Welcome in the house, Sprott Physical Silver Trust ET (PSLV)!

This last Friday, while Prince William was marrying Kate Middleton, I made my first investment in UD dollars! I could not simply ignore the opportunity very much longer. At this time, the Canadian dollars worth more than the US dollars. Never of my life would have thought such thing possible. I proceed with 2 transfers of 1 000$ Canadian dollars in US ones. People had different opinions on this, but personally, I don’t think it this will last for very long. Maybe for a couple of weeks, maybe months, but not for years. But this being my personal opinion of course. Anyhow, when a good opportunity present itself, better to jump on it! And here I am, holding more than 2 000$ in US dollars!

On April 28 (sorry I couldn’t post in real time, but I had been quite busy!), I proceed with my first transfer of 1 000$ CAN into US dollars. The rate was excellent, 0.966, which provide me a very good 1 035.20$ US. On April 29, 2011, I proceed with a second transfers of 1 000$. That time, the rate was of 0.9679, giving me a good 1 033.16$ US, for a total of 2 068.36$ US. Just by transferring some Canadian dollars in US ones, right there, my initial 2 000$ CAN gain an immediate 3.418%! The 68.36$ gain is enough to cover 6 commission fees of 9.99$ at TD Waterhouse. I am still with TD Waterhouse despite some difficulties I had go through with them, but despite all, I will later on explain why I decide to stay with them.

Ok, I know 2 068.36$ US is not that much of money, but this is exactly how this portfolio of mine got built up, by trench of thousands of dollars. On Friday, I invested all the money I could in units of Sprott Physical Silver Trust ET (PSLV). I had been investing in the Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U-TMX) since November 2010, selling-buying, selling-buying on a regular basis until one day in February 2011, where I had to faced some major currency problems that make me lost close to 300$ in profit. Since that time, I decided to hold the fantastic Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U-TMX) inside register account only. That’s how I hold some units of Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U-TMX) in my RRSP and TFSA.

From now on, I will be able to trade the Sprott Physical Silver just the way I use to do, without having to deal with some complicated currency problem. I still do not get why the Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U) trade in US dollars while being listed to the TMX but hey, that’s how it is. Now is better because I finally hold US dollars and I finally hold the Sprott Physical Silver in his original currency.

The Sprott Physical is really that awesome. It’s something all small investors should go crazy about! Since November 2010, I had a terrific experience with the Sprott Physical Silver. Being able to make good gain on a short basis had been quite an experience. I don’t like oil investment, but whenever it come to make quick gain on silver, I feel more than comfortable with that.

Oil vs silver

From my experience, silver is much more stable in value than what oil is. Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U) unit value is stable and did not stop growing since November 2010. And I don’t think it’s about to stop anytime soon. The Sprott Physical Silver match my investment way perfectly well because its value is strong and the title, in both Canadian and US market, is not volatile. With oil, it’s totally different. I find oil investment particularly hard to follow and I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all actually.

My goal with my investment in the Sprott Physical Silver Trust ET (PSLV) is quite simple and straight forward: I want to see my investment double in value. From a 2 000$US+ I want a 4 000$US. I am not setting up a specific time frame, but this may happen within the next 3 months or so. I don’t care if it takes longer (or less)... lol... But knowing myself, I may be tempted to sell among the way, just for self-satisfaction. We’ll see what happen.

In his latest book The Idiot Millionaire, despite his bad pick with Power Financial Corporation (PWF) Derek Foster (no, Derek foster is certainly not perfect lol...) has come with some awesome US stock picks. But if Derek Foster is not enough for you as it is for me, Susan Brunner had recently post something interesting about something name Barclays Bank (BCS). Good timing isn’t? This mean that I really have to invest in Barclays, at least a couple of stocks, just for the heck of it. I had been thinking about Yahoo! stocks too.

I have to say, it’s quite tempting to take what I own in US dollars and invest it in 6 different companies (as a symbol of the 68.36$US made in profit just by transferring of currency...). No need to diversify that much a small amount of money (2 000$US), but I find the concept quite interesting, and also, to hold some US companies would just add in diversification. But that may not happen for now because the money is in the Sprott Silver and I can’t wait to see the results.

Believe it or not, my investment in the Sprott Physical Silver Trust ET (PSLV) had bring in a US margin of 1 029.32$. Which mean that I have available 1 029.32$ to invest... or go shopping with in New York. It’s one or the other. However, I don’t plan to invest using US margin money. At this point, I had reached my loan limit. Some TD branches are open on Sunday, so I may try to locate one tomorrow to make a deposit. I currently have a 1 300$ available and I want to make a deposit on my Canadian margin account. I am at more than 37$k on my Canadian margin. I only have left a bit more than 25 000$ available. But good news being that I have a 5 000$ available on my credit line that I can transfer over at anytime in case of a bad market condition. It could sound like a catastrophic plan, but I am aware i had reached my limit and I don’t plan to go deeper into my Canadian margin usage. I even taught about selling my TD and YLO stocks, but no serious selling plan yet had been made. Until the US dollars gain its original value, I plan to transfer all of my saving in US dollars. I hope to build a nice US portfolio by the time I am hitting 31... in August. Watch out because the spring is going to be HOT. Get rich or died trying.

My first investment in US dollars!

I just purchase some PSLV units at 21.82$! Talk later.

Montreal Oratoire St-Joseph is the real home of God

My mom is currently spending the Easter weekend with me. I even had my Monday off, which I was very happy. I also took off of my weekend job, which is quite unusual. Yesterday, we went for a little bit of shopping on St-Denis, close to where I live. We went for a visit of the Old Montreal and the Old Port. It was cold and windy, but it was fun. We went to the Notre-Dame Church in the Old Montreal also. Today, we went for a visit at the Oratoire St-Joseph. I never went there before. But the visit worth it.

The Basilique is very simple, but grandiose. When visiting it, my mom said: “It’s that it?”. Which amuse me. I went to several church in my life, visiting even many of them in France and I totally got what my mom wanted to say by that. Basilique, Cathédrale etc. usually have a lot of luxury in them, gold (or the color of gold), major art works, etc. Those places are not places to pray, but are more museums than the actual home of God. But it’s not the case with the Oratoire St-Joseph. The Oratoire St-Joseph is the home of God. 

I explain to my mother that the Oratoire St-Joseph is like the Saint Andre himself, humble, but grandiose. After what, my mom totally get it. But it true that the Basilique of the Oratoire St-Joseph can surprise Christians who are more used to regular churches. Personally, I think that all churches, Cathédrale, Basilique and other should be like the Basilique of the Oratoire St-Joseph, humble home of God. I will be posting some pictures soon, my mom is sleeping, I am going to bed now. Tomorrow is her last day in Montreal.

From Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U) to Sprott Physical Silver Trust ET (PSLV): silver, silver and silver

My latest portfolio update had show results that exceeded my expectations. I own part of those good results to my asset diversification and also to my silver investment made in the Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U).

I own some Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U) units inside my TFSA and RRSP. With PHS.U, I had been experiencing the power of silver trading since November 2010. I discuss previously about the difficulties I had while trading Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U) on the TMX market. Currently, the Canadian dollar is exceeding the parity. And this is not a good thing when it comes to sell some PHS.U units outside a register account because no wash trade is possible and huge profit can be loss because of the over-valued Canadian dollar we have right now. But good news: this won’t last forever. A strong Canadian dollar is not good for exportation, among other. And anyhow, in front of an extra-united country like the USA, Canada won’t be able to exceed the States for very long. In other words: this is the occasion of a lifetime.

Yes, it’s time for small investors to buy US dollars! And there’s never been better timing. Currently with TD Waterhouse, a 2 000$ in Canadian currency worth 2 061.01$ in US dollars! For fan of the Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U) like myself, time has come to experiment the power of silver at its best: in US dollars, of course.

On the TMX, the Sprott Silver trades under the ticket PHS.U. In the US (NYSE), the Sprott Silver trades under the ticket symbol PSLV. Basically, the genius plan is quite simple: buy US dollars now because there’s never been better time, purchase Sprott Physical Silver Trust ET (PSLV) on its American market, wait for huge profit to be made, sell and reinvest the money in top US quality dividend payer companies.

Lately, I had been working at paying my 10 000$ credit line at 7.52%. I had patiently paid 2 131.03$ on the credit line. I am saying “patiently” because for the first time in years, I had done something I never been caring about: paying off debt. I am not against paying debt, but when a stock market just crack from endless possibilities, why should a 30 years old care about paying off debt? Fact is, my debt portion had made me gone richer and it’s not about to stop anytime soon. Risky, would you say. Well, the risk is calculated and I totally assume the risk I am taking because from what I had experimented so far, I know somewhere I can make my profit out of my everything. Ya ya bling bling!

Let’s study the numbers.

On March 16, 2011: I had 71 773.63$ in debt and 151 121.80$ in asset, for a net worth of 79 348.17$. On April 16, 2011: I had 74 971.30$ in debt and 160 575.64$ worth in asset, for a net worth of 85 604.34$. Inside of a month, my net worth increase of 6 256.17$. I know, that’s pretty good lol. My debt level had increased, but still, my net worth had exceeded the money own on debt. At this point, is pretty much half and half, but I am exceeding my debt level of more than 10 000$. I won’t go any deeper in debt, but I will certainly use extra cash available to buy some US dollars. I am currently working like a dog for that. All my life is concentrate at one think: make money out of the stock market. And I think the part month had been awesome for me. It’s the reward of long boring hours spend at work and trying to understand the stock market. And I think I am getting the whole thing straight out now, finally after 4 years spend investing in stock. I wouldn’t continue without meeting my expectations and my expectations were set quite low, one simple thing: not to lose money. I had lose thousands of dollars but made thousands of thousands more than what I had lost. My profit exceeds the money lost. And the best way to continue that way is to invest in silver. HZU is another silver investment but personally, I find the title too volatile. I gave HZU a try for a couple of weeks, but I wasn’t able to handle it for very long.

Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U-TMX) and Sprott Physical Silver Trust ET (PSLV- NYSE) are the perfect silver investment for small investors. Why? Both titles are stable and gains continuous grow. I had been trading Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U) since November 2010. Remember? Back in the time, I had invest in PHS.U units when its value was below 11$ per unit! Today, PHS.U close at 21.50$! Since November 2010, knowing what kind of special gem was PHS.U I had been buying-selling-buying-selling on a regular basis, until I got stuck in a currency problem that took off big part of my profit, leaving me only a 30$ profit instead of the 300$ expected. This bad trading experience is now behind me. Now, time to get a taste of the power silver, but in US dollars. Sprott Physical Silver Trust ET (PSLV) can make things happen and make it happen in US dollars. Is there anything better that could happen to me right now? If, like me you live in Quebec province, well, I have good news for you: you don’t have to trust the stupidity of Quebec financial planner and bankers to make money out of the stock market, you just have to trust the power of silver. Get ready for the cash, and in US dollars please.

I am now at 160 575.64$

This is actually a real good surprise! I taught I was at somewhere at 157 000$, but certainly not at 160 575.64$ in asset! WOW! Its a real good surprise because since I decide to pay off some debt, instead of investing lately, well, I didn't have too much hope about seeing everything going up but it did. Paying off some debt was a good decision and I plan to continue, until my net worth increase to 90 000$. My net worth after debt is currently at 85 604.34$. I can reach my goal very easily, but I am getting exhausted among the way because my daytime job had been giving me some trouble as my schedule has change. And it has changed again for the next 2 weeks. But it's the last time, I will never accept any schedule change without any notice. Ever again. It's been disturbing me too much and I am not willing to please anymore.

I haven't update my portfolio for about a month. My investment portfolio has changed. But nothing new. I just add to what I already had. I add some new stocks of Sprott Inc. (SII), Davis + Henderson Corporation (DH) and Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH). My latest investment was in Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH), in which I add up an extra 200 stocks to what I already hold. Like always, the whole thing is registered to a DRIP. And effect is terrific. Well, judge for yourself, I am at 160k+ and out TMX goddness is under the 14 000 points. YEAH!

Champage, caviar, Louis Vuitton bag, PLEASE lol... PARTY.

But before partying... I need to give a good mention to my latest acquisitions: Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (CFX), Colabor Group Inc. (GCL), WesternOne Equity Income Fund (WEQ.UN), TD Toronto Dominion (TD), K-Bro Linen Inc. (KBL) and Exchange Income Corporation (EIF) who all performed very well:

Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (CFX): 1 835$
Initial investment: 1 479.99$
Profit: +355.01$

Colabor Group Inc. (GCL):
Current value: 2 586.72$
Initial investment: 2 404.79$
Profit: +181.93$

WesternOne Equity Income Fund (WEQ.UN):
Current value: 2 226.80$
Initial investment: 2 061.99$
Profit: +164.81$

TD Toronto Dominion (TD):
Current value: 2 052.25$
Initial investment: 1 985.99$
Profit: +66.26$

K-Bro Linen Inc. (KBL):
Current value: 2 186$
Initial investment: 2 034.99$
Profit: +151.01$

Exchange Income Corporation (EIF):
Current value: 2 222$
Initial investment: 1 998.99$
Profit: +223.01$

Those are small, but strong resistent profit coming from some of my latest acquisitions. Some of my investments did very well like those mentions above. Some of my older investment had done very well also, some asset that I had been holding for more a couple of months. Let's take a quick look at:

EnCana Corporation (ECA):
Current value: 6 393.30$
Initial investment: 5 980.49$
Profit: +412.81$

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS):
Current value: 6 109.70$
Initial investment: 5 680.46$
Profit: +429.24$

Methanex Corporation (MX):
Current value: 3 149.74$
Initial investment: 1 626.80$
Profit: +1 522.94$

Fortis (FTS):
Current value: 3 367.29$
Initial investment: 2 680.06$
Profit: +687.23$

Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL):
Current value: 10 061.88$
Initial investment: 6 491.02$
Profit: +3 570.86$

Just Energy Group Inc. (JE):
Current value: 9 807.30$
Initial investment: 9 116.72$
Profit: +690.58$

Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (ENF):
Current value: 6 535.56$
Initial investment: 5 668.30$
Profit: +867.26$

Of course, some investment had been victim of the market volatility, like NFI.UN and YLO, just to name a few. But overall, my portfolio had been stable and the result well, is that brand new 160 575.64$ of mine.

I seek Safe Harbor.

My investment portfolio on date of April 16, 2011

Savings:
450$

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio
Sprott Inc. (SII): 9 377.68$
Timminco (TIM): 77$
Blue Note Mining (BNT): 44$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 6 109.70$
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): 91.50$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 3 149.74$
Fortis (FTS): 3 367.29$
Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL):
10 061.88$
Just Energy Group Inc. (JE): 9 807.30$
Yellow Media Inc. (YLO): 2 391.21$
Pengrowth Energy Corporation (PGF): 2 827.44$
Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (ENF): 6 535.56$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 3 469.27$
Davis + Henderson Corporation (DH):
6 034.40$
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):
7 013.50$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 6 393.30$
iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index (XRE): 2 276.12$
Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN): 1 898$
Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (CFX): 1 835$
New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI.UN): 2 092.72$
Capital Power Income L.P. (CPA.UN): 1 967$
Exchange Income Corporation (EIF): 2 222$
Rogers Sugar Inc. (RSI): 1 605$
Student Transportation (STB): 1 380.87$
Colabor Group Inc. (GCL): 2 586.72$
TMX Group Inc. (X): 4 040$
Data Group Income Fund (DGI.UN): 3 854.97$
TD Toronto Dominion (TD): 2 052.25$
K-Bro Linen Inc. (KBL): 2 186$
Westshore Terminals Invest Corp (WTE.UN): 4 692$
WesternOne Equity Income Fund (WEQ.UN): 2 226.80$

TOTAL: 113 666.22$

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
EnerCare Inc. (ECI): 20.85$
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): 517.50$
Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U): 3 994.32$
Cash: 2.12$

TOTAL: 4 534.79$

RSP investment portfolio:
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund: 8 187.52$
Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL): 4 508.92$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 3 165$
Emera Incorporated (EMA): 6 441.76$
Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U): 1 331.44$
Cash: 65.07$

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: 576.07$
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: 414.28$
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: 1 049.93$

Energy and Base Metals Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
503.46$
Natural Resources Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
502.06$

GIC National Bank: 1 251.85$
GIC Plus TD: 500$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund
(Templeton): 668.71$
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: 938.33$
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: 1 121$
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund:
1 095.89$
Manulife GIF MLIA B World Invest: 666.82$

Great-West – various: 1 834.72$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund: 576.26$
RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$: 2 050.47$
RBC Global Resources Fund: 1 295.17$
RBC O'Shaughnessy International Equity Fund: 676.81$
RBC O'Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity
Fund: 1 238.54$
RBC Global Precious Metals Fund: 1 082.52$

TOTAL: 41 742.60$

Social Capital at Desjardins Membership share
for 3 accounts: 40$

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-
free Savings account + RRSP + Online Income
(142.03$):
160 575.64$

My debt situation on date of April 16, 2011

9 235.70$ at a low interest rate of 4.75% (RRSP credit line rates) = 438.70$ in annual interest

4 900$ at a low interest rate of 4% (credit line rates) = 196$ in annual interest

7 803.28$ on a TD Canada Trust credit card at a low interest rate of 4.9% (result of a credit card balance transfer) = 382.36$ in annual interest

7 638.29$ at low interest rate loan at 5.50% (student loan) = 420.11$ in annual interest

5 000$ at 8.75% (credit line) = 437.50$ in annual interest PAID OFF

7 868.97$ at 7.52% (credit line rates) = 591.75$ in annual interest

37 525.06$ at a low interest rates of 4.25% (margin money coming from TD Water house): =
1 594.82$ in annual interest

TOTAL: 74 971.30$

TOTAL in annual interest: 3 623.74$
[In date of April 16, 2011]

In 2011, Jean-François Tardif is missing the spotlight

I cannot help it, I am a fan! The good looking Jean-François Tardif had been quiet since his too early retirement as a super hedge fund manager. The HubPage I wrote about him a few months back is as much hilarious as this blog post title!

These days, Jean-François Tardif is turning himself not into silver like his ex boss Eric Sprott... but into FOOD! Because everyone got to eat, even the Dividend Girl! Actually, after my rent, food is a major expensive in which I  have to cut. Anyhow, before or after announcing his retirement in 2010, Jean-François Tardif won a Globe and Mail title for his hot stock pick Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH). Following what, I was, as a good investor, investing in Tardif hot Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH). And I never regret it. The title can be volatile, but it’s not an outrageous volatility. I invested again in PBH a couple of weeks ago in order to qualify for their latest dividend. Following what, PBH hit a close 18$ per stock. Currently, PBH is under 17$ per stock. Probably, PBH won’t stay for long under the 17$ mark.

Mutual funds columnist Rudy Luukko from The Star had wrote an article in which he incorporate some of Jean-François Tardif comments. Very informative. PBH is in the food sector. We can easily imagine a PBH hitting the 18$ very soon. Because like always, Jean-François Tardif knows what he’s talking about. Not bad for a Quebecker. Not bad at all. And really soon, Jean-François Tardif will have a new golf partner, Eric Sprott who will probably be retiring soon.

Today is pay day! 502.39$ dividend earning in one single day of... work

Today April 15, 2011, I had received 502.39$ in dividend! I don’t earn that much in a single day of work, that’s for sure! Here’s the dividend that join the dividend girl club today:

Colabor Group Inc. (GCL): 53.82$
Data Group Income Fund (DGI.UN): 32.73$
K-Bro Linen Inc. (KBL): 9.16$
New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI.UN): 6.63$
Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL): 56.81$
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH): 119.95$
Sprott Inc. (SII): 150$
Student Transportation (STB): 0.04$
Westshore Terminals Invest Corp (WTE.UN): 19$
WesternOne Equity Income Fund (WEQ.UN): 54.25$
TOTAL: 502.39$

I know, that 4 cents coming from Student Transportation (STB) is strange but I believe it’s the dividend amount money that actually didn’t DRIP. I guess something else will show up within a couple of days for Student Transportation (STB).

Previously, I had received 10.84$ from Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY.UN) and 59.18$ from EnCana Corporation (ECA).

The overall value of my portfolio might had decreased of something like of 4 000$. Nothing to worry about, it’s just the effect of the market volatility and if you want my point of view, nothing is better than a little plunge to keep it real. Lately, I made many changes to my portfolio, trade a lot but it worth it all the way. For the experience, but also for the gain, despite experiencing the market volatility. Nothing that I am not use to. It’s not fun to see that my portfolio worth 4 000$ less than what it usually worth. But a 4 000$ on a 160k is not that of a big deal, especially while knowing that the market will – eventually – go up again. It’s not about being too much self-confident, it’s about having faith in the market. I am extra proud of my Just Energy Group (JE) who, despite the market volatility, is exceeding the 15$ per stock! Yeah! Basically, all of my investments are extra strong, except Yellow Media Inc. (YLO) and New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI.UN). All of the other investments are down, but not of much.

And... major announcement, finally... my investment in the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund had exceed the 8 000$! I had initially invested 7 000$ in the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund back in 2008. I now hold the investment in my RRSP. I had been very patient with the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund and it worth it all the way. I am just hoping to be on the road for a straight and continuous grow.

And good news, since I didn’t have any other investment project, I start paying off some debt! For the occasion, I use a 1 000$ of my margin at 4.25$ to pay off my 10 000$ credit line the one at 7.27%. I currently have something like 7 850$ left to pay on it. I made a self-contribution of more than 1 000$. For the first time of my investment life (since 2005)..., I use my saving to pay off some debt and for nothing else. I would like to pay off completely that credit line at 7.27%. It will increase my net worth value and leave a 67$ in my pocket. This 67$ or so is the minimum monthly payment required on my 10 000$ credit line.

Among other, I had been receiving voting package after voting package for all the companies I hold. And I didn’t even received them all yet. Many reading on the way, many votes needed to be done. But the most important vote will be the one done on May 2, Election Day in Canada! No anticipated vote for me. I will vote on the DAY. The day of May 2, the day where real Canadians, people of the country, will vote for their new leader. And no, Quebeckers shouldn’t be giving the right to vote. Quebec cheaters and liars, people of the evil forces hide behind Bloc Quebecois Gilles Duceppe. A shame for the Canadian nation. In the meantime, while waiting for justice to be done, I will be counting my money, meaning I will update my portfolio value. The 200 000$ in asset is not that far away. Be ready.

2010 tax declaration done and completed $$$

When I work I work. I got my 2010 tax declaration completed. I own a total of 1 300$. This amount could be view as being quite big. But it’s my own fault. Let me explain. My weekend job does not take any taxes of my paycheck because I only work there 16 hours per week, generally speaking. From the 350$ gross salary, I guess the provincial and federal taxes would normally take 40$ per pay. 40$ x 26 weeks = 1 040$... See, so that I pay taxes or not on my weekend job pay to not really change anything but if I want to avoid paying extra in taxes next year, I will have to sign for a 40$ deduction on each and single paycheck. I don’t even work there all year long anyway. But we have to count as well my Google AdSense money (that unfortunately I had to declare) among other things. Taxes are increasing like crazy in Quebec. I have an extra 25$ contribution to make for Quebec Health Care. Next year, it will be an extra 100$ and the year after 200$. That’s what I had been told. Not cheap for a New Brunswicker who never got the chance to have a family doctor while living in Quebec. While living here, I never saw a doctor, I never went to the hospital. I am basically never sick, at the exception of seasonable normal flue that I treat myself. I absolutely love smoked mussels in can. I taught about it a couple of times, and I came to the conclusion that the reason why I have this really good health is because of all of those smoked mussels I had eaten in my life. Hummm.. Delicious... I have to take a pic of smoked mussels one day to show some to everyone.

I received today a federal tax credit of close to 100$. That’s good. I kind of need it at this time. Despite the fact that I have an extra 1 300$ to pay in taxes, I will still benefit from the federal and provincial taxes credit. I should received something like close to 500$ or so in total from those credits. In final, considering the tax credit I received today and the upcoming ones, it’s about 700$ that I will need to take from my pocket to pay my 2010 taxes. Not so bad. I didn’t earn that much of a salary in 2010. But still, it had exceeded the 40k.

My overtime at work is going well. My Sunday shift was not confirm at my weekend job, so I might just go at my week job place and do extra hours. Whatever can be done. Seem like there will be overtime for at least a couple of days. It’s very hard because I am generally easy and prefer to stay at home sleep late in my bed but hey, I have that 1 300$ contribution for my taxes that is waiting and also my project to pay off some debt. Nothing really easy, but nothing too difficult either. It’s always somewhere in the in between. Remember? 

Good night. ;)

Welcome again, Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U)!

The transfer of my RRSP money from TD Canada Trust to TD Waterhouse had been completed. I decided to invest the money in a super power grow investment. I think the Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U) is the perfect choice. I buy some units at 17.80$. So welcome again, fabulous Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U)!

My overall portfolio is jumping close to the 160 000$. My net worth is probably at 80 000$, if not exceeding it. I am currently working extra hours to pay off some debt. Will see how it goes. So far so good,  no back pain. My net worth should be increasing soon of a couple of thousands, I hope.

Welcome Chatr Wireless services!

As always, writing on my blog yesterday had been extremely releasing. It’s very difficult to get things done properly while living in Montreal. I pray to be able to leave in a near future. While being in New Brunswick, I seek for work there. Fredericton offer good opportunities but it’s not exactly from where I am coming from. Anyhow, I began job seeking in the middle of February of this year while I was at home (remember the fish pictures? lol...). I am still searching, but I got quite busy since I return here in Montreal. Real seriously busy. Seem like I am running all around the place at the same time.

On Friday, I visit my usual accountable place to get my 2010 tax paper ready. I was happy to be done with it. Well, I am not exactly done as my tax declaration will be ready in about 2 weeks or so but coming from my part, I am done with it.

Do you remember Derek Foster newsletter, the one where he spoke about cell phone? Derek Foster doesn’t have a cell phone, but since last Friday, I got mine! Isn’t funny that taught about Derek Foster? Well, I guess I am a real fan! I got my cell phone activated after visiting my accountant office on Friday. I don’t have a home land-line and I had a pager since 2004 or 2005 now. A pager is a voicemail without the voice service. People can leave a voice message and when they do, the pager beep. But that’s about all. Whenever someone leave me a message, the pager beep. It work well, but there’s no way to figure out who’s calling without having to run to a pay phone.

After 5 years, I had enough. But I was trying to save money this way. Before, I found cell phone services very expensive. But Chatr Wireless is making things easier, not to talk about other unlimited wireless services offer by Public Mobile and Wind. In the Toronto area, Winds offer an unlimited data for Internet stick. I call Wind to see if the service was available for Montreal. At this time, Wind is only in Toronto. According to the Globe and Mail, it seem like Wind could be purchased by Public Mobile in a close future. It could be interesting for users. Public Mobile is available in Montreal.

I got that cute little Nokia 2220 cell phone that you see here in the picture for 50$+ taxes. It’s a basic cell phone, but I wasn’t looking for something more as I have an iPod and I can connect to Wireless on it. I don’t need a cell phone that can connect to the Wi-Fi or any fancy features. So that Nokia 2220 was perfect for me.

I got enrolled to Chatr unlimited service at 35$. It’s included unlimited call services for my local zone and everywhere in Canada. This is very good for me as I can call my family in New Brunswick and also my brother who lives in Ottawa whenever I want. So far, I did several calls using the Nokia 2220 cell phone and it seems to be working perfectly well. People I call can hear me clearly and I can hear them really clearly too. I can even but the call on speaker phone.

Chatr Wireless is very good because it’s a company own by Rogers Communications. Chatr Wireless uses the Rogers network which is reliable.

I had been trying to get my pager number import to my cell phone, but it hasn’t work so far. I will try to get this resolve tomorrow. I really got enough of my pager. I got 2 number on my pager and it was costing me something like more than 200$ per year. And to the 200$, you need to add on the cost for long distance calling cards. Having this cell phone will make things much easier for me and it will also facilitate my job search. If my 514 pager number cannot be import, I will keep my pager for another month and after, I will get rid of it. Strangely, I kept my 819 number I had when I was in Ottawa but no one call me on it since a long time now so that one can be cancel.

I got call today on my pager and I was able to listen to the message on my cell phone... lol... It was a call offering overtime at my daytime job. I got to refuse since I was working at my usual weekend job. But I plan to do overtime this week. It’s going to be hard. I just got time to do some laundry tonight after work. Yesterday evening I took it off and I went for a long walk. I walk everyday to go to work but it’s seem like it’s not enough because when I work for a long period of time, I am getting horrible back pain. So knowing what is coming up, I spent my Saturday night walking on St Laurent Boulevard one way to the other.

This overtime is my chance to pay off some heavy debt of mine. If I could pay a good 1 500$ on my debt this month – or more, that could be very great. My goal is to pay off the 10 000$ credit line I have at more than 7%. But that’s a long term goal, unless overtime is being offer for the next couple of weeks. Good night and wish me good luck. I will need it. It’s going to be a heavy working week. I hope I won't get any back pain.

Getting rid of TD Waterhouse ASAP

Earlier this week – before my shift got change – I manage to take care of my RRSP portfolio. I didn’t have too much time so far to pay attention to what I hold inside my RRSP. I want to transfer the money I hold at Manulife inside my RRSP broker account so I can get more for my money. That’s the most major part behind the project. However, I began my RRSP portfolio management by selling the mutual funds hold at TD Canada Trust. I had a bit more than 1 100$ that I was holding in the 9 best mutual funds of TD Canada Trust: TD Canadian Bond, TD Monthly Income, TD Emerging Markets, TD Energy, TD Precious Metals, TD Latin American Growth, TD Entertainment and Communications, TD Dividend Growth and TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth.

All of the following had management fees around 2%, if not sometime exceeding the 2%. And that being for all of the 9 funds. A reader once wrote that having 100$ or so invested in all of those funds was not that of a good idea because of the management fees. At the time, I didn’t care too much about RRSP section of my portfolio, but now, it’s time for a major transformation. I had been able to do well with my non registered portfolio. I can do the same with my RRSP. Currently, my RRSP portfolio worth around 40 000$. It’s quite some money and my money deserved better than just mutual funds and segregated funds of Manuvie. Regarding my segregated funds, I don’t know yet if they can be sell because they are more like insurance mutual funds kind of. It’s something I need to look into. I will probably leave what I have at the CIBC at the CIBC. But when it comes to the investment hold at the RBC, I would be interested in doing something better with the thousands of dollars.

Part of my RRSP portfolio is hold inside my broker account. I had been able to generate a profit of more than 3 000$ on an initial investment of 19 000$ (around). My investment in Sprott Canadian Equity Fund, Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL), EnCana Corporation (ECA) and Emera Incorporated (EMA) had been quite successful. I am happy with those gains. I may be able to generate a couple of thousands of dollars out of the 21 000$ left. That’s what I am looking for. Now that I am mostly schedule during the night shift, I will have all the time in the world to search for my options.

This being said, I began my RRSP management by selling the mutual funds hold at TD Canada Trust. I call on a day that the TMX was gaining points. And I call before 4pm. That’s really important to call on a good day (where the TMX marks points) and to call before the end of the trading day. Basically how it work when dealing with the sale of mutual funds, you never really know what will be the value of the sale. But if you do it on a good trading day and call before 4pm, your almost sure that you’ll be making a profit. Another trick being to take a look at the value of the major holdings of the mutual funds but personally, I never proceed that way. I go with the big scheme. The TMX is gaining points and the situation seem to remain stable until, let’s say 3:30pm? Than, I call at 3:30pm or around. And voila, that’s how to make big bucks out of mutual funds. Seem to be simple? Well, with the French representative of TD Canada Trust I had to deal with, it wasn’t that simple.

When I call, I explain to the mutual funds representative of TD that I wanted to sell my RRSP mutual funds to get the cash and get it transfer into my RRSP account at TD Waterhouse. A real basic simple request. I want the cash, and keep it inside the RRSP please. But the representative argues about my order.

The mutual funds representative said he could sell the mutual funds, but wanted to reinvest the money inside one of those stupid money market funds. And it’s not what I wanted. I own a RRSP banking account at TD. What I wanted is the money generate from the sell to be deposit inside my RRSP banking account and when the money would had appeared in the account, I would had go at the TD Waterhouse branch located at the Eaton Centre to complete the form for my internal transfer. I had did that before for a GIC, so I knew how the whole thing was working. But the TD Canada Trust representative didn’t want to hear anything. He was a real dumb French Quebecker and didn’t want to obey me. He never explained to me why the money was going to get reinvested inside a money market fund. I didn’t want of a money market fund, I wanted the money to be deposit in cash inside my RRSP banking account. I hold more than 140k at TD, I want things to be done my way. I don’t want to argue with anyone, especially some dumb Quebeckers.

The transaction wasn’t performed the way I wanted and the representative was really rude. Later on during the day, I call TD Canada Trust once again to find out more. I ask one more time to the second person I spoke too, another stupid French representative – why the money had been transferred inside a money market fund when I simply wanted the money inside my RRSP banking account. He told me that the previous agent had done his job, that it was the most reasonable way to proceed because it was going to make it faster for the transfer. Like wow, how come the fist rep did not told me that? But most of all, it’s not what me, as a customer, I had requested.

I am tired of those disrespectful Quebeckers who are not willing to respect my orders. And the price to pay for that is huge because whenever it’s possible, I am going to transfer everything I have at TD Waterhouse at some other place. Why should I continue paying 9.99$ per trade with TD Waterhouse in those conditions while I can pay only 4.99$ in commission fee with CIBC? Explain to me. Please.

Ok, you’ll say to yourself, this is a problem with TD Canada Trust, not TD Waterhouse. Well wait, you didn’t hear about the whole story. I am not done yet.

As promise by TD, money was quickly transferred into the money market fund inside my RRSP. Perfect. In the morning just before hitting to work, I visited the TD Waterhouse office located at the Eaton Centre and just like before, I received a very bad service. Most of the staff working at the TD Waterhouse Eaton Centre location barely knows what they are doing. Most of them never invested through TD Waterhouse, they were not TD Waterhouse users before being employed by TD Waterhouse. I can easily tell that because it shows on their way they handle customer requests. I can only talk about my own experience of course, but when I open my account at TD Waterhouse at the Eaton Centre 3 years ago, I fill out the papers work and nothing – absolutely nothing – had been giving to me as information. I simply got some brochure through the mail and a letter requesting 2 pieces of ID. Which was really strange because the IDs had been giving at the Eaton Centre when I first show up to open my broker account. What did the rep had done with my Ids at the Eaton Centre, I don’t have a single clue. But for sure, those poor Quebeckers don’t know how to work their ass.

I got another problem with TD Waterhouse when I open my margin account – always at the Eaton Centre. Nothing of the transformation had been explained to me and I had to deal with a bunch of complications all by myself: DRIP annulations that needed to be register again, dividend I was receiving that were not appearing in my new margin account, commission fees up to 29$ even while I qualified for 9.99$, etc... Switching from a cash broker account to a margin account had been a pain at TD Waterhouse. I had to spend hours over the phone with TD Waterhouse. Basically, since the early beginning, I got big problems with TD Waterhouse because of their incompetent Quebec staff members.

And the problems persist on date of today. Following the reception of the money market fund in my RRSP at TD Canada Trust, I pass by TD Waterhouse – Eaton Centre to get the money transfer into my RRSP broker account. I knew how that part work because I had done it before. I needed a form. But strangely, the TD Waterhouse representative I spoke to at the Eaton Centre did not know what I was talking about. She gave me a number and requested me to call. It was the 514 TD Waterhouse number. I call TD Waterhouse, explaining the situation. I got a confirmation of what I already knew, I needed to complete a form in order to get the transfer completed. So I went back to the same TD Waterhouse representative at the Eaton Centre, and I explain to her what she needed to do. The poor woman was a complete idiot. As an excuse, she told she was working there since a month and a half only. Very not impressive. She had to call TD Waterhouse to know what to do. I finally got the form completed but it took me an hour. Last time, for the GIC transfer, it only took me 10 minutes, at most.

TD Presidents and Vice-Presidents are receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars to manage their business and here is the result. Horrible customer service. I don’t trust TD anymore as a bank and as a broker and I plan to FLUSH them as soon as I can. I am going to switch of broker to make them understand that I am the boss and this is the price to pay for not obeying me and being disrespectful. Quebeckers, BACK OFF.