Having fun with my multiple Tax-free savings accounts and why TD Waterhouse is not that bad after all

Because they are getting pretty good at dealing with people like me! And I will go through it all in this post.

I got sooo confused on the Tax-free savings account. I taught I had understand it all – but just one little thing that I didn’t understand correctly – I taught that withdraws made during the year could be reinvested during the same year in the Tax-free savings account. But unfortunately for me, withdraws can only be reinvest during the next year following the withdraw – and never on the same year the withdraw were made. Here was my mistake.

Back in January of this year, I open a Tax-free savings account at RBC. And in it, I transfer some of my non-RRSP investment. They were mutual fund investments and in total, the money I transfer in the account was very close to 5 000$ - which is the limit authorize for 2009. I was very happy with the transaction. Everything went well and smoothly, without any problems... until… I got this bright idea.

A couple of weeks pass – it was time to invest in my RRSP and I suddenly realize I didn’t have planned anything for my 2008 RRSP. What I did was the following: I took some of my investments I had in my brand new Tax-free savings account at RBC and transfer them into RRSP. Everything went fine, well not perfectly fine, but I post previously about this, let say “learning experience” with bad agents of RBC trying to make money out of me.

Anyhow, a couple of weeks after, I decided to open another Tax-free savings account, but this time with TD Waterhouse. I complete the form and a few days after, the Tax-free savings account was from my TD Waterhouse. Once I call to see if the account had been created (I barely connect to the Internet on weekdays as I am running from 9 to midnight at my jobs) – the agent at TD told me that the Tax-free savings account was now from my TD Waterhouse account. All happy that I was, I ask him to immediately transfer my Crestsreet Alternative Energy Fund in it. But I didn’t talk to him about what I had done previously at RBC. The agent proceeds. I really taught I was doing right, until I contact RBC later on – asking what was left from my Tax-free savings account and than – but only at that time – I begin to ask question and I find out that well, I have to say it, I had done a mistake lol.

After what, I call TD Waterhouse, telling them all about what I done. And I suggest if it will be better just to get the Crestsreet Alternative Energy Fund out of the Tax-free savings account and the agent told me no. That was during a weekday’s afternoon.

Later on during the evening, I call back RBC to confirm the information of what I had been told during the afternoon and after – once again I call TD Waterhouse and the answer was still the same – I didn’t have to take off the Crestsreet Alternative Energy Fund from my Tax-free savings account. How confusing! And than, I ask the courageous agent if I could had move my Sprott Canadian Equity Fund into the Tax-free savings account at TD (like I never get enough or something lol) but he told me… NO… lol

I still do not understand in date of today – why it’s ok for me to leave Crestsreet Alternative Energy Fund into my Tax-free savings account at TD. I just hope things will turn all right. I am kind of having confident in them now.

But what I dislike about TD Waterhouse and main reason I keep “bitching” after them most of the time is that even if I ask for general info, the agents – but not all of them – keep asking for my name, my account number… And one time, I get very mad and I told the agent that I didn’t want to provide the info since I was just asking for general info. But it never works… I had to identify myself.

And by the way, their TalkBroker do not work in French but exists in French… Like anything cannot be perfect.

(and especially not at TD Waterhouse lol!!!!!!!!!!)

On what's going on with Blue Note Mining

I didn’t have too much time to do my search, but I read that Blue Note Mining had declared bankruptcy. Not that I was very surprised about the news as I knew things were not doing to well at Caribou (New Brunswick). But when I learned about them having discovered some gold near Caribou, I taught things were going to get a bit better… but it didn’t happen…

Its heartbreaking news and I was very sad to learn that Blue Note Mining had been delist from the TSX. BN had been moves into the TSX Venture, which I have no clue what it is about. The delist will be complete on April 1st. Now, I wonder if I should sale the investment or if I can still hold and if I hold – will the money remain? Just sooooo confusing. I didn’t receive any information on this what sort ever – a letter or anything. So I guess the only solution to know exactly what’s going on is… to contact TD Waterhouse! (lol!!!!!)

But what happen in my broker account is…extraordinary…

Blue Note Mining still appears in my account, no problem. But the amount is different. Back a couple of months ago, I had purchased 12 000 stocks of Blue Note Mining – main reason behind the purchase was because the company had a mine in New Brunswick. Which I find cool since I am from New Brunswick myself. It would have been too great if I could only had make some money of the investment. Anyway, in the late days, the current value of my investment had been less than 200$. But now, the amount that show up as current value is 600$ - which is almost the value of the initial investment I made back than; exactly of 689$. Let’s say that with Blue Note Mining, I would only had lost 89$ at the really end.

Now, what I think happen is maybe Blue Note Mining had given some money back to their shareholders. But I wonder where they took the money, since they had declared bankruptcy. I do not plan to sale Blue Note Mining anyway unless I have too. I wouldn’t like to loose that 600$ of mine.

This is a valuable example on why its always better to purchase, stick and hold until the end, just like Derek Foster learn me to do. Because of this I save 29$ (the cost of the transaction that it will cost me to sale the investment) and more than 400$ value on the initial investment. Like WOW. I am just lucky like that sometimes.

I do not wish this of course, but wouldn’t be nice if the same thing could happen with Timminco? The initial value of my purchase use to be of 4 065$ and now, it’s worth 554$! This is worst investment I ever made of my young life as an investor. But I do not wish a bankruptcy for Timminco (TIM), no company deserved to live a bankruptcy. It’s awful for investor, CEO and employees. Because I guess the employees of Blue Note Mining may had been lay-off. And I should be careful on what I write – or say – remember what happen with my morning job? Just too hot.

And, if I continue to look into my portfolio, I just can only laugh at myself about Bank of Nova Scotia. I taught it was a so smart move of mine to purchase BNS at 44.94$... but now each stock only worth 31.60$. Just so hilarious. It’s just show how markets are difficult to follow… even for an expert like myself lol.

TSX forever.

About Derek Foster selling his investments or what love is all about

Wild, unconscious and with a lot of sex appeal. That’s the DF I known from Stop Working. But it’s seemed like the Derek Foster of the old days is gone with the wind. Or something had happen to him. But what? I am late in the news. Derek Foster had soled out of all his assets a couple of weeks ago, middle of March from what I understand.

I do not judge him on what he did, but I do have an opinion on it. I read an article online of the Toronto Star. DF was explaining that he had soled it all because of some search he did. I do not know what he had found, but gees, he is totally out of track lol. Like if I know what I am talking about or something lol. I do not know what he had learned about, but no matter what he did, its clear for me that I will never sale my precious little assets. Those are going to stay with me until the end. And I still plan to invest more in stocks in the next upcoming months – unless I got lay off from the 2 jobs I had left lol.

I guess I have to respect his position. And its true is position is not the same, knowing he had a family to support. I guess he did what he believe was in the best interest for him and his family.

In that article, at the question if he would continue to sale his books, DF answers yes. And this disturbs me. He continues to sale his books on his Web site (http://www.stopworking.ca/), free of any kind of advertisements by the way lol. Like man, you are selling a strategy you do not even believe in yourself! Come on!!! That’s disturbing. But who am I to judge. It’s not now or ever that I am going to say bad stuff on the man who makes me discovers the fabulous and painful (lol) world of stocks. And make me discovers TD Waterhouse bad services.

DF is out of the stock market, but I am still in. And I plan to invest at least 30 000$ per year for the next 4 years or so in order to achieve financial freedom. I might continue to work just to have more cash to invest and become, basically, a multimillionaire lol.

It’s true I own DF a lot like: awful services from TD Waterhouse and lol, loosing more than 10 000$ of my very own money in the stock market. But more seriously, what DF did – trying to explain the stock market to small people well, its extraordinary, its give strength to proceed and just « go for it » lol. If it wouldn’t be of his books, I would probably still and only investing in mutual funds. My Td Waterhouse portfolio had an initial value of about 30 000$ and now, the 30 000 worth 20 000. Which I consider still good knowing the stock market conditions. It’s not like my initial 30 000$ worth now 5 000$ or so. The stocks market worth it a try.

I do not have the best portfolio ever – but it’s not the worst one either. For me, my portfolio is – well, let’s say... show up some great potential to grow overtime – lets say it that way lol. And I am never going to sale any part of it.

But what’s nice about DF is that he decided to go public with it. He could have sale and not telling no one – it will only had been between him and… those guys at TD Waterhouse… lol. His public move is very courageous. I wonder what his projects are now. He might be trying to do some money online lol!! Just hilarious knowing that’s what I had been trying to do those last days.

It’s hard to believe he had decided to grudge into his 400 000$+ for his living. If DF had decided to move out of the stock market, it might be because things might be pretty rough out there. But of cause, I know almost anything about it.

Why investment is also about love and on why I love the stocks market

I believe in Barack Obama more than anything. That’s basically why I am still in « it », because I believe in him and in his administration. More than anything else. And knowing how much we, as Canadians, depend on the US, just knowing that its BO who’s taking care of business, I sleep well at night and I never intent to sale any of my investments – ever since I saw Barack Obama the first time on television lol. For me, I believe Derek Foster lost that confidence and that’s what make him sale all of his investments. Maybe because he is a man and didn’t fall in love with BO like I did. It’s pure love. BO is a black angel and he’s going to fix EVERYTHING. This is how a strong believer I am.

And a true believer like myself do no fear the market in bad times. But this is the perfect timing for me. This is what I had been waiting for! A bad stocks market, low prices and a lot of time ahead. And right now, the combination of those 3 elements are united for my own benefit.

I had been following the stocks market since something like 2005. Back than, I had purchased Fidelity Frotiere Nord with Desjardins. It was a 1 000$ initial investment. Its not now that I am going to sale anything for sure.

About me loosing one of my jobs on March 31

And it’s going to be alright. I am really not into the job searching kind of mood at this time and I will soon be running out of some good cash to invest more. But I had a pretty easy solution that came directly from my brain (lol!!!): doing more hours of what I had been so far my weekend job lol. And I am lucky (I really I am!) – some work will be available during weekdays on the second week of April.

I plan to do 36 hours there starting in April and I will also be doing 37.5 hours at my current full-time evening job. Which is for me a nice solution since my weekend job is close to where I live and I really didn’t want to be job searching. Really not. And the workflow should continue until August. For the period April-August, it will be more than 8 000$ I will be able to save and invest in a place where maybe I shouldn’t invest: the stock market. I just pray nothing will happen to my evening job.

Everything will just turn out perfectly well if things can just continue this way.

It's over

I just had a rough conversation with my mom. She knows I am working during day time and she calls me at 1pm this afternoon, which really annoyed me. I told her that she knew I was at work. Why to call in the afternoon while I am working? It’s like she’s not giving me any respect.

And than she asked me – again – if I ever take a day off, and I get made at her, saying that I was working. What drive me crazy is like she’s always like: are you tired? Something might be wrong with you, you never call. You should come back to New Brunswick. You are working too hard and stuff like that. All the time! Instead, she should be proud, but for her, life is just about free-time and not working too hard. And I am so the opposite and I dislike her so much for saying those words to me: you are working too hard, it might be tough on you. But what’s tough on me is not the work: it’s her! And it’s been going on like this since I finish my studies. It’s kind of unfortunate I cannot find a better job, but I do not mind, knowing that I am in Quebec and hey, in Quebec, foreign doctors are stuck in taxi driver jobs… So should I be very surprised of my own situation?

And tonight, the nightmare went over, I told her not to call me, just for emergencies only and I continue saying that if I wanted to have a friendly chat with her, I will call her. And than she said, but you never call… You bet I never call; I am getting annoying of her comments and her pushing me down – without giving me any encouragement. But now, it's over. I am done with her.

Than she continue asking me what I was doing. I didn’t answer to her question. The reason is quite simple: my own mom is ashamed of me being stuck in simple jobs. Like once I went down to New Brunswick, when people asking what I was doing, I told them exactly what I was doing and than my mom, ashamed of me, told me: don’t say that, say that your working in translation. Like me working in translation like before? Like I barely speak, write and understand English lol. Anyway, she asked me to lie to save her proud and from there, things for me toward her never been the same. I discover her true nature: superficial, selfish and arrogant. The same arrogance as Brian Mulroney.

Pembina is now at 14.25$ and I had lost my morning job

I was so right! Pembina Pipeline Income Trust went up – just like I expected it will! It’s seem like I just make a lovely profit of 225$ right there – and its truly needed. This makes all my week and I didn’t expect Pembina to grow so fast – or actually its share to gain value so much. And once again – my only regret is not being able to invest more more more in Pembina! The lack of money really makes me feel miserable. But seem like I am going to suffer more and more of lack of money in the upcoming following weeks because I will get laid-off of my morning job on March 31st. Seem like... I am going to have a lot of time to write on my blog for now on lol! Its not a totally desperate situation since I still have my full-time evening job and also my weekend job but it’s going to make a major difference in my life not to wake up early in the morning and for the money right, because my life is all about that lol!

On what happen at my morning job and why I do now believe in God.

God exist – I now have a formal proof lol! And it’s H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S! This is actually one of the most interesting things that never had happen to me of my entire life!

You can imagine, I got very tired during the last couple of days. And during my evening shift I sometimes get very but very tired. On that day, I told to a co-worker of mine from my evening job something that probably changes my life forever (like I guess I will have to go to church or something lol). This had happened just this last Monday.

My or what had been my morning job is quite easy. But sometimes, customers can really disturb me and are acting like I-m-the-customer-and-your-the-poor-employee kid of thing. Anyway that’s basically why I am following Derek Foster strategy like hell because gees, I have enough of all this and working hard for my money I want this to stop.

Anyway, on Monday morning, what happen is what something happen. That’s all. End of the explanation. I just don’t want to re-live the even against like whatever. I had been working at my morning job for 11 months now, in April, it would had make a year. And I never had any troubles before. And of course, the incident happens with a.. QUEBECKER lol.

And than see, I continue to chat with my co-worker complaining about what happen to me and how I was tired about the job. And after what, I said the following. I said it in French, but in English, it would have been something like: « If God exists, they will fire me, I am tired of the job and I need a rest ».

But little that I know on what was going to happen next. And this if the most interesting part.

The day following the incident, I learn that my last day of work at my morning job will be March 31st. Believe it or not. God exists.

This lay-off affects me and the other workers as no more jobs will be available after March 31st. People working during the day had the possibility to work during the evening as work will me available during evening but for me, the option is not good because I am already working during evenings.

The problem being that the company we had been working for is based in the US and they have decided to move a project to Asia. Anyway… Maybe an Indian will do the job I was doing. It might be better this way – as for me and for them. Someone else will conduct satisfaction surveys to Americans and Canadians that’s all.

I wasn’t shocked about the news by itself. I was prepared and aware. I just knew or doubt something would happen as satisfaction surveys and more kind of an extra. So let’s say I was ready for anything, but I was not expecting a sign of God…

Ignatieff calling Mulroney: WHY? (or happy birthday criminal)

So far on this blog, I haven’t written at all on politic. But this time, I just had too, as I find the event very disturbing.

Ex-prime minister is a financial criminal (everyone will learn that once the public inquiry will be completed) and the one that is now the Liberal – what leader? - Michael Ignatieff might have thought he had done a pretty good thing by calling Brian Mulroney to wish him happy birthday.

WHAT A SHAME!

Weak, superficial and arrogant, this is how I describe what a Mulroney family spokesperson had called a "class act."

That poor man accept more than 200 000$ to promote a friend, arms dealer Karlheinz Schreiber, and in date of today, did everyone forget about this? In this affair, Brian Mulroney had been very arrogant. And from my point of view, Mulroney DO NOT deserves any public reconnaissance – especially coming from a politician. Now, if Michael Ignatieff thing he will get closer to Quebeckers because he had wished a man without loyalty and desperately suffering from a lack of judgment, well, Ignatieff than, is not better than Mulroney and I wish him GOOD LUCK. He will need some! How disturbing!!! I just hope Mulroney will be send to jail!

One day, people in Canada will wake up and stand up, but seem like that time didn’t come yet.

When will Michael Ignatieff get laid off? Are politicans are the same like that. Willing to please to get what they want – just more power?

I want Dion back!

Seem like he’s been teaching at Concordia University. A colleague of mine saw him at the metro Guy-Concordia. If I could ever see him by any chance, I will just say to him: PLEASE HELP US!

Like politic really suck and the Liberal party did a terrible bad move by doing what they did to Stephane Dion. But a day will come when some others, like me, will realize and I wish that, when that day will come, Liberal Party people will feel ashamed.

Shame on Brian Mulroney and may the public inquiry reveal all about his stupidity.

But the funniest part is that – even if Brian Mulroney definitely suffers from a lack of judgment, he is chairman of Quebecor.

Am I a stockholder of Quebecor of any Quebec business? OF COURSE NOT BECAUSE I AM TOO SMART FOR THAT.

(And smart people just follow Derek Foster strategy.)

Same thing for Henri-Paul Rousseau who had been CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. It’s hard to believe – but after making losing millions of dollars to Quebeckers, the poor man had been hired as a vice chairman at the Power Corporation of Canada. It’s like hello! Who had been involved in this hiring? Come on!

First thing I learn as a very amateur investor is diversification. But its look like Henri-Paul Rousseau never heard of diversification of his entire life. Like I might purchase all 3 books and had it ship to the new CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec – could it be helpful, don’t you think? It could had make a good leaving gift for Henri-Paul Rousseau, instead of him touching more than 200 000$ in leaving bonus. Ah!

Like for myself, I read the 3 books of Derek Foster so many times – just in order to UNDERSTAND INVESTMENTS and how to do things the right way. But its look like some of today’s leader does not get simple things right like that.

I DO NOT LIKE QUEBEC. I truly deserve a better place to live, pay my taxes and invest. And talking about leaving Quebec, I might be able to leave soon since I will lose my terrifically boring and annoying morning job (I am actually the one who is getting lay-off for now). But that’s another story.

Waiting for my Pengrowth dividends

Tomorrow, I will received 50.50$ in Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) dividend. I just hope the stock price remain low – if possible less than 7$ – so I can earn 7 brand new units at no cost.

After what, I will have 512 units or so. I enroll in a DRIP for all stocks or unit I have in my portfolio and expect to DRIP until I have enough to financially live from the income but I guess I will have to work for while to see such things happen. And than I could move someplace else than in Quebec! Problem being that there’s just no easy way. And its not easy for me to have to stay in Quebec. And with this recession going on, I just feel more miserable, like I am stuck here forever. Just as miserable as that. But one day I will have my revenge and I will be able to leave and never came back to this horrible province. And I will get back on the reason why I dislike Quebec province – maybe as much as I dislike TD Waterhouse – but even on a upper lever lol.

For now, I just continue the way I am doing right now and I hope to see positive results in my portfolio. At this time, its almost the only thing who make me happy and I can’t wait to see my portfolio to grow from a couple of more units of Pengrowth.

A beautiful weekend spend... at work

I was basically depressed all weekend long! The sun was out, the weather was perfect to enjoy the beginning of spring, but I was inside, working at doing surveys lol. I would like to enjoy the weather a bit more. On Saturday evening, I finish my shift at 18h, so I went out after that. I went to see the new movie Watchmen. After what I walked on St-Catherines, and I got back home. And it was about it of what I did exciting during my weekend. I believe winter is over and I just hope I won’t have to wear any heavy boots anytime soon.

I was looking at a local paper and I find an interesting job offer, part-time job this on, located near my evening job. I was thinking maybe to apply to the job to replace my morning job that just keeps cutting my hours. It will be so nice to have a fix part-time income of, let say, 300$, or even more if it can pay more. I just don’t know if the time is right. It’s kind of a rough decision. Like I don’t know what to expect anymore from my current morning part-time job and I feel so lost. Like for tomorrow, I don’t even know – again – if I am working or not.

My status of registration with Gomez PEER is still Pending. And after all this time past, I wonder if the program is just a scam of what’s going on with it. Not that I make tremulously money from the program; I am actually at 2 cents now. But before getting the program run on my computer on a regular basis, I want to find out if I will actually get approved. Anyway, I find the delay annoying.

And talking about delays, I am waiting to have a tax-free savings account with my TD Waterhouse account. And at the same time, I was thinking of switching to a cheaper broker. At 29$ per transaction, TD Waterhouse is not cheap. Like me who trust no one, and especially TD Waterhouse lol – I need to get a broker who will be cheaper than 29$ for my little transactions. I just can't wait to me completly done with TD Waterhouse.

On the special dividend of Sprott Asset Management on April 6th

Special dividend for A SPECIAL LADY.

I just learn the great news a couple of days ago. And I was like WOW! This is what I need. Especially after loosing so much money with Sprott Asset Management (SII). I have the good idea to purchase 500 stocks of Sprott when the price stock was of 10$ or so… lol… And now each unit worth less than 5$. On April 6th, the dividend is supposed to be of 15 cents per share. And since I hold 500 stocks of Sprott, its 75$ I will receive on April 6th, in real cash…. Not Internet money lol. A 75$ just for me.

Will there be a special dividend for my other investments?

And about Internet money, my status for Gomez PEER is still pending… And so far, I didn’t enroll in any other money making online. I just been working like hell and I just don’t have any time left to invest in it. It’s possible to earn some money online, but its take a lot of time and energy to start with at first and right now, I am missing both of those things, time and energy. But sometimes, I wonder if it’s just some laziness of mine. One day, I will wake up, fully determine and I will say to myself: let’s do it, like right now. It’s been a tough week for me. I got a cold and have to buy some medications. I complete a form to have a tax-free account with TD Waterhouse. And here am I, this morning, at my morning job – there was no work. But it was a good week – only for this morning, I wasn’t able to work. And I wasn’t too upset about it – I was feeling tired because of the cold medication.

Knowing I lost so much money in the market, it makes it quite nice and enjoyable to earn a bit here and there from regular and special dividend. Only it’s not possible to DRIP from Sprott Asset Management (and their dividend is super low!). I guess I will transfer the money over my credit line to pay it off a little. I am not really preoccupied by the market volatility, but I am more getting frustrating on dividend cuts. But it worth it to purchase and hold.

I would like to be able to reach 3 000$ in dividend earning by the end of 2009, but I don’t know if it’s another impossible goal to reach of mine. Like I had been working to reach 50 000$ in investment for about… 3 years now lol!

And talking about dividend earnings, let’s calculate them again, for the upcoming year to keep us motivated:

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) [1.96$ annual dividend]: 197.96$

Fortis (FTS) [1.04$ annual dividend]: 105.04$

Livingston International Income Fund (LIV.UN) [0.504$ annual dividend]: 50.904$

Methanex Corporation (MX) [0.7975$ annual dividend]: 80.5475$

Sprott Asset Management (SII) [0.10$ annual dividend + 0.15$ special dividend]: 50$ + 75$

Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) [1.20$ annual dividend]: 606$

Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN) [1.56$ annual dividend]: 156$

TOTAL: 1 321.45$

I am in love with my portfolio.

$$$

I post in my blog a new section call My Dividend Earnings Calendar Year 2009. Its show up somewhere on the right column. I post in it the dates of the supposedly dividend earnings. I find the question mark (?) pretty hilarious. My calendar is unfortunately incompletes. I cannot find the dividend distribution dates for MX and my brand new PIF.UN. But the information is essential.