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Saturday, November 13, 2010

My review of Derek Foster latest book: The Idiot Millionaire

It wasn’t at the Montreal Chapters yet, so I order Derek Foster latest book online through his Web site last weekend. I am in Montreal, and I received the book on the following Wednesday. It took me a short 3 business days before being able to read the one and only useful financial book! I keep talking about Derek Foster over and over again on my blog but it’s for a good reason: Derek Foster books are what had made my profit EXPLODE! If it wouldn’t be of Derek Foster, I would still be investing in mutual funds – but mutual funds only. Would be surprise by the amount of people who had send me emails saying that Derek Foster books also help them in their financial journey.

Anyhow, this time, I am mentioning “the” name, Derek Foster, because I finish the reading of Derek Foster The Idiot Millionaire.

What’s Derek Foster The Idiot Millionaire book is about?

Well, The Idiot Millionaire is a nice continuation of Derek Foster first book Stop Working: Here’s how you can! If you a fan of the Stop Working or even if you are not aware of Derek Foster work, you can easily begin by reading The Idiot Millionaire, you won’t get lost. And actually, The Idiot Millionaire is even better because for the first time ever, Derek Foster provides the symbol ticket of the companies is taking about (because before, Derek Foster was not provided the ticket and I had to do my own search to find the ticket symbol!).

Because yes, just like in his previous books, Derek Foster provide an update version of his very own investment portfolio (very precious and valuable information!!). Also, Derek Foster propose a series of individual US and Canadian stocks for perfect, not to say “idiot”, but for people like me – and maybe like yourself who’s reading this blog right now – who are complete stranger to the stock market.

2010 mark by second year investing in the stock market and yes, even after a short but intense 2 year trading period, I still consider myself a complete idiot of the stock market. Being not sure about everything keeps me in a secure position where I can, as an “idiot” wanna be millionaire, react to anything that I wasn’t expecting – a laid off from BMO Bank of Montreal, of a 2 000 points loses from the TSX. The idiot attitude is actually the best attitude to have while investing because in the past couple of years, many events (like the 2008 market crash) had proof that even experts can be idiots. And we can certainly name here Henri-Paul Rousseau. Another stupid Quebeckers, just like my late fellow of BMO Bank of Montreal (BMO). When it come to finance, Quebeckers had no skills. Why? Because they have that super arrogant attitude toward everything. Quebeckers don’t have the “idiot” attitude and that’s why they are falling in everything they do and that’s exactly why they will keep falling. But that’s something else, isn’t

Ok, so here I am coming – back in 2008, Henri-Paul Rousseau was the president and chief executive officer of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. Actually, Henri-Paul Rousseau had been the president and chief executive officer of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec for the period of 2002-2008. In 2008, following the bad management of Henri-Paul Rousseau and the heavy stock crash, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec had lost more than 40 billion of dollars! Despite heavy losses, no criminal accusations had been put against Henri-Paul Rousseau. At the time of the events, Jean Charest was prime minister of Quebec – yes, the same one who had used his political power to name a few of his friends in important governmental position. The one and only Jean Charest, the one who fail to buy New Brunswick Energy Power.

In his fabulous The Idiot Millionaire, Derek Foster had made what I will consider – only from my personal point of view of course – a huge mistake. At page 51 of The Idiot Millionaire, Derek Foster name Power Financial (PWF) as a potential investment. Investing in Power Financial (PWF) would be a huge mistake! Please be aware that after leaving the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in a rush in 2008, Henri-Paul Rousseau had been hired at the Power Financial (PWF) as a Vice-Chairman! Can you believe? This is the same guy who makes Quebeckers loose millions of dollars!

Power Financial (PWF) had that very conservative way to manage their business. They have a profitable business, but that’s only because the company is a major stockholder of other companies like Manuvie who currently are not doing well at all on the stock market right now.

I really appreciate Derek Foster work, but you definitively need to do your part of the search before investing! But don’t you ever worry, I am here to help you. I am going to show you “how you can” like a real New Brunswicker (because I am a real one).

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Me and my debt: how about a margin account with TD Waterhouse?

Here it is, the update you were all waiting for… lol… The “debt situation” update for November 2010! I finish work early today and I am glad I did because tomorrow, some construction is being done in the area and they will be cutting the water at 9am… I usually wake up at 9:30-9:45am to take a shower… Just very glad I actually saw the notice. I sometime skip the morning shower, but never more than 2 mornings in the row…But do you really need more details on my personal hygiene?

As I previously said, I am at 45$k in debt, more exactly 45382.49$. Fact is, I don’t update my debt situation on a regular basis. What I prefer to update is, of course, my investment portfolio.

I hold 45 382.49$ in debt, and my investment portfolio is at 116 389.70$:

116 389.70$ - 45 382.49$ = 71 007.21$

My net worth is at 71 007.21$, which I find good. Not to forget also my dividend income, that is now at more than 5 000$. Nothing to compare to the Dividend Lover, but still…

For me, this overall scheme work quite well, in the sense that I can feel a balance between the debt and the investment. The 10 000$ is my latest credit line at RBC Royal Bank at an interest of 7.27%. At this point of the journey, I am looking forward to find a way to decrease, not my debt level, but the interest gain on the debt.

This was a suggestion made by the Dividend Lover himself a little while ago: to use margin money with TD Waterhouse to pay off debt. I keep thinking about this one over and over again and the plan could work. Here’s the deal: set up a margin account, use the margin money to pay off debt. In this case, I would start small. I would like to begin with a 5 000$ (or less, depending the amount available on the margin) to pay off my 5 000$ TD credit line at 8.75%. 8.75% is quite a huge interest rate. In case of a margin call, I would just reverse the money from the TD Canada Trust credit line to the TD Waterhouse margin account… In order words, the margin account would be used to pay off debt, and not to invest. I find this trick quite interesting. So far, what had stop me from opening a margin account is the responsibility of having to access my online broker account every single night in order to verify if I am on margin call terrify me. But now that fear is less because I told myself: I look into my broker account every single night of the week anyway. So looking into my stocks and dividend or checking if I am on a margin call or not – there’s no difference!

Margin borrowing is definitively something I am looking into to decrease the interest rate of some of my debt. So stay tune!

My debt situation in date of November 9, 2010

9 671.43$ at 4.75% (RSP credit line) = 459.39$ in annual interest
4 900$ at 4% (credit line) = 196$ in annual interest
7 957.05$ at 4.9% ending in April 2011 = 389.90$ in annual interest
4 911$ at 8.75% (credit line) = 429.71$ in annual interest
7 943.01$ at 5.50% (student loan) = 436.87$ in annual interest
10 000$ at 7.27% (credit line) = 727$ in annual interest

TOTAL: 45 382.49$
TOTAL in annual interest: 2 638.87$
[In date of November 9, 2010]

I am now at 116 389.70$

Today, a couple of extraordinary things happen. First the TSX close at it’s highest ever for 2010. The TSX had exceed the 13 000 points! That was for the first thing.

As for the second, I am very proud to announce that I now totally recover from my lost with the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund. About 2 years ago, I had invested 7 000$ in the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund. Currently, my investment in the Sprott mutual fund worth 7 044.99$! FINALLY! HOURRAA!

Third, I had reached the payout of 100$ (even a bit more) for my online incoming without writing anything new on HubPages. I am in need of a good pair of winter boots for this winter. I spot a nice Columbia one for 99.99$. I should be able to make my purchase shortly…

Fourth, the Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN) had close at more than 6$ per unit today! How great is that?

Fifth, I have to go to bed now if not I won’t be able to wake up tomorrow. Chow chow! (And yes, I am going to update the debt section, but it will be tomorrow or another day).

My stock investment portfolio in date of November 8, 2010

Savings:
134$

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio
Sprott Inc. (SII): 3 418.80$
Timminco (TIM): 88$
Blue Note Mining (BNT): 54$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 5 852.90$
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): 88.50$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 3 022.02$
Fortis (FTS): 3 595.20$
Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL):
9 107.91$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 11 788.35$
Yellow Media Inc. (YLO): 2 966.70$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund
(BA.UN): 5 294$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 2 745.11$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 5 259.72$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 3 095.40$
Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN):
3 820$
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):
2 888.64$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 5 965.68$
Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U): 2 224$
Cash: 0.86$

TOTAL: 71 275.79$

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
RBC O’Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund:
2 905.92$
The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund
(CWI.UN): 2 660.65$
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund:
7 044.99$
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): 330.63$
Cash: 70.67$

TOTAL: 13 012.86$

RSP investment portfolio:
Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL): 4 289.22$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 2 968$
Emera Incorporated (EMA): 6 297.48$
Cash: 58.64$

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: 540.04$
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: 458.76$
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: 1 040$

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

GIC National Bank: 1 147.42$
GIC Plus: 500$

TD Canadian Bond: 117.64$
TD Monthly Income: 109.73$
TD Emerging Markets: 93.23$
TD Energy: 89.84$
TD Precious Metals: 146.72$
TD Latin American Growth: 108.43$
TD Entertainment and Communications: 120.03$
TD Dividend Growth: 205.30$
TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth: 109.03$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund
(Templeton): 668.18$
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: 908.61$
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: 1 061.01$
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund: 1 029.86$
Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund: 644.05$

Great-West – various: 1 751.69$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund: 539.96$
RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$: 1 891.65$
RBC Global Resources Fund: 1 091.20$
RBC O’Shaughnessy International Equity Fund:
662.35$
RBC O’Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity
Fund: 1 169.05$

GIC Canadian Market: 1 000$

TOTAL: 31 822.64$

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

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-
free Savings account + RRSP + Online Income
(104.41$):
116 389.70$

Saturday, November 6, 2010

The new way to invest in silver: the Sprott Physical Silver Trust

It’s been a quiet weekend. After work, I directly go to Montreal Chapter store to find a copy of Derek Foster latest book The Idiot Millionaire, but it wasn’t there yet. I spend a bit of time there, and than go back home. I start reading more about my latest investment, the Sprott Physical Silver Trust. It’s actually really interesting! Just like gold, silver is gaining in value and it’s seemed like precious metals are going to gain even more value in the upcoming months. Investing in product like the Sprott Physical Silver Trust and the Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL) can definitively bring extra security to a stock portfolio.

I had experiment some money lost in investment like Sprott Inc. (SII), Timminco (TIM), Blue Note Mining (BNT), Hanwei Energy Services (HE) and Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI). With Sprott Inc. (SII), I am confident that I will soon recover from my loses, but when It come to other investments like Timminco (TIM), Blue Note Mining (BNT), Hanwei Energy Services (HE) and Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI), I am not that sure. For those 4 investments, the timing was just bad. But I do not consider those investments as being “bad investment”. There’s always a reason behind my choices. I will continue to hold Timminco (TIM), Blue Note Mining (BNT) and Hanwei Energy Services (HE) for the upcoming months. I don’t think that the money los can really be greater than what it is now lol… But I consider selling Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI). Why? Because I have enough Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI).

I had invested in Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI) stocks back in the summer of 2009. Back in the time, on one specific day, the Dumont Nickel company stock value had suddenly jumps. That’s what catches at first my interest. Also, at the time, I was short in cash and I taught that investing in a penny stock could be a good thing… Not that my investment in Dumont Nickel was a bad one, but I wanted to make quick money for the summer. It was experimentation for me. It’s been more than a year now and I still didn’t make money out of Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI)…

Currently, I hold Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI) in my Tax-free savings account (TFSA). The value of the investment is of 330.63$. I currently hold 70.67$ (cash) in my Tax-free savings account. I was thinking about selling Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI) and invest, instead, in 35 units of the Sprott Physical Silver Trust. I am pretty sure I could easily recover from my capital lost by doing so. It’s something I am thinking about doing, without really knowing for sure if it’s what I am going to do next.

But what I know for sure, after reading about the Sprott Physical Silver Trust, I am looking to invest more in it next month. And I may invest more in gold. With the result of the elections in the US, nothing is safe anymore. The Democrates of Barack Obama had lost some representative and a bunch of Republicans are now name in the Congress. Way too much Republicans. So be ready for the worst: invest in gold and silver. Go for the Sprott Physical Silver Trust and the Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL) to protect your assets from the bad Republicans.

I am now at 115 048.14$

Wow! What a week! I am working like crazy these last couple of days. There’s still overtime available for the next couple of weeks. I am expecting to do extra hours and, of course, invest it all in my portfolio…

I had received 78.32$ in dividend from Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN).

My blog is really the place where I can think about my finance so I hope you won’t mind if I sometime I change my plans… My last investment was supposed to be in the Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN), but I had changed my mind after following, for the last couple of days, the Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U).

The Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U) is the latest addiction to the Sprott Management Asset family. The trust start back in October 2010 and since that time, the Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U) units keep gaining in value. I learn about the Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U) just a couple of days ago – that’s why I didn’t have the chance to write about it earlier.

Oh, and talking about writing…. Derek Foster had published his 5th book! Derek Foster latest book is title The Idiot Millionaire and seem to be full of investment ideas! Yeah! I like the title! Its match well with my way to invest, idiot, but millionaire. Or future millionaire. What do you think?

Today, I had purchased 200 units of the Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U) at 10.73$... The Sprott Physical Silver Trust had closed the day at 10.84$. If you want my point of view, the Sprott Physical Silver Trust is a very good investment. There’s just something I don’t understand too much about it. The Sprott Physical Silver Trust, under the ticket PHS.UN trade in Canadian currency, but when I place my order, a message appears… I didn’t have time to take note of it as I was in a hurry to place my order but there’s something special about that Sprott Physical Silver Trust. It will make a good contribution in kind for my RRSP.

Some readers had requested info about my debt, I guess I am roughly around 45 000$ or something like it. And no, I am not looking forward to pay my debt, only invest, invest, invest. Go baby go.

Watch out carefully the Sprott Physical Silver Trust. I have a feeling I am going to make some great cash with this one. A tip coming from the Idiot Dividend Girl. ;0)))

My investment portfolio in date of November 5, 2010

Savings:
134$

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio
Sprott Inc. (SII): 3 273.76$
Timminco (TIM): 79$
Blue Note Mining (BNT): 56$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 5 835.78$
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): 91.50$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 3 019.96$
Fortis (FTS): 3 558.82$
Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL):
8 809.01$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 11 681.53$
Yellow Media Inc. (YLO):
2 962.05$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund
(BA.UN): 5 282$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 2 694.47$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 5 310.60$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 3 121.53$
Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN):
3 860$
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):
2 896.80$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 5 829$
Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U): 2 168$
Cash: 88.86$

TOTAL: 70 618.67$

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
RBC O’Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund:
2 889.35$
The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund
(CWI.UN): 2 480.48$
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund:
6 883.71$
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): 330.63$
Cash: 70.67$

TOTAL: 12 654.84$

RSP investment portfolio:
Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL): 4 252.04$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 2 900$
Emera Incorporated (EMA): 6 134.28$
Cash: 58.64$

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: 537.21$
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: 459.62$
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: 1 035.42$

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

GIC National Bank: 1 147.42$
GIC Plus: 500$

TD Canadian Bond: 117.81$
TD Monthly Income: 109.33$
TD Emerging Markets: 93.23$
TD Energy: 89.29$
TD Precious Metals: 143.15$
TD Latin American Growth: 108.89$
TD Entertainment and Communications: 119.47$
TD Dividend Growth: 204.33$
TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth: 108.47$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund
(Templeton): 670.98$
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: 907.02$
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: 1 053.72$
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund: 1 021.14$
Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund: 645.06$

Great-West – various: 1 751.69$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund: 537.40$
RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$: 1 890.47$
RBC Global Resources Fund: 1 081.39$
RBC O’Shaughnessy International Equity Fund:
665.71$
RBC O’Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity
Fund: 1 160.28$

GIC Canadian Market: 1 000$

TOTAL: 31 508.98$

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

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-
free Savings account + RRSP + Online Income
(91.65$):
115 048.14$

Friday, November 5, 2010

Welcome Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U), 200 units of PHS.UN in my online future trading brokerage!

Hello all! I just place my first 9.99$ trade with TD Waterhouse! It was supposed to be yesterday, but I just wasn't able to get out of bed on time...

I purchase 200 units of the Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U). I know... I had previously target Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN), but I was willing to add something I wasn't already holding and I find PHS.UN a nice way to diversify even more my portfolio...

So welcome to the Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U)!

Anyway, we will talk about it later on this evening. Got to run for work.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Geting ready for my first 9.99$ trade with TD Waterhouse

Yep... it is tomorrow.. or should I say today, since it's already 1:14am... I just received a good paycheck, very close to the 1 000$ and early morning, I should be good to place my order to get 100 brand new units of Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN). After what, I will have available 647$ on my TD credit line to place another investment next month.

I just had received Bank of Scotia (BNS) dividend of 52.43$.

Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN) had turn into a corporation. The change appear in my broker account. I now hold my units under the name Yellow Media Inc., the new ticket being YLO.

I finish work late as I am working overtime to purchasing you know what. I hope to be able to place another trade next month too.
 

Thank you

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