Do it like Derek Foster

I wake up at 4PM and been blogging since I wake up lol. I think I am brain dead lol… Yesterday, I was very tired; I was having terrible back pain. But now, after sleeping more than 12 hours in a row… I am alight lol. It was a bit cold in my apartment so when I felt the breeze, I just continue sleeping… I didn’t want to wake up. When I am sleeping like this, I am not doing any shopping, so I am not spending my precious money around. And talking about precious money, I have a lot of projects going on! I am not totally brain dead. I was tired because we start receiving calls at my new job and its gave me a lot of stress. We are terribly poorly train – and the trainer was kind of suck too – to do the job we are desperately trying to do. The trainer we had was basically a wanna-be-superstar and she’d once of the most annoying woman I had never met of my life. But no surprise there, I wasn’t expecting much more coming from Quebeckers. My expectations were not really high. And some co-workers are really arrogant and disrespectful (worst than me!).. but oh surprise, they are… Quebeckers lol. Nothing more than just poor Quebeckers. They should consider themselves lucky to have someone like myself – one of the best do-it-like-Derek-Foster-investor out there working for them. That’s it. Very funny isn’t?

LESSONS LEARN: Don’t expect your co-workers to be as smart and gentle as you are.

It’s actually more difficult that I taught, at some points, to work from 9 AM to midnight. I was doing it before, last year, but the difference with this year situation is that I don’t have any break between the 2 jobs. I finish one job at 5:30PM and begin the other one at 6PM. I am lucky enough to only have to take the metro and the 2 jobs are close from one to another. The shift of my evening job had been changed for next week, so I will be working during the day and my new job is during the evening. But once I will no my new job better, it will be much better and I will be less tired.

LESSONS LEARN: You can work around the clock and sleep as little as 6 hours per night if you are really into money

Great surprise, my stocks and units portfolio had increased to 34 027$ (compare to the 33 898$ on December 5th). Which represent an increase of 129$. Those numbers and this increase could be seemed at first some kind of ridiculously low. BUT – here’s my point: the TSX, when closing Friday, had lost 40.64 points and the value of my stocks and units portfolio had increased of 129$... We have something very special right here. I AM BEATING THE INDEX lol. Beat the steel when it's hot.... :)

LESSONS LEARN: You can beat the index without too much trouble.

Money projects or what to do with my money… paying debts or invest?

I currently have 1 500$ lying in my banking accounts, doing nothing. This mean that 1 500$ of my very own precious money is not working for me right now. I have to do something about it! But what should I do, pay off some debts or invest?

Take a guess, and a very wild one…

But just before revealing what I am going to do next, here’s an update regarding my debt situation:

-Student loan: 8 644.75$ at 4.75%
Yearly interest: 408.80$
-TD line of credit: 4 686$ at 8%
Yearly interest: 374.88$
-CIBC Visa: 2 979.44$ at 3.99% for 6 months
6 months interest: 59.44$
-Credit line at super low interest rate: 3 537.13$
Yearly interest: 132.64$
TOTAL IN INTEREST: 975.76$

As you can see, I had for now transferred the money I had available to invest on my credit line at a super low interest.

The total in interest is of 975.76$.

Interest rate money vs dividend money

Do I really care for in interest while my investment portfolio will provide me, in the upcoming year, close to 3 000$ in dividend earnings? I have to say, I don’t care about my debt situation, and I will ever will.

Right now, I am desperately looking forward to increase the value of my portfolio, eve we are just talking here of 1 500$. I had opened a broker account at where I currently work and it might be time to experiment their platform. And their very cheap commission fee! Starting from now, I will purchase all of my new investments through them.

LESSONS LEARN: Paying off debts is boring.

We are now talking about a new investment! What would it be?

I am giving you fee worlds: wine, vodka, gin, rum… No, I didn’t turn into an alcoholic… Those words stand for Corby Distilleries (CDL.A)! Remember that I had purchased Derek Foster latest book Stop working too, you still can!: safe beginner strategies from Canada’s millionaire investor and that I really like it? As always, Derek Foster adds the content of his investment portfolio at the end of his book. Corby Distilleries (CDL.A) is about one of the only non .UN investment that Derek Foster hold that I can afford at this time!

It makes me laugh to read some articles like: What went wrong with the Derek Foster Strategy; Is Dividend Investing dead? The Derek Foster Story and so on… Nothing went wrong with Derek Foster. It’s just at a point, the markets were scary and he decides to sell his portfolio because at the time, he taught it was the best thing to do.

In a few years from now, those same individuals will probably look at things differently. I had been reading a lot of stuff about finance and other and never before that had I read a book about finance that was almost like a user guide on how to escape from hell (hell being, of course, the work place lol). But not only. His books are not only about on how to Stop Working, it’s about understanding investment and the risk. And I add the risk in here because it’s the most important part.

I will take a personal example. My father had around 30 000$ put aside in his RRSP account. The money had been lying for about 25-30 years in an account that was providing – and still provide him – a low interest rate. Why? Because my father doesn’t want to risk his money. Reason why: never of his life he gets some investment knowledge. He doesn’t understand the notion of risk in investment.

You might know how financial planner and others work: they suggest investment products by respecting your investment profile. But by respecting their investment profile only. They don’t get into the subject into deeper manners because the law is strict. If the individual does not get the financial knowledge he needs to understand the notion of risk by himself, ever of his life he will received good return on his money. And that's very sad.

Before reading Derek Foster books, my investment life was mostly involved in mutual funds and GIC. After several reading of Stop Working: Here’s how you can!, I decide to move forward and open a broker account. I guess that in the meantime, I might had forget all about of my reading of Derek Foster books because shortly after opening my broker account, I was investing in Timminco (TIM) and Sprott Inc. (SII). My first investments were the worst one I could ever make of my life! But shortly after, I was going back on track and I had purchased all of those marvelous investments you can see on the right column of my blog…

Anyhow, after several, multiple reading of Derek Foster 4 books, I understand the notion of risk and my life will never be the same.

LESSONS LEARN: Derek Foster will probably make Canadian history. Read, learn, invest and get rich.

Early December money dividend

For the first time today we had some kind of serious snow in Montreal! My winter coat is still living in its dirt of last winter and my winter boots are still in their box… lol I am not ready for the winter. I just don’t want any snow. This is showing how much time is passing by quickly. It’s like everything come passing by very close to me, but I don’t have time to catch anything and I am empty.

Believe it or not, I have 3 weeks of vacation who are already plan for 2010! I was thinking of a little trip or something but just like usual, it will probably be a last minute kind of deal thing.

I got out of my evening shift earlier this evening. Today was my first integration day at my new job, so hitting 6 hours of work after all this was not exactly what I had on mind. These days, I had been asking to leave earlier and most of the time, they let me leave earlier. Once my regular shift will start at my new job, I had requested to work during day-time. So my old evening job will become my day-time job and my new job will take place as an evening job… But money is good, and I am basically working during all of holiday’s day… That’s right, I am working on December 24, 25, 26 and 31… and also on January 1 and 2nd… But I am not complaining. The only day I would have like to have off is the Boxing Day.

Otherwise, so far, the money is good, the work is not so rough and I am able to manage the whole working part-time and full-time kind of silly plan of mine but its working. With both jobs I have one paycheck per week, which is very great. And I can’t wait to extend my investment portfolio more and more! The value of my stocks and units investment portfolio is currently of 33 937$, which is an increase of 39$ compare to December 5. It’s quite surprising because the TSX lost a couple of points today. I believe we are living in a world of great changes right now and I am excited about what’s going to happen next. I would like to make money from my investments and I would like to see my value increase over the next couple of months.

I am slowly looking into my RRSP for the tax year of 2009. I already have 500$ aside that is waiting in my banking account. For 2009, it’s more than 10 000$ that I can invest in my RRSP and I am looking forward into investing 10 000$ for my 2009 RRSP. My goal is to save 6 000$ from the period of December 2009 to March 2010 for my RRSP… And the 4 000$ extra will be taking from my stocks or units convert into a RRSP account.

And a dividend update…

I just notice today, I had earned 3 new units of Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) and one stock of Fortis (FTS). I am very happy with those extensions of my little dividend earnings.

I just renew my sell order - again - for Dumont Nickel (DNI). I want to sell my 23 000 stocks at 4 cents. I have to renew my sell order every month and I have completely forget about it. Nothing much had change regarding Dumont Nicket and I just cannot wait for the sell order to be process!

Dividend income update

My dividend:

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 104 stocks x 1.96$ = 203.84$
Fortis (FTS): 103 stocks x 1.04$ = 107.12$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 408 units x 1.405$ = 573.24$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 103 stocks x 0.685$ = 70.56$
Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN): 404 units x 1.56$ = 630.24$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 6 units x 0.84$ = 5.04$
Sprott Inc. (SII): 503 stocks x 0.10$ = 50.30$
Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN): 415 units x 0.80$ = 332$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN): 100 units x 2.892$ = 289.20$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 300 units x 1.142$ = 342.60$

TOTAL: 2 604.14$ + lets say an extra 150$ coming out from our super powerful DRIP strategy:
2 754.14$
(average of 229.52$ per month)

I am only missing 295.86$ before reaching the 3 000$ in dividend income… Yeah!

Money talk: I now own 61 095.40$ in assets

I didn’t think I was going to reach the 60 000$ in assets by the end of 2009, but I did… with the help of leverage. So I am now at 61 095.40$, believe it or not lol… I am very happy with the whole thing. The stock market is not too bad, companies continue to pay dividend… I am in a perfect position right now to achieve whatever I want in my financial life. My dream would be to have a 6 figures portfolio by the end of 2010. If the market remain relatively stable and if I continue working at the jobs I have right now, and if I continue to follow Derek Foster tips and tricks well, I could be in a good shape to reach the 100 000$ value investment portfolio in 2010. It’s not impossible, truly achievable. So as you can see, the reading of Derek Foster 4 books had been quite helpful!

I am aware of the situation of the .UN investments I hold. Derek Foster had actually written an article about it in one of his newsletter. I am not afraid for PIF.UN, either JE.UN. But regarding YLO.UN, BA.UN, I am not too sure what to thing. Thanks to our fantastic federal government (lol!), I have a lot to worry about. This is about MY dividend. It’s my earnings we are talking about right now… lol…. Since I don’t know what to do, and since I have purchase all of those beautiful .UN investment, in the meantime, I will enjoy their juicy dividend.

I make another investment purchase this week with 300 units of Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN). I know… another .UN investment… But since Derek Foster had this investment himself, I told myself, why not? Some follow Buffet, Eric Sprott or other superstar of the market, but me, My First 50 000$ kind of girl, follow Derek Foster. And it work!

Need any examples of my success because I carefully follow Derek Foster tips and tricks? Here we go:

-I invest in some PGF.UN, got some dividend (an average of 50$ per month for a couple of months), but when the company cut their dividend for the third or second time for a dividend of 7 cents per month… I was done with PGF.UN.. I sell, and I make a profit, small still, but a profit is a profit, out of the sell.

-I invest in PIF.UN. And currently, I gain more than 1 000$ out of my investment! And PIF.UN provide an annual dividend of 1.56$ per unit!!!

-This week, I invest in 300 units of ENF.UN and the next day, my gain were more than 75$. In date of December 5th, I gain more than 100$ from this investment – and it’s only been a week.

-I invested in LIV.UN a while ago, earn dividend for a little while. After they cut their dividend, I was tired of having LIV.UN in my portfolio… So I sell, and make a profit (small, but still, a profit is a profit) out of the sell…

-I never lost any money by following Derek Foster tips and tricks! This is true!

So I truly appreciate Derek Foster books for all of those reasons. 2010 will be the year where we will be able to discover more about the market and find out if my idea of following Derek Foster was good or not… But so far so good!

My investment portfolio in date of November 21, 2009

Savings:
2.69$ (ING Direct)

Non RRSP Investments:
Stocks & Units investment portfolio
Sprott Inc. (SII): 2 037$
Timminco (TIM): 326$
Blue Note Mining (BNT): 52$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 5 066$
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): 216$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 1 934$
Fortis (FTS): 2 753$
Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN): 6 702$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 5 214$
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): 460$
Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN): 2 216$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund
(BA.UN): 2 701$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 61$
TOTAL: 29 800$

Mutual funds (outside RRSP)
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund: 4 944$

Tax-free savings account
RBC O'Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund:
2 490.29$
Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund: 1 137$
TOTAL: 3 627.29$

RRSP:
CIBC Dividend Fund: 478.86$
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: 476.21$
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: 956.79$

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

GIC National Bank: 1 098.49$
GIC Finance Plus: 1 513.97$
GIC Plus: 500$

TD Canadian Bond: 111.04$
TD Monthly Income: 99.19$
TD Emerging Markets: 82.18$
TD Energy: 80.44$
TD Precious Metals: 107.18$
TD Latin American Growth: 96.92$
TD Entertainment & Communications: 100.56$
TD Dividend Growth: 187.49$
TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth: 92.64$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund (Templeton):
675.02$
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: 839.63$
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: 1 001.35$
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund: 948.33$
Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund: 619.62$

Great West - Various: 1 577.81$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund: 482.88$
RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$: 1 671.27$
RBC Global Resources Fund: 786.61$
RBC O'Shaughnessy International Equity Fund:
643.62$
RBC O'Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity
Fund: 930.13$
GIC Canadian Market: 1 000$

TOTAL: 18 163.75$

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

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-free savings account + RRSP + Online Income (44.63$):
56 622.36$
[In date of November 21, 2009]

Everything is fine with Sprott Inc. (SII)

I actually call TD Waterhouse, asking them why I didn't received a DRIP from my dividend. My problem was that I was supposed to received the Sprott Inc. (SII) dividend in form of a DRIP, in order to acquire new stocks. But instead, I had received the whole dividend (12.57$ exactly lol) in cash. So I call TD Waterhouse once this weekend - but they couldn't help because of the weekend so I call back yesterday and I was told it should had probably put in a DRIP, but didn't... So I was all f*** up as you can imagine. But not later than this morning, what did I see... tadammmmm 2 brand new stocks of Sprott Inc. (SII) in my portfolio yeah! There you go. It was pretty easy to deal with TD Waterhouse regarding this situation, but I had to control myself not to start screeming at them... :)

So I was all wrong, Sprott Inc (SII) is definitely a good company and they are not s******. I am one, but not them... :))))))))))))))))

I had purchased yesterday 300 units of ENF.UN - Enbridge Income Fund and guess what, the investment increase of 75$ or so in one day.... Some got it and some doesn't lol

I place an order to purchase 300 units of Enbridge Income Fund

Yesterday, I took more than 3 500$ from my credit line and transfer the fund into my broker account and... I place an order to purchase 300 units of Enbridge Income Fund. My max price is 12$... So I am pretty happy with this purchase. After what, I won't invest again until next year.. So let's say my portfolio is now close and complete for 2009.

No news for Sprott Inc. (SII)

I don't know what's going on with Sprott Inc. (SII). I call TD Waterhouse, but I was told to call on Monday to find out what's going on, so verification can be made. But from my point of view, it's appear clearly: Sprott Inc. (SII) had canceled their DRIP program without letting know their shareholders. It's appear to be almost impossible that an error occur at TD Waterhouse since all data, DRIP, non-DRIP are being treated via their informatic system. So my Sprott Inc. dividend didn't DRIP because the DRIP program had been cancel by those f****** lol. Guess I won't be purchasing any Sprott mutual funds and/or any of their stocks anytime soon. I just cannot wait for their stocks to increase to the old 9$ so I can eventually sale all of my stocks and also, I want to sell my Sprott Canadian Equity mutual funds. The fund s*** just like managers are, s******. Got it? :))))

Lazy Sunday

I am having problems with Sprott

I didn’t find yet what’s going on with my Sprott dividend as I just wake up… Let’s say it’s an easy Sunday. But as soon as go outside, I am going to call TD Waterhouse, to ask what’s going on. I also have to make sure my DRIP is still on for all of my other investments. Remember what I said about the DRIP last time? It’s allowing me to earn an extra 100$ (more on less) directly from my investment portfolio.

Derek Foster fourth book: Stop working too, you still can!: safe beginner strategies from Canada’s millionaire investor a review by My First 50 000$

Yesterday was an easy day and I didn’t do much. Right now, I am just in need of time where I don’t do anything. I had purchased Derek Foster latest book: Stop working too, you still can!: safe beginner strategies from Canada’s millionaire investor. At first, the title sound weird at first for me, Derek Foster wasn’t a millionaire, but with his house which is mortgage free and his car, well, Derek Foster IS a millionaire. The title is catchy and funny. I had purchased Derek Foster book at Chapters on St-Catherine St. There’s still a couple of Derek Foster books waiting for you lol. I get through the reading of Stop working too, you still can!: safe beginner strategies from Canada’s millionaire investor easily. This one is easier than the Money for Nothing, which, I had to admit, didn’t understand too much. But as Derek Foster explains himself, Money for Nothing is more for sophistical investors, which I am truly not lol. So I prefer to stick to the basic and with things I can understand. Right now, a thing that I don’t understand is my Sprott dividends… And I am going to find out in a couple of minutes.

The reading of Stop working too, you still can!: safe beginner strategies from Canada’s millionaire investor was very funny for me because there’s a pat where Derek talk about banks and it make me laugh because well, I am now working for a bank lol.

Derek Foster had started a new project earlier this month: newsletters. There have been 2 so far, interesting as always published on his web site: stopworking.ca. Very nice and I think it’s good for him. So far, Derek Foster was making a great contribution on Canadian Business forum. So it’s good he gets to work a bit more for himself than for other and get a place where he can write over the Internet without being judge or attack.

There just one little thing I don’t understand about Derek Foster: where in the world are his Google AdSense ads?

As always at the end of his book, Derek presents an update of his portfolio. I made a lot of cash on Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN). And I first purchase Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN) because it was from Derek Foster portfolio. I had more than 3 000$ available to invest on my credit line. As you know, I wanted to invest in Brookfield Renewable Power Fund (BRC.UN) for a very long time. Earlier this week, I wanted to invest in 200 units of Brookfield Renewable Power Fund but I had to say, I wasn’t so sure of the pick and well, I didn’t invest in BRC.UN. While looking at Derek Foster portfolio update, I take a look and I find out that Derek was investing in Enbridge – put in their unit fund. So I guess I will be placing an order for 300 units of Enbridge Income Fund. But will place the order later on this evening, after calling TD Waterhouse.

Investing using my TD credit line: why do I do so? I love leverage

My 5 000$ loan at 8% with TD credit line require a minimum payment of 150$, which I can easily afford at this time with my 2 jobs. The other credit line I have at my job (at a super low interest rate) require a minimum of 100$. I can afford those payments. I am using leverage – but I only using what I can afford to pay.

Those it worth it? For me, the answer is yes, because the dividend covers the payment of the interest and it worth it all the way because my dividend are being reinvested. Reading Derek Foster fourth book just boost my confidence is the market.

About my latest investment and their dividend:

Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN): 100 units x 2.90$ (yearly dividend) = 290$
Enbridge Income Fund: 300 units x 1.15$ = 345$

290$ + 345$ = 635$

5 000$ at an interest rate of 8% = 400$ in interest

635$ - 400$ = 235$

I win 235$ in free money by using leverage. I will definitely place an order to purchase 300 units of Enbridge Income Fund. Units of Enbridge are cheaper than the real deal – Enbridge stocks (ENB). ENB stocks are at more than 40$ per stock… Can I afford it? The answer is no…. lol.

In conclusion for now

For now, I am going to call TD Waterhouse to find out what’s going on with Sprott and also, I am going to read my banking stuff at a café. And later on, I will place my order for 300 units of Enbridge Income Fund.

What’s going on with Sprott dividend?

So far, I had received Sprott dividend for its company Sprott Inc. (SII) without any problem. Just now, after giving a quick look to my very awesome stocks and units portfolio lolllllll, I just saw something new: my Sprott dividends were in. A little but very welcome 12.57$. No problem there. Extra cash is always welcome. But, the only problem is that I received the whole 12.57$ in cash. No dividend had been reinvested. How come?

Last time, my dividend of Sprott were reinvested, which allow be to get new Sprott stocks. But this time, the money was there, living in cash in my broker account. Maybe would they be reinvested on Monday? I really don’t know, but the whole thing is very strange. All of my dividend are being reinvested and a 12.57$ would had normally let me earn 3 extra stocks of Sprott. Could me that the DRIP program had been cancel by Sprott Inc. (SII)? I have to call TD Waterhouse tomorrow. I could call them now, but it’s cold outside and to tell the true, I am some kind of tired, even if I wake up late in the afternoon. My 9AM to midnight schedule is killing me.

I guess it’s possible. But in this case, as soon as the stock price of Sprott increase to the old 9$, I will be selling all of them. That’s for sure. I cannot talk for now since I don’t really know what’s going on but if Sprott cancel its DRIP plan without my authorization, it’s not going to be pretty at all lolll. I am in fire.