Not that I really like the market right now...but if I were a betting man I'd put some fun money into BEV on the TSX. Almost have the share price in cash and it's probably going to get 'interesting' over the next six months. I've traded it for years....and hold a sizeable position now. Currently trading in the $1.65 area.
investment noob here, but i was thinking about buying into some stocks just to kind of fool around and get my feet wet. any stock tips/suggestions? any inside info? what are you investing in right now?
Electrical stock, that's what this forum knows most about..
hey comp, do you purchase using an online broker? i used to know a good site for stocks but i can't remember/find it. obviously i don't want to be spending a ton for a broker when i'm probably not spending a ton on stocks to start out.
just googled a bit and found that rbcdirectinvesting has practice accounts that are connected to the actual market. sounds pretty neat and will probably be good practice for a stock noob.
If you want to do it on a feet wet basis try canadian shareowner at shareowner.com It's geared towards those who want to invest <$1000 at a time.
Otherwise I would never buy less than $1000 of any stock or ETF and probably more like $3000-$5000. If you are not up for that, then try shareowner or stick to mutual funds.
I personally have used shareowner.com but now I do my investing through TD Waterhouse and BMO Investorline.
If you want to pick your own stocks but are just starting out, I would stick to ETFs and apparently Virtual Brokers offers them commission free.
Check out couch potato investing to get you going. Couch Potato Portfolio: Meet the potato family | MoneySense
The main company offering ETFs is ishares, though some banks have their own as well. Might as well go with the largest one. I own a lot of ishares ETFs. iShares ETFs This site will give you the info, but you have to purchase them through a broker.
If you are an investment noob, your training wheels should include a no-fee index mutual fund and Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). I use TD for their e-funds and iTrade for TSX & other ETF.
I used to daytrade, but I learnt that 99% of traders won't be able to beat the ETF/index in the long run. Now I just
FUGGEDABOUTIT
until I'm 65 & go back to playing poker.
When the stock market dips, my wife panics, "SELL! THE SKY IS FALLING! Why did you ever invest in the stock market, you &^%$#@!" This is my best indicator that I should buy more ETF!
ETF's etc aside, if you want to pick individual stocks and research companies etc it can be fun. Depending on the amount you plan to invest should determine the brokerage you should use. In the past when I traded a lot and didn't have or wasn't willing to invest much money I used Questrade. $4.95-9.99 flat a trade, which pretty much takes fees right out of the equation (keep in mind there may be ECN and exchange fees if your trade removes liquidity from the market, but as long as you aren't buying at the ask they aren't incurred). I currently use TD Waterhouse. Most of the big banks have a connected brokerage to them, and offer somewhere in the range of 9.99 flat fee trades (never ECN or exchange fees) if you have $50,000+ in your account).
As for stock tips, that BEV on the TSX I recommended a year ago 'may' finally be on the verge of doing something with their hoard of cash, but it basically hinges on an unknown next move at this point. Currently trading at below cash in the bank but have no actual business. A motivated CEO who is advised by Sam Belzberg was just installed a couple of days ago to get the party started. Can't really fully recommend it at this point but if the stock doubles I'll be sure to say "I told you so" ^-^
P.S. It may actually be delisted from the TSX at some point (doubt it will actually happen though) so probably not the investment for most.
Anybody done a Registered Disability Savings Plan? I'm looking into an RDSP for a relative. I used TD eFunds for an RESP, but I asthma wife & she went ballistic:
"You better not buy index funds, mutual funds, ETF or invest in the stock market ever again. Are you crazy?"
I asked what's a better investment for an RDSP that probably won't be withdrawn for at least 20 years, which is longer-term than an RESP.
After a long period of silence, door-banging, etc, she finally came up with,
"1-year GIC, at least it won't go up and down." :rolleyes:
Has any financial institution ever come up with better mutual funds than TD eFunds with ~0.33% MER? What would pokerJAH, etc. do?
Always bad to buy index funds when the market is near its all time high. Gold/Silver is not in favour right now so it might be a better option. Although your wife may not like the swings. I hate mutual funds personally.
But as Nobel Prize winner Eugene Fama showed, past price changes cannot predict future price changes. Just because my ETF and index funds that my wife had told me to panic sell before may have reached all-time highs recently does not mean that they cannot go much higher in both the short and long run.
But as Nobel Prize winner Eugene Fama showed, past price changes cannot predict future price changes. Just because my ETF and index funds that my wife had told me to panic sell before may have reached all-time highs recently does not mean that they cannot go much higher in both the short and long run.
sure, but a lot of people want to get into the market for the first time when it is at its peak because of the market hysteria, etc. Cost averaging is the best way to go when it comes to funds. Just keep buying them over time and you should do ok over the long run. Personally, I prefer individual stocks that are profitable and pay a decent dividend.
The Globe and Mail has great advice on how to invest $10,000. pokerJAH can wait for the upcoming article on how to properly invest his one mirrion dollars.
Lately i've been looking into purchasing real estate.. not exclusive to Vancouver but it is probably where I would buy.. prices keep rising.. so always a little worried about the eventual fall... Coal Harbor or Yaletown would be nice.
Also thinking about maybe possibly in Vegas but just a passing thing right now.
Anybody done a Registered Disability Savings Plan? I'm looking into an RDSP for a relative. I used TD eFunds for an RESP, but I asthma wife & she went ballistic:
"You better not buy index funds, mutual funds, ETF or invest in the stock market ever again. Are you crazy?"
I asked what's a better investment for an RDSP that probably won't be withdrawn for at least 20 years, which is longer-term than an RESP.
After a long period of silence, door-banging, etc, she finally came up with,
"1-year GIC, at least it won't go up and down." :rolleyes:
Has any financial institution ever come up with better mutual funds than TD eFunds with ~0.33% MER? What would pokerJAH, etc. do?
Sorry, just now saw this.
Hopefully they did get their RDSP started (though if not it's not a big deal as you can catch up previous years like an RESP).
With an RDSP, it's not to say that the return doesn't matter - of course it does - but the main advantage is the grant that's given by the government.
On a $1500 contribution, you get a $2500 grant ($1500 on the first 500, then 1000 on the next 1000).
As with anything being held for 20 years+, you'll be best off in the market with an index fund(s).
Lately i've been looking into purchasing real estate.. not exclusive to Vancouver but it is probably where I would buy.. prices keep rising.. so always a little worried about the eventual fall... Coal Harbor or Yaletown would be nice.
Also thinking about maybe possibly in Vegas but just a passing thing right now.
Yeah, don't buy Vancouver real estate. Canada overall has some of the most overpriced real estate in the world, and Vancouver is the leader of the pack.
Not to say that a rental property might not be a good investment, but make sure it's cash-flow positive and you're not counting on any capital appreciation.
I don't know if anyone else reads Garth Turner (The Greater Fool), but I tell everyone I know who's considering buying real estate to read at least 10 articles to see if I can change their mind.
The TD efunds family now includes managed index portfolios with various degrees of risk. I think the balanced growth and income would be appropriate for an RDSP.
Of course a fund of funds is still more expensive than DIY.
I have a savings program through work, right now the majority of funds are tied to what happens with the s and p index and the company match portion is the company stock fund.
Manulife for some reason won't change the company contribuitions as I kind of want to spread the money around a bit. I changed my contributions to Canada Money market right now which I am thinking that might not have been a good idea.:-[
If it's a SAVINGS program that you won't need to withdraw for awhile, then the S&P Index is a lot better than money market. That's like my spouse wanting to put the money for our kid under the mattress instead of ETFs and index funds for her LONG TERM financial security.
I have a savings program through work, right now the majority of funds are tied to what happens with the s and p index and the company match portion is the company stock fund.
Manulife for some reason won't change the company contribuitions as I kind of want to spread the money around a bit. I changed my contributions to Canada Money market right now which I am thinking that might not have been a good idea.:-[
If it's a SAVINGS program that you won't need to withdraw for awhile, then the S&P Index is a lot better than money market. That's like my spouse wanting to put the money for our kid under the mattress instead of ETFs and index funds for her LONG TERM financial security.
Ya still have some in the s&p index and just got a registered plan with almost 300 bucks in it from my employer all of a sudden in some kind of fund thing, right now no clue why I got it it just showed up last week,lol.
The Globe and Mail has great advice on how to invest $10,000. pokerJAH can wait for the upcoming article on how to properly invest his one mirrion dollars.
Comments
That answers a question I have about this site. Looking into them today.
Popped 27% !
hey comp, do you purchase using an online broker? i used to know a good site for stocks but i can't remember/find it. obviously i don't want to be spending a ton for a broker when i'm probably not spending a ton on stocks to start out.
EDIT: bah, have to belong to their bank
Otherwise I would never buy less than $1000 of any stock or ETF and probably more like $3000-$5000. If you are not up for that, then try shareowner or stick to mutual funds.
Some more
For the DIY investor, which discount broker is best? - The Globe and Mail
A new winner: The Globe's 14th Annual Online Brokers Survey - The Globe and Mail
I personally have used shareowner.com but now I do my investing through TD Waterhouse and BMO Investorline.
If you want to pick your own stocks but are just starting out, I would stick to ETFs and apparently Virtual Brokers offers them commission free.
Check out couch potato investing to get you going.
Couch Potato Portfolio: Meet the potato family | MoneySense
The main company offering ETFs is ishares, though some banks have their own as well. Might as well go with the largest one. I own a lot of ishares ETFs.
iShares ETFs This site will give you the info, but you have to purchase them through a broker.
If you want to pick individual stocks try:
Best Canadian Dividend Stocks for 2012 | The Dividend Guy BlogThe Dividend Guy Blog
stingyinvestor
Also moneysense magazine will release it's annual dividend picks soon, so watch for the next issue this fall.
I used to daytrade, but I learnt that 99% of traders won't be able to beat the ETF/index in the long run. Now I just
FUGGEDABOUTIT
until I'm 65 & go back to playing poker.
When the stock market dips, my wife panics, "SELL! THE SKY IS FALLING! Why did you ever invest in the stock market, you &^%$#@!" This is my best indicator that I should buy more ETF!
EZ game.
As for stock tips, that BEV on the TSX I recommended a year ago 'may' finally be on the verge of doing something with their hoard of cash, but it basically hinges on an unknown next move at this point. Currently trading at below cash in the bank but have no actual business. A motivated CEO who is advised by Sam Belzberg was just installed a couple of days ago to get the party started. Can't really fully recommend it at this point but if the stock doubles I'll be sure to say "I told you so" ^-^
P.S. It may actually be delisted from the TSX at some point (doubt it will actually happen though) so probably not the investment for most.
Fixed it for you . . .
"You better not buy index funds, mutual funds, ETF or invest in the stock market ever again. Are you crazy?"
I asked what's a better investment for an RDSP that probably won't be withdrawn for at least 20 years, which is longer-term than an RESP.
After a long period of silence, door-banging, etc, she finally came up with,
"1-year GIC, at least it won't go up and down." :rolleyes:
Has any financial institution ever come up with better mutual funds than TD eFunds with ~0.33% MER? What would pokerJAH, etc. do?
sure, but a lot of people want to get into the market for the first time when it is at its peak because of the market hysteria, etc. Cost averaging is the best way to go when it comes to funds. Just keep buying them over time and you should do ok over the long run. Personally, I prefer individual stocks that are profitable and pay a decent dividend.
Also thinking about maybe possibly in Vegas but just a passing thing right now.
Sorry, just now saw this.
Hopefully they did get their RDSP started (though if not it's not a big deal as you can catch up previous years like an RESP).
With an RDSP, it's not to say that the return doesn't matter - of course it does - but the main advantage is the grant that's given by the government.
On a $1500 contribution, you get a $2500 grant ($1500 on the first 500, then 1000 on the next 1000).
As with anything being held for 20 years+, you'll be best off in the market with an index fund(s).
Yeah, don't buy Vancouver real estate. Canada overall has some of the most overpriced real estate in the world, and Vancouver is the leader of the pack.
Not to say that a rental property might not be a good investment, but make sure it's cash-flow positive and you're not counting on any capital appreciation.
I don't know if anyone else reads Garth Turner (The Greater Fool), but I tell everyone I know who's considering buying real estate to read at least 10 articles to see if I can change their mind.
Of course a fund of funds is still more expensive than DIY.
Manulife for some reason won't change the company contribuitions as I kind of want to spread the money around a bit. I changed my contributions to Canada Money market right now which I am thinking that might not have been a good idea.:-[
Ya I might transfer the funds to something else, Thanks moose!
Ya still have some in the s&p index and just got a registered plan with almost 300 bucks in it from my employer all of a sudden in some kind of fund thing, right now no clue why I got it it just showed up last week,lol.
What to look for when investing $1 mirrion.