So I’m home for the holidays and the last thing I want to do is read or view any financial or investment related media. The markets can get by without my attention for a few days! In fact, I firmly believe in Warren Buffett’s assertion that you should buy a stock only if you can not worry about it for 10 years; even if the stock markets close for 10 years!
I love spending time with family and friends and inevitably my discussion will lead me to talk about investment related …

I highly regard Sir John Templeton’s history as a value investor. Even at the age of 93, he’s still very actively investing and when he speaks, the invesment world listens!
Here’s a list of 5 Steps to Financial Success from Sir John.

Take calculated risks.
Save, don’t spend.
Shop for value investments.
Take advantage of international free markets.
Minimize your taxes.

The only one that doesn’t move me much is the idea of taking advantage of international free markets. It is a good idea, but one that consumes much more resources and attention than I …

I recently read an update on Portus. It reported that investors who were victims of the hedge fund company’s malfeasance could recover more than the previously estimated $0.62 on the dollar. I’m happy that these investors may look forward to receiving more settlement, but this unfortunate incident should not have happened in the first place.
You can call me an investment cynic, but I think everything is a scam until I educate myself about it. Portus was a hedge fund company who sold invesments via an offering memorandum with the help …

Jim Oberweis has written an article at Forbes.com to explain the economical impact of rising oil prices. I enjoy reading his explanation of how rising oil prices will have progressive effect on the economy. The 5 steps that Jim outlines reads like the theories of a course textbook, but is easily understandable by anyone.

I will briefly highlight here, the 5 oil pricing influences Jim outlined in his article.

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A September 19th Forbes.com article titled “Cash Is Trash” criticizes the abundance of cash sitting on the side lines of many value fund managers. The articles writes:
Some value fund managers, flush with an influx of new money from clients, are letting it pile up rather than investing it in value stocks they view as too pricey. While they wait for a better day, other value managers say letting money sit around in cash is sinful, and they swear good buys still can be had.
My first thought about that paragraph was …

News is now well-spread among the Canadian financial community that Dalton McGuinty’s Ontario government has decided to axe the 15% tax credit it has offered to Ontarians who invest into labour sponsored investment funds (LSFs).

I do not like this tax law change because it has all but sealed the fate of LSFs in Ontario. At one time, I was interested in using this tax credit for myself, but after doing the math it was clear that my money would be able to work harder elsewhere. Here’s my analysis.