Newsletters

It may be a fair assessment of sentiment today: opinions seem especially divided. Challenges like a rising cost of living, higher debt levels and global tensions weigh heavily on many minds.

Market volatility made a comeback over the summer after an unusually calm first half of 2024. During these times, don’t let short-term fluctuations disrupt long-term financial plans.

Despite equity market advances in the first half of the year, opinions on the near-term outlook remain varied. Economically, we find ourselves in a transition period where the economy is neither great nor terrible.

While the skies have appeared comparatively cloudier for Canada’s economic prospects, economies and markets will ebb and flow; one reason that supports the importance of diversification. I continue to take care in navigating these times so we can arrive at our desired destinations.

As we leave 2023 behind, it is a reminder

that things can unfold much differently

than predicted. After a historic series

of rate hikes, economies and markets

have proved comparatively resilient. While markets have

been bumpy, current valuations and

dividend yields may offer opportunities

worth considering as we build portfolios

for the future.

With the rise in rates, more investors have

understandably been attracted to low risk,

fixed-income investments. Have you

thought about the tax implications? In

some cases, there may be opportunities to

make investments more tax efficient, such

as “shifting” interest-bearing instruments to

registered plans.