking of adding an extra $2,000 to it.

While the TSX had a decent day and all of my portfolios are performing well, I am becoming increasingly concerned about the high-interest rate on my margin account debt. I believe that my decision to pay down my margin debt is a wise one. The cost of maintaining such a debt could eventually outweigh the benefits of the investments held on margin. With the potential for tax increases in the future, I am considering all aspects to ensure long-term financial stability.

Paying Down Margin Debt: Why It's the Right Move Now

By now, you should know if you are subscribed to my Twitter account that I am pleased to announce that I have completed the task I dislike the most: sending all my papers for my 2022 tax income. This is worth announcing because I usually procrastinate on this task. Although it will take up to four weeks to complete during this busy tax season, at least I am in the process. I am glad that I sent my papers early because I received my T5, T3, and other documents, and I want to ensure that I file my tax income on time. Imagine working at an accounting firm and having hundreds of clients knocking at your door, mostly all at the same time, to get their tax income done before April 30... Crazy!

I sent all my papers online, but not without taking care of the actual papers first. All the papers that were required to complete my tax income for 2022 were in PDF format. I opened each one of them using Edge, and I covered up my social insurance number, account number, and the name of the institution. Of course, the accounting firm needs to have your social insurance number, but they don't need it to appear on every single paper. Additionally, when downloading documents onto a platform, you need to consider that these documents may be downloaded at some point and may end up on someone else's computer. Therefore, I covered up what I needed to while opening my PDF in Edge, and once I was done, I used the Snipping Tool on my computer to get what I needed from those PDFs. I then sent the documents, which were mostly all in JPG format. I couldn't send the PDFs in which I made the cover-up because I couldn't block the changes from being erased, and the sensitive information could be at risk of being viewed.

It's a boring little task, but if I can get $1,000 back from my hard-earned money, which is my goal, it would be nice. While waiting for it to be done, my non-registered portfolio closed this past Friday's session at $145,386.49, my US portfolio at $5,191.33, my TFSA portfolio at $127,803.85, and my RRSP stocks-only portfolio at $65,424.98. The TSX closed at 20,200 points. I hope it remains within 20,000 points. With this past Friday's paycheck, I had a bit over $17,000 in savings. I thought to myself that it was time to pay down my margin. So, I did and brought my margin debt down to $43,000. I was proud of myself, but then the interest charges came in shortly after. I pay over $300 in interest per month on that margin. My margin account debt is now at $44,066.21.

With National Bank Direct Brokerage, the interest rate on my margin account is currently 8%. Since no bank is offering an equivalent interest rate for an unsecured GIC, I have concluded that the best course of action in the current circumstances is to pay down my margin debt. This is particularly true as I do not feel like investing at this time. It is better to do something with my money, and for now, paying down my margin debt appears to be the right choice.

MoneySense's Top 100 Dividend Stocks of 2023: Insights into the Best Income-Generating Opportunities

This time of year is always a bit nerve-wracking for me because I need to get my papers in order for my 2022 tax declaration. It's nothing complicated, but I don't like dealing with administrative tasks like this. However, it's worth it because I think I might be able to get $1,000 back from the taxman, which I really need to achieve my goal of saving $20,000 by the end of May. The plan is working, but it requires me to be in control of my spending, and that's not always easy, even when I have big goals in mind.

Another reason why this time of year is a bit stressful is the yearly evaluation at work. I had mine a few days ago, and it went well. I'm good for the next few months in terms of employment. For many years, saving money hasn't been a priority for me, but I'm glad I'm doing it now while I can. During this time, I'm keeping an eye on my stocks and the TSX. Things are more than confusing these days, as many workers in the tech field have been laid off, many companies have increased their dividend distribution, and many have recorded excellent Q4 results for 2022. The war in Ukraine is making things even more challenging to deal with, not to mention inflation, of course.

A few days ago, MoneySense, a well-known personal finance and investment magazine, released its highly anticipated list of the top 100 dividend stocks for 2023. This list is highly valued by investors as it provides valuable insights into which stocks are expected to provide strong dividend returns in the coming year. According to MoneySense, the top 100 dividend stocks of 2023 were chosen based on several factors, including dividend yield, dividend growth, payout ratio, and the overall financial health of the company. Additionally, the list includes stocks from a wide range of sectors, such as technology, finance, healthcare, and consumer goods.

Many of the stocks featured in that Canadian dividend stocks list are already in my investment portfolio. Here are my winners, along with their respective dividend yields:

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN): 8.992%
Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Corporation (LIF): 7.812%
Enbridge Inc. (ENB): 6.927%
TransCanada Corp (TRP): 6.777%
Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL): 5.849%
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 5.757%
Whitecap Resources Inc. (WCP): 5.688%
Power Corporation of Canada Subordinate Voting Shares (POW): 5.556%
Canadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce (CM): 5.547%
Telus Corp (T): 5.12%
Emera Incorporated (EMA): 5.112%
Suncor Energy Inc. (SU): 4.69%
ATCO Ltd. (ACO.Y): 4.421%
Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD): 4.205%
North West Company Inc. (The) (NWC): 4.18%
Fortis Inc. (FTS): 4.088%
National Bank of Canada (NA): 3.918%
Royal Bank of Canada (RY): 3.867%
Quebecor Inc. (QBR.B): 3.695%
Northland Power Inc. (NPI): 3.622%
Stelco Holdings Inc. (STLC): 3.178%
Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI.B): 3.066%
Canadian Apartment Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (CAR.UN): 2.974%
Finning International Inc. (FTT): 2.677%
TMX Group Limited (X): 2.573%
Nutrien Ltd. (NTR): 2.444%
Canadian National Railway Co (CNR): 2.023%
Boralex Inc. Class A Shares (BLX): 1.796%
Thomson Reuters Corporation (TRI): 1.596%
Metro Inc. (MRU): 1.549%
Toromont Industries Ltd (TIH): 1.521%
Loblaw Companies (L): 1.392%
TFI International Inc. (TFII): 1.135%
Cargojet Inc (CJT): 0.917%
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (ATD.A): 0.871%
WSP Global Inc. (WSP): 0.858%
Brookfield Asset Management Inc. Class A Limited Voting Shares (BN): 0.815%

I own exactly 37 stocks in my investment portfolio that belong to MoneySense's Top 100 Dividend Stocks of 2023. The list provides a valuable resource for investors looking to build a diversified portfolio of income-generating stocks. With a mix of well-established companies and emerging players in various sectors, this list offers something for all investors, no matter what their interests are.

I have over 60 stocks to explore that I don't currently own, which are included in MoneySense's Top 100 Dividend Stocks of 2023. Since canceling my subscription to Stockopedia back in November, I welcome any references that may help me find my next best investment. The list contains some well-known Canadian insurance companies, such as IA Financial Corp Inc (IAG), Intact Financial Corp (IFS), Sun Life Financial Inc (SLF), Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC), and Great-West Lifeco Inc (GWO). Although I have no interest in insurance companies, IFS is certainly interesting with its perfect chart. However, due to its expensive valuation and being in the insurance business, I'm not looking forward to investing in Intact Financial Corp (IFS).

Here's a list of stocks from MoneySense's Top 100 Dividend Stocks of 2023 that I may consider investing in the future - but certainly not right now:

Canadian Tire Corp Cl A NV, CTC-A-T

Empire Company Ltd, EMP-A-T
Waste Connections Inc, WCN-T
Ccl Industries Inc Cl B NV, CCL-B-T
Imperial Oil, IMO-T
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers Inc, RBA-T
Brp Inc, DOO-T
Stantec Inc, STN-T
Element Fleet Management Corp, EFN-T

I held onto some Stantec Inc stocks for a little while, but I didn't really like that investment, so it's no longer in my portfolio. One stock that I do like from the list is Ritchie Bros Auctioneers Inc. (RBA). While I always find Brp Inc to be quite surprising, the stock is not cheap. Ritchie Bros aligns more with my investing style and preferences.

Investing beyond dividends: How some non-dividend paying stocks supercharge my portfolio

I'm excited to say that my annual dividend income is almost at $12,200, with only $0.67 left to reach that milestone. One of the largest holdings in my RRSP is Emera Incorporated (EMA), and I have a DRIP set up for that investment, which means that the maximum dividend earned is automatically transformed into new shares each quarter. Recently, I received my dividend from EMA, and my new Emera shares quickly followed, bringing me one step closer to my goal.

However, I don't expect any dividend increase from Emera when the company releases its Q4 2022 results on February 23. In my opinion, the controversy surrounding the increase in electricity bills for residents of Nova Scotia makes it unlikely that Emera will raise its dividend distribution. According to reports, power rates in Nova Scotia are set to increase by almost 14% over the next two years, which will directly impact Nova Scotia Power's customers. If Emera were to announce a dividend increase in this context, it would likely reflect poorly on the company and come at the expense of its customers.

Currently, Emera's dividend yield stands at a strong 5.039%.

In yesterday's post, I revealed that I hold many stocks across my four investment portfolios: my non-registered portfolio, US portfolio, TFSA portfolio, and RRSP portfolio. I haven't actually counted the number of stocks I hold, but there are certainly quite a few. One reason for this is that I don't want to miss any investment opportunities, and I like to add new investments to my portfolio from time to time. Despite this, I've been relatively quiet over the past few weeks and months on that matter, as I haven't made any new investments recently. Even if my blog is being named "The Dividend Girl", not all of the stocks that I hold in my various portfolios are dividend payers. There are several reasons for this.

I know this for a fact, maximizing your investment portfolio can be a tricky balancing act, and one factor to consider is the role of dividend payments. Dividend payments are a portion of a company's profits that are distributed to shareholders. Some investors like myself prioritize dividends because they provide a steady stream of income, while others focus on capital appreciation, which is an increase in the stock price. However, there are many stocks that don't pay dividends, also known as non-dividend payers. These companies reinvest their profits back into the business, which can lead to potential growth in the future. While they may not offer an immediate source of income, non-dividend payers can still be a valuable addition to an investment portfolio.

When searching for new stocks to invest in, I look for a variety of factors to ensure I'm making the best possible investment decisions. One of those factors is the dividend payment status of the company. However, if I come across a stock with a perfect chart, solid fundamentals, and everything else in place except for the fact that it doesn't pay dividends, I may still consider it for my investment portfolio.

Years ago, I decided to invest in several stocks that don't pay dividends, including Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B), CAE Inc. (CAE), CGI Group Inc. Class A Subordinate Voting Shares (GIB.A), and JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN). While these companies may not provide an immediate source of income, I still believe they have strong potential for long-term growth and are valuable additions to a diversified investment portfolio.

Let's start with Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B). I invested in BRK.B back in August 2016, and since then, my shares have gained over 113% in my US portfolio. That's a fantastic return on my investment. However, BRK.B does not pay any dividends. This is because the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Warren Buffett, is widely regarded as one of the best investors of our time, and he believes in reinvesting profits back into the company rather than paying dividends to shareholders. While it's possible that the company's dividend policy may change in the future, especially after Warren Buffett steps down as CEO, it's difficult to predict. Regardless, as an investor, I am happy to hold onto my BRK.B shares for the long-term potential for capital appreciation. Don't expect Berkshire Hathaway Inc. to become a dividend payer anytime soon.

It's because of this awesome chart that I have BRK.B in my US portfolio:

Inside my RRSP portfolio, my non-dividend payers are CAE Inc. (CAE), CGI Group Inc. (GIB.A), and JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN). CAE went through a difficult time during the COVID pandemic. They operate in the aviation sector and are well-known for providing aviation training for pilots. CAE used to pay dividends before, but in recent years they have cut them off due to the challenges faced by the industry. CAE Inc. has been in my portfolio since 2017 and is currently showing a gain of +39.97%, which is not bad considering the difficulties the company has faced. Another stock that I hold in my RRSP portfolio that doesn't pay any dividends is JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN). In my RRSP portfolio, JFS.UN has gained +7.51%.

When I first invested in JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN), I didn't fully understand it. I was frustrated to see that while many of my stocks were performing well, JFS.UN wasn't on the same track. This led me to sell the shares I had initially bought when it first traded, but I later decided to buy again. That's why you can now find some units of JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN) in my RRSP and TFSA portfolios.

In my RRSP portfolio, JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN) has experienced a gain of +7.51%, and in my TFSA portfolio, it has gained +8.42%. Over the years, I have come to appreciate my investments in JFT Strategies Fund. I consider it a money stabilizer since investing in JFS.UN almost guarantees a return in the short to medium term, and the capital is also almost guaranteed. However, it's important to note that nothing is 100% guaranteed, of course.

I also hold another great non-dividend-paying stock, CGI Inc. (GIB.A), in my TFSA portfolio. My investment in CGI Inc. (GIB.A) has gained +28.75%. Just like Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B), CGI Inc. (GIB.A) has a chart that looks almost perfect. Take a look for yourself:

I like all of those stocks, even though they don't pay any dividend distribution. If I were to sell all my shares of BRK.B, CAE, GIB.A, and JFS.UN, I would be able to collect around $20,000. If I invested that money in dividend-paying stocks, I could generate an extra $930 annually in dividend income. However, I prefer to keep things the way they are. I don't believe in investing exclusively in dividend-paying stocks. Non-dividend-paying stocks, like my BRK.B, CAE, GIB.A, and JFS.UN, can represent great investment opportunities and are very precious to me. When evaluating non-dividend-paying stocks, it's important to look at their financial health, growth prospects, and industry trends. Companies with a solid balance sheet, strong management, and a competitive edge in their market are more likely to succeed in the long run. I use a simple and easy tool to evaluate stocks quickly, which is their chart. Charts never lie.

Choosing to invest in a mix of dividend-paying or non-dividend-paying stocks, like I do, can help reduce overall risk and potentially maximize returns. For me, it's worth considering both dividend and non-dividend payers when building my investment strategy.

Does Boyd Group Services Inc. (BYD) still belong to my TFSA portfolio?

Well, it seems that the TSX's recent peak of 20,700 points may not be the new "normal" after all. Unfortunately, such normality does not exist, even though it's something I am hoping for. The TSX closed yesterday's session at 20,515.24 points. My non-registered portfolio closed at $147,278.87, my US portfolio at $5,103.65 US, my RRSP stocks at only $65,863.62, and my TFSA portfolio at $129,006.37. I am pleasantly surprised to see my TFSA portfolio come so close to reaching 130k. My financials remain strong for now. Although my net worth is no longer at its highest ever of exactly $366,524.01 reached on February 13, I am not too far behind.

Despite having several hundred dollars at my disposal in my RRSP and TFSA portfolio, I haven't made any recent investments. It's not that I'm feeling stressed by the markets or anything like that, but I just don't feel like investing at this time. Normally, I reinvest my dividend income quickly, but that's not the case these days. It feels a little off. For the biggest part of my investment life, I always had some stocks that I was excited to invest in, but that's not who I am anymore. It seems to me like the aftermath of the 2008 market crash was full of promises, and it was exciting to invest at that time. Despite the uncertainties, I always felt confident in what I was doing. I have unconditional faith in the capitalist system, which may be surprising for a small investor like myself, but it's true. However, that doesn't mean I'm not trying to do everything in my power to maximize my gains. A significant part of this is the price at which you buy your assets. That's why I'm not currently investing in anything.

I hold too many stocks in my investment portfolio, and it's certainly excessive, but I enjoy investing this way. Some of my major holdings have been in my portfolio for many years, even since I started investing. I like to add to some stocks that I feel can contribute to my portfolio. It seems to me that I haven't invested in anything new in quite a while, but things are currently fine the way they are.

Yesterday, I was looking at my stocks and found out that my investment in Boyd Group Services Inc. (BYD) is doing much better these days. I am only short of recovering less than $11 from my loss with that investment. I hardly ever talked about Boyd Group Services Inc. (BYD), and when I searched my blog for information on when I invested in that stock, I couldn't find anything. However, it seems that Boyd Group has been in my portfolio since at least 2016. In the past, Boyd Group Services Inc. (BYD) was known as Boyd Group Income Fund (BYD.UN). I'm actually having a hard time remembering where I got this stock idea, but I think it used to be an old stock of Derek Foster, which he no longer holds in his investment portfolio.

My investment in Boyd Group Services Inc. (BYD) is quite substantial - it's over $6,000, which I consider to be a significant amount of money. For a long time, the value of my investment in BYD was down, but it never really bothered me as I was confident it would go up again. As a result, I kind of ignored Boyd Group for quite some time, which is probably why I rarely write about this stock on my blog. However, I was able to find a post with the topic "stocks that I hold that you shouldn't be buying" kind of thing, where I talked about my struggles with Boyd Group Services Inc. (BYD).

BYD is now doing better, and I hope for better days for this stock. Even though I have over $6,000 invested in BYD, I earn less than $20 in dividend income annually with this stock. Knowing this and how dividend thirsty I am, I'm questioning whether I should sell or partially sell my investment in BYD, or hold on to it. There's no easy answer, but for now, I prefer to hold on to BYD.

A stock that doesn't belong in my valuable investment portfolio: Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC)

These days, it seems like 20,700 points have become the new norm for the stock market. My non-registered portfolio closed at $148,626.46, my US portfolio at $5,063.14, my RRSP stocks-only portfolio at $65,866.07, and my TFSA portfolio at $128,991.04. Overall, my portfolio value remains strong. I would like to see my non-registered portfolio reach a value of $150,000.

I am slowly preparing to file my income taxes for 2022. I am currently waiting for my tax documents to arrive from National Bank Direct Brokerage, which I should receive on February 22. I find this to be a bit late. Accounting firms have a very short period of time to process our tax documents, and brokers can be slow in providing dividend papers and other necessary documents. It would be better if brokers could provide all the required documents in January, which would give everyone more time to prepare their tax reports.

It's quite frustrating because even on February 22, National Bank Direct Brokerage won't have provided all the documents that I need. One important document that I need to include in my tax report will only be available in March! I will be missing one document, but it only amounts to $50, and I didn't include it in last year's tax return. I will likely do the same thing this year. It's not that I want to do things the wrong way, but I need to send my documents early to the accounting firm that I usually work with. Since the amount is only $50, it doesn't bother me much in that sense.

 

Once my taxes are done, I am expecting to receive $1,000 back, since I contributed almost $7,000 to my RRSP for 2022. That $1,000 will be added to my savings. Speaking of savings, I recalculated everything and I should be able to reach $20,000 in savings by the end of April instead of the end of May. By April, I should be able to exceed the $20,000 goal by close to $400. March and April are going to be a bit rough. Some people are quite good at not spending much on groceries, coffees, etc. I consider myself good, but I am certainly not as good as @kyleliu_invest in that matter. I mean, one meal a day?! Go check it out. But before anything, you need to follow me on Twitter, @SunnyJNB

Yesterday, Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) announced an increase in its dividend. My annual dividend income, including all portfolios, is now close to $12,190. The annual dividend income from my non-registered and TFSA accounts officially exceeds $850 per month by a few dollars. This $850+ amount represents a significant sum of money for me, as it covers my monthly Montreal rent (currently $730), my cell phone bill ($29), my internet bill ($80), and approximately three espressos per month. With my dividend income growing, I am thrilled with its direction and the financial benefits it provides.

These days, many businesses located in both Canada and the US are raising their dividends, and it's making their investors very happy. Today, a stock that I don't hold, Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC), also announced an increase in its dividend distribution. I am not a fan of insurance companies and I am not willing to invest in any of them. In the case of Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC), if you take a look at its overall chart, MFC has never been able to recover from the 2008 stock market crash. This is my main reason for not investing in this stock. A stock that has not been able to recover from a crash that occurred 15 years ago does not belong in my portfolio. I know next to nothing in terms of finance, but I do know how to read a chart. Investing, in its essence, is not more complicated than that.

I doubt we'll be dealing with a recession anytime soon. Too many jobs have been created in Canada and the US, and too many businesses have increased their dividends and beaten their estimates. On Valentine's Day, I wrote about a stock that I found among the top holdings of the JFT Strategies Fund: AG Growth International Inc. (AFN).

A reader asked for my opinion on AG Growth International Inc. (AFN), and I'm happy to oblige! Regarding AFN, I feel like I may have missed the boat as its current share value is at an all-time high, making it expensive to buy now. While AFN's chart looks promising, it's not as impressive as that of Toromont Industries Ltd (TIH), which has a super chart. Additionally, AFN is a volatile stock on the TSX, and its chart is not as smooth as some others. It reminds me of a stock I've held for a long time in my TFSA portfolio, ATCO Ltd. (ACO.Y).

This is the overall chart of ACO.Y:

In my opinion, the chart for ACO.Y looks somewhat similar. It has had some fluctuations, but overall, it has been trending upward rather than downward, which is the most important thing. I like AG Growth International Inc. (AFN) because it operates in the agriculture sector. Although its dividend of 1.098% is low, we can still say that it pays a more than reasonable dividend. Currently, I have several hundred dollars in cash in my RRSP portfolio, and I'm not closing the door to a small investment in AFN.

My newest investment idea: AG Growth International Inc. (AFN)

My investments closed slightly lower today, but it was not too significant. The TSX closed in positive territory, remaining at 20,700 points. My non-registered portfolio closed today's session at $149,000.53, my US portfolio at $5,080.08 US, my RRSP stocks-only portfolio at $65,457.75, and my TFSA portfolio at $128,432.29. Yesterday, I noticed that my non-registered portfolio was about to reach $150,000, so I immediately updated my investment portfolio. As a result, I discovered that my net worth had reached $366,000. It felt like receiving a small gift just before Valentine's Day.

One of the things I enjoy most about updating my investment portfolio on good days is that it enables me to determine whether or not I have exceeded my highest net worth. I keep a record of my investment portfolios and net worth for my personal satisfaction. If, for any reason, the stock market takes a bad turn and experiences a significant decline, which can happen at any time, I will always have my highest net worth recorded somewhere as a reference. It will act like a little souvenir from my hottest point. I always hope for the best, but if I have to endure a period of loss, which has occurred to me before, I will always have that highest net worth to refer to. The logic behind this is that if I have been there once, I can make my way back there, even if it takes some time. It's always the same pattern: at some point, the stock market declines, and when it does, I just need to hold on to what I have. If anything, I can invest in stocks when prices are low.

To add to the fun, many of the stocks I currently hold have recently announced dividend increases. Today, both TC Energy Corporation (TRP) and Toromont Industries Ltd (TIH) announced that they were increasing their dividend distributions. It is now official that the dividend income generated from my non-registered and TFSA portfolios amounts to the equivalent of $850 per month, plus a few pennies. This is enough to cover my rent in Montreal, as well as my cell phone and internet bills.

Overall, my annual dividend income, including the dividends earned inside my RRSP, is getting closer to $12,200. If I can earn $12,000 annually from both my non-registered and TFSA portfolios, that would be great.

However, I am not in a rush to see that happen. Recently, I have been considering the Hamilton Enhanced U.S. Covered Call ETF (HYLD). Its yield of 14.25% is extremely tempting. I enjoy creating financial scenarios, and my dividend income is no exception. For example, if I invested $5,000 in HYLD, I would earn $57 per month, increasing my non-registered and TFSA dividend income to over $900 per month. Who wouldn't be tempted by that?

When it comes to HYLD, my heart says yes, but my head says no. A dividend yield of 14.25% does not make sense, and it is not sustainable. No high-quality stock can reasonably pay such a high dividend yield. Therefore, I have decided to stay away, and I can control myself, believe it or not. While investing, dividends should never be your number one focus. Many super high-quality stocks pay a low dividend distribution. It's way better to build your dividend income slowly rather than throwing your money in an ETF that doesn't make any sense. HYLD doesn't make sense to me.

Lately, I discovered a stock that I haven't noticed before and that I actually never heard of: AG Growth International Inc. (AFN). It's the second-largest position in the JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN). Why did I never notice it before? I don't know. I may have come across this stock while I was a user of Stockopedia, but I may have quickly passed it by due to its volatile chart. While browsing for stocks on Stockopedia, I used to check everything, but I selected my stocks based on the overall chart of each potential investment.

Currently, I have a couple of hundred dollars available in my RRSP to invest, which is why I have been actively searching for a new investment. I have to admit, without my Stockopedia subscription, I feel a bit lost. Ideas for investments are taking more time to come by, and it's extremely annoying. It's times like these that I really miss Stockopedia.