My next investment: Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (FC)

My non-registered portfolio closed last Friday session at 104 515$. Some interesting dividend had kick in recently also. I am also looking forward to make my next investment this week. After going through an article of Gordon Pape, I decided to invest in one of his proposals, Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (FC). The dividend yield is of a very good 7.464%, 1.01$ per share annually.

I decided to pick Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (FC) to add up to my dividend income. Currently, without adding any special dividend distribution, my annual dividend income is of 6 500$. I am trying to find a balance between picking good quality blue chips and a good dividend yield. Blue chips yes, but most of them pay very little in dividend and can be very boring to hold. So adding up some stuff like Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (FC) can help to provide diversification and a good dividend yield as well.

I had taught of adding some ENB, BA and VE in my portfolio, but for this upcoming investment, I have something between 500$ to 600$ to invest. FC stocks are cheap, and since I just had 500$-600$ to invest, I was looking for something of the price range of FC. FC closed last Friday session at a bit more than 12$ per share. This makes Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (FR) an affordable investment and top of all that, the chart is very good.

The advantage of being fully invested while being a retail investor middle class type of

There you go! Today, what I taught wouldn’t happen again actually happen, the TSX hit and even exceed the 12 000 points. The effect on my non-registered portfolio? Absolutely spectacular! My non-registered portfolio close today session at a very great 104 177.01$. That’s my market value. My book value is of 113 277$. I am still at a -9 099.99$ behind. However, I find this quite good. At least, I didn’t lost more money and under the 10k mark, it’s really not that bad.

And it’s exactly the reason why I decided to move forward with my investment projects. Paying off debt is good for people who don’t know what to do with their money. Remaining high quality stocks focus is what’s going to help me to cover up that 9k lost, not paying off debt.

This is a problem that is specific to my own personal financial situation. Being fully invested brings in multiple challenges. And recovering from August 2011 latest stock crash is something that is among the challenges I am facing. So while being fully invested, I decided to continue just like before.

Luckily, the TSX will gain again shortly more points and when it happen, I will be hitting the old 113 277$ stocks value. Imagine that: 113 277$ worth in stocks! Yeahhhh

No matter how excited I am, the TSX remains extremely volatile. The smartest of all like Jean-François Tardif are not fully invested. Tardif himself is 30% invested and I am 100%. So why that? What’s that wrong with me? Nothing that much, just that the middle class retail investor that I am was willing to hit the jack pot. That’s really just all. While facing a 9k lost in my portfolio, there’s no way out for me. By staying in the stock market, by remaining fully invested by keeping investing whenever I have a chance, I significantly increase my chances to recover from that 9k lost that I currently experimenting in my portfolio.

It’s too late for me but for a fresh starter, it could worth it to be sensible to the fact Jean-François Tardif is invested at 30% of his full potential. Because while having million in cash, it’s better not to play with richness. But while being poor middle class, I think the best way to go is to remain in the market because anyway, I don’t have millions, I am only playing on a getting closer 200k portfolio. Fun? Kind of, but it’s certainly interesting. Just go get what you want.

From Dividend Girl to hunting babe: how I spent my Thanksgiving Day

My father had been a hunter for many years and on Thanksgiving Day, we went hunting a bird we commonly name in French "perdrix". That will be in English I believe partridges hunting. We also seek for deers, but that type of hunting is much more difficult. As you can see Thanksgiving Day was a beautiful day here in New Brunswick:

We ride in those type of trails in the wood for several hours, hunting for partridges. We got one partridge :0)

Those are deer traces. That's all we saw from deers that day. We only saw their traces.

This is salt for the deers.

Beautiful blue sky isn't?

I knew you were about to just LOVE New Brunswick and me the new hunting babe.

Happy Thanksgiving

The week passed by too quickly. I had been quite busy at work, so no matter how bad the market was doing, I just wasn’t there. My margin account situation is still stable, no margin called yet. I had give a call to TD Waterhouse to provide my work number as secondary number. I no longer have a cell phone. So in case of a margin call, the TD margin guy will call me directly at work. Lovely.

Here in New Brunswick, I cannot use Chatr Wireless. I had a prepaid service with Chatr Wireless, which is a Rogers Communication company. I like Chatr. I had a cheap unlimited plan. But knowing that winter is coming and I am going to be driving all winter long, it could be a good thing to have a cell phone. It’s something I am thinking of at this time.

My portfolio situation had remained stable despite having the TSX acting completely crazy. My non-registered portfolio closed today session at more than 100k, actually quite similar to my latest portfolio update in date of September 30. I had received a good pay cheque, but I wasn’t able to use any of the money for investment purposes. I had a 1 800$ credit card balance to pay, so each and single pennies went on the credit card. I am ready for a fresh start as my expenses are going to be much more stable now that all set with my moving and stuff.

My latest investment in Canadian National Railway Co (CNR) had performed very well and at this time, the only thing I want is just to invest more... at more than 85k in debt, the only think that keep going in my mind is to invest more, despite all the blabla I wrote about paying off debt.

My investment experience in 2008 following my first ever stock crash had been quite rewarding. And despite having more in debt that I could even believe, I still think that investing is the way to go. I keep blogging pretty much the same thing over and over again. This could be a major failure of my part to hold that much debt, but the temptation to invest and live again the same rewarding thing of the after 2008, well, that’s quite huge. I don’t want to pay my debt, I want to increase my portfolio, margin account value and dividend earnings all in one.

Canadian National Railway Co (CNR) had been a spectacular pick. I had invested in CNR when the stock price was a bit more than 65$... and CNR stock value is now at 72$ and some cents. And it’s not because I am a good stock picker. It’s only because I am an adventurous stock picker. The reason I like to invest in different companies and different sectors is that I have a true feeling that it’s how I am able to take the stock market at my advantage.

After reading, looking at the market ups and downs, after listening to Jean-François Tardif latest interview, well, I still think that the market offer good opportunities at this time. The only thing is that I cannot invest the same way I was investing before. I cannot remain exclusively dividend focus. Actually, it’s now better to just forget about the dividend and concentrate at picking good quality blue chips that will increase in value overtime to bring more stability in my portfolio in term of value. That could sound easy, but picking up the best for my portfolio is not easy.

I already own some very good quality stocks with stuff like TRP, CNR, FTS, X, PPL, ENF just to name those few. The only problem being that I need to bring other good stuff in. So what am I going to bring in to my already good portfolio? :0) Well, I taught about adding a few things:

Veresen Inc. (VSN), Bell Aliant Inc. (BA) and Enbridge (ENB). I talked several times as Enbridge (ENB) as new investment and I think it will be the perfect investment to add in at this time because of its so perfect chart.

I already own a lot of pipeline stocks at this time. But right now, I really need to add blue chips in and Enbridge (ENB) will be able to bring in what I need. It’s just unfortunate Enbridge doesn’t pay more in dividend. But hey, I am no longer dividend focus am I.

TD Canada Trust best offer for TD Visa credit card balance transfer: 2.9% interest rate!

I am tightly holding behind me a massive 85k+ in debt so when I learned about this today, I was really happy. I currently had an 8 000$ with TD Visa at the special interest rate of 4.9% resulting from a credit card balance transfer.

I call today TD Visa because I couldn’t find where I had put the expiration date for my latest transfer. So that’s how I learn the great news. My current credit card balance transfer is about to end on October 26. I always do it in advance. So I just call RBC Visa to get 5 000$ transfer from TD Visa to RBC Visa. The transfer will take between 2 to 3 business days to be complete. In the meantime, RBC Visa interest rate is something like 19%+. So my 5k will be at 19% for 2-3 days. It usually go pretty quick. I will watch my RBC Visa tomorrow and if doesn’t happen tomorrow, it will be good I guess for Friday. I don’t mind paying 19% if it’s just for a couple of days.

I had before a 10 000$ limit with RBC Visa, but not anymore since I now have a credit line of 10 000$ with them. My RBC Visa had been reduced to 5 000$ ONLY. Which suck of course when it comes to credit card balance transfer. I complete a first credit card balance transfer with RBC Visa.

Following what, I call the folks at CIBC Visa. I explain what I wanted to do, a 3 000$ credit card balance transfer from TD Visa to CIBC Visa. But at CIBC Visa, the delay can be of up to 5 weeks. And their interest rate for cash advance there is even higher, something like 21% if I am not mistaking. Can you imagine waiting up to 5 weeks for a credit card balance transfer. It’s totally unacceptable CIBC Visa!

My other credit cards are not Visa, so it’s not working for credit card balance transfer.

When doing a credit card balance transfer, to keep it simple, I suggest to proceed from Visa-to-Visa only because I once was told that there’s an extra fee when you proceed from Mastercard-to-Visa or vice versa.

I am now a specialist of credit card balance transfer. Over the years, I received many credit card balance offer from CIBC Visa, TD Visa and also RBC Visa. I love it and each time, I like to benefit of the low interest rate.

One major thing you need to know about credit card balance transfer is: keep your account in good standard. Don’t exceed the balance authorize and ALWAYS make your minimum payment on time. If not, it could result in the cancellation of the special low interest rate. Which mean you could go from a super low 2.9% to a super high 19%. And you certainly don’t want that to happen.

So I proceed with a 5 000$ transfer today from TD Visa to RBC Visa. Once the amount appears in my RBC Visa, dring dring, I call again TD Visa and make the transfer from RBC Visa to TD Visa. Once the amount go back on the TD Visa, I call RBC Visa to complete the last 3 000$ left. This meaning I will after transfer 3 000$ from my TD Visa to RBC Visa and again, wait for the transfer to be completed. Once completed, I call again dring dring dring TD Visa, hello TD, please transfer 3 000$ from my RBC Visa to you guys!

Sound complicated? It’s truly not.

While doing credit card balance transfer, it’s easier to proceed simply over the phone because TD Visa doesn’t have at this time – at least I didn’t receive – promotional TD Visa cheque at 2.9% for 6 months.

I under process for 5 000$. After it will be for 3 000$ and in 6 months, I will be doing the same thing all over again... youhou.......

I LOVE CREDIT CARD BALANCE TRANSFER!

TD Visa has the stuff you need!

TSX roller coaster ride

These days, seem like investors are going through the same things over and over again: stock crash after stock crash after stock crash. So yesterday, hearing about Jean-François Tardif, well, it was a nice way to sheer up the little retail investors like myself who are fully invested. Anyway, today was absolutely crazy. Time is flying by, and during that time, a lot of stuff is happening on the market.

Take today for example. Just like usual, I took a quick sneak at the stock market while being at work. Oh the terrible me! In the morning, I saw that massive lost. Nothing unusual. Really not. The day passed by, 4pm, hit back home, log in to my laptop, check out my portfolio. Nothing had been sell under the pressure of a margin call or a margin call with no call lol... I do care about my portfolio however but going under this crisis day after day after day. It’s really terrible and it’s 10 times harder that what I had gone through following the 2008 stock crash.

This time is harder because my portfolio is larger and that margin thing of mine is not helping in any way. To end this on a positive note, the TSX gain some points in the late afternoon and again, I taught, no one of TD is going to call me today. Not today.

For Jean-François Tardif, former hedge fund manager: cash is king

This is quite huge. Who could know? In those difficult times, Jean-François Tardif, ex super star hedge fund manager is holding 70% of his portfolio in cold cash! Jean-François Tardif the master of the TSX himself is only holding 30% of his portfolio in stocks and bonds. JUST 30%. Read it here.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I am following Jean-François Tardif like no one else out there. See, it happen that the guy is quite mysterious but even there, he managed do some comebacks from time to time, a Jean-François Tardif fresh band news pop up. And of course, I am reading it all. And this time, Jean-François Tardif is getting back to the basic of investment: cash. Jean-François Tardif is not investing in silver, not even in gold.

So seem like my decision to pay off debt until the end of 2011 is a good decision after all. Don’t you think so?

I am a f genius. LOL.

Oh, and by the way, Jean-François Tardif also said that a 5-6% will be the average portfolio return in the next couple of years. A 5-6% per year. Not 7. Not 8. Not 9. Just a tiny little 5 to 6%.

INCREDIBLE.

At this time, I think I will just leave my portfolio the way it is and pay on my massive debt because gees, Jean-François Tardif himself has more than 70% of his portfolio in CASH. We got this incredible chance, us, retail investors, to know what’s going on with Jean-François Tardif. The millionaire is holding not stock, but cash!!!! We have to take that in huge consideration.

At this time, the best thing I can for my little self is to pay off some debt. That’s what I will be doing in the next couple of weeks.

I am extremely happy to have discovered this today. Because in case you didn’t know, here at the Dividend Girl blog, we’re HUGE fan of Jean-François Tardif and the fact that Jean-François is a Quebecker doesn’t change anything in that.

LOL.

I know I know... I SO BAD AND SO BLESS at the same time.

I am happy to see Jean-François Tardif off the market a little because being in it, being fully invested is really not easy at this time. I am able to go through this because I am now at home in New Brunswick, I am not getting here the stress of the city. Here, I can live my market stress by looking at trees of my backyard.

I don’t know how things will turn out but I know for sure that getting a view from Jean-François Tardif himself is kind of a release. I don’t think he would have appreciated managing an hedge fund in those market conditions. Got to admire the man if you’re not stupid 100% fully invested (which I am unfortunately am).

They call it a bear market

They call it a bear market. And myself, I don’t know how to name the description we’re living in at this time. I did not expect to be so bad. I did not expect to lose more than 16 000$ on the market. It was not planned; it wasn’t supposed to happen to me. This is not my destiny. This is not how I had plan things to be like. I was supposed to have it easy. Not soo hard. I had been doing so well and now, the hard work is, for now – gone with the wind. In a matter of just a couple of weeks, I went from a beautiful 160k in asset to the now you know what.

I am not totally in desperation, but... This is king of hard and it’s getting harder each single time the TSX is taking a hit. I am being punch down like if a dragon would be punching my stomach over and over again.

In my live, nothing is very much easy. I took a nice summer vacations at the end of July. When I came back, I got hit by behind by the August stock crash. Months pass, but the situation is not getting better – but that being just for the portfolio life. Because if you are asking me about my personal life, well strangely, it never been better.

I never taught it would had become possible for me to change job, to get even a better one and, even better, get that better job in a better province other than Quebec. That being in New Brunswick of course.

But it seem like I cannot have it all.

Good night.

Dealing with a massive 85 168.13$ worth of debt

I am currently at 85 168.13$. That amount do not include my current credit card balance of 1 854.55$ because I manage to pay my credit card balance every month. So my official amount of debt is of an awfully high 87 022.68$. Many things explain that high level of debt: my move from New Brunswick to Montreal, my little trip to Ottawa just before leaving, the visit of my mom to Montreal, shopping, my one time car insurance payment for the full year (1 300$)... All those things had significantly increased my debt level. 

At 85 168.13$, I am the highest I had never been in debt. Another factor that is not helping in all this is the situation regarding the TMX Group Inc. (X). I had purchased some X stocks back in February 2011 using my margin account money, hoping to get rich over the London Stock Exchange deal. Unfortunately, the merger project got cancel, and now the Maple Group acquisition project is still pending.

September 30, 2011 was supposed to be the closing date for TMX investors to choose between a maximum of cash or a maximum of stocks... I had picked a maximum of cash option in order to reduce the money I borrowed on my margin and also to make a good profit out of the sale. But here again, it did not happen. So fact that the deal did not go through yet is not helping my situation is any way. If the deal would have gone through, my debt level would be at 80k right now. Not 85k.

Many factors are not helping me in the management of my debt.

It could take several months before the TMX-Maple Group go through. In the mean time, I decided to hold. TMX stock value is stable and could even increase in the next couple months. I don’t feel that selling is an obligation at this time but at the same time, I feel that I need to do something about my debt. And at the same time, I still have planned ahead my next investment – probably in Enbridge (ENB).

So what am I going to do about this mess? :0)

Well, after studying at the numbers, I think – for once – that I will be looking forward at reducing my debt level until the end of year 2011, hoping that in the mean time, the Maple Group-TMX deal will go through.

My debt situation on date of October 2, 2011

8 830.15$ at a low interest rate of 4.75% (RRSP credit line rates) = 419.43$ in annual interest

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

7 790$ on a TD Canada Trust credit card at a low interest rate of 4.9% (result of a credit card balance transfer) = 381.71$ in annual interest

7 238.77$ at low interest rate loan at 5.50% (student loan) = 398.13$ in annual interest

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

10 000$ at 7.52% (credit line rates) = 752$ in annual interest

46 409.21$ at a low interest rates of 4.25% (margin money coming from TD Water house): =
1 972.39$ in annual interest

TOTAL: 85 168.13$

TOTAL in annual interest: 4 119.66$
[In date of October 2, 2011]