Welcoming a nice $336,268.16 net worth for Christmas

The TSX closed today's session on a very good 21,218.93 points. I was happy to see the TSX being back in the 21,000 points. I knew I wasn't going to exceed my top-of-the-notch results of November 8 with a pretty $340,312.77 net worth, but I have to say that I am quite satisfied anyway with my current $336,268.16 net worth. My margin debt is at a reasonable $46,458.03. I just transfer a $2,000 contribution over my RRSP account. I would like to invest maybe another $1,500 in my RRSP for 2021.

Earlier today, I received an alert from my Yahoo Finance application. That's how I learned that today, Boyd Group Services Inc. (BYD) gained 5.02%, Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) hits an all-time high at $75.04, as well as Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), which hits a cool all-time high very super close to the $90, at $89.59.

I just notice a few days ago that JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN) is going to pay a special distribution this year. The word "dividend" is never been used, but I guess this is a dividend distribution. All I can say is: BRING IT ON. It was about time! The last time JFS.UN paid a little something to its investors, it was in 2019. I am however super grateful and I happily welcome ANY amount of money, coming from anywhere, JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN).

I am enjoying a couple days off from work. Today, the weather was super cold outside. In this late evening, the temperature is currently at -26. I don't remember seeing the temperature this low during winter for a long time. It's actually the first winter in about 10 years that I am spending in New Brunswick, so I haven't seen a real cold winter in quite some time.

I now have super good amounts of cash inside both my RRSP and TFSA portfolios. I don't have real specific investment ideas at this time, but I am not in a hurry. I may even invest the money in  JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN). 

I must admit, I had problems of my own with JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN). I really wanted to be very successful on that investment, but JFS.UN is not exactly the kind of explosive investment that will bring on $$$. On the other hand,  JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN) is very reliable. During downturns, JFS.UN unit values always remain strong. I wouldn't mind at all investing the couple of thousands I have at my disposal in JFS.UN, until the value of stock drops off a little.

My investment portfolio on date of December 23, 2021

Cold cash: $6,666.93

Stocks and Units investment portfolio $CAN 

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)

Methanex Corporation (MX)

Fortis Inc. (FTS)

Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL)

iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index (XRE)

New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI)

TMX Group Inc. (X)

K-Bro Linen Inc. (KBL)

TransCanada Corp (TRP)

Canadian National Railway Co (CNR)

Enbridge Inc. (ENB)

Emera Inc. (EMA)

Saputo Inc. (SAP)

Loblaw Companies (L)

Savaria Corporation (SIS)

WSP Global Inc. (WSP)

George Weston Limited (WN)

Power Corporation of Canada Subordinate Voting Shares (POW)

National Bank of Canada (NA)

TOTAL: $135,308.54

Stocks and Units investment portfolio $US:

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B)

General Mills Inc. (GIS)

Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund (VONG)

Pfizer Inc. (PFE) 

TOTAL: $4,614.88 US: $5,898.74 CAN

 

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):

Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI)

CT Real Estate Investment Trust (CRT.UN)

Canadian National Railway Co (CNR)

Exchange Income Corporation (EIF)

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (BIP.UN)

Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners L.P. (BEP.UN)

Andrew Peller Limited (ADW.A)

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD)

Boyd Group Services Inc. (BYD)

Canadian Apartment Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (CAR.UN)

Data Communications Mgmt (DCM)

Morneau Shepell Inc. (MSI)

Royal Bank of Canada (RY)

Park Lawn Corporation (PLC)

Toromont Industries Ltd (TIH)

BCE Inc. (BCE)

Boralex Inc. Class A Shares (BLX)

Savaria Corporation (SIS)

Northland Power Inc. (NPI)

Calian Group Ltd. (CGY)

Canadian Utilities Limited (CU)

WSP Global Inc. (WSP)

Granite Real Estate Investment Trust (GRT.UN)

Cargojet Inc. (CJT)

Nutrien Ltd. (NTR)

TFI International Inc. (TFII)

Canadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce (CM)

SIR Royalty Income Fund (SRV.UN)

ATCO Ltd. (ACO.Y)

Aecon Group Inc. (ARE)

Brookfield Asset Management Inc. Class A Limited Voting Shares (BAM.A)

Metro Inc. (MRU)

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (ATD.A)

Fortis Inc. (FTS)

CGI Inc. (GIB.A)

TMX Group Limited (X)

Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation Class A Exchangeable Subordinate Voting Shares (BIPC)

Brookfield Renewable Corporation Class A Exchangeable Subordinate Voting Shares (BEPC)

Suncor Energy Inc. (SU)

Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI.B)

Telus Corp (T)

JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN)

Bitcoin Fund The Class A units (QBTC)

Purpose Bitcoin ETF CAD ETF non-currency hedged units (BTCC.B)

3iQ CoinShares Ether ETF (ETHQ)

Tilray Inc (TLRY)

PFB Corporation (PFB)

North West Company Inc. (The) (NWC)

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)

National Bank of Canada (NA)

Stelco Holdings Inc. (STLC)

Hammond Manufacturing Company Limited Class A Subordinate Voting Shares (HMM.A)

TOTAL: $127 970,09

RSP investment portfolio: 

Emera Incorporated (EMA)

Ovintiv Inc. (OVV)

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD)

Telus Corp (T)

Royal Bank of Canada (RY)

Savaria Corporation (SIS)

Thomson Reuters Corporation (TRI)

Park Lawn Corporation (PLC)

Richards Packaging Income Fund (RPI.UN)

Toromont Industries Ltd (TIH)

CAE Inc. (CAE)

CGI Group Inc. Class A Subordinate Voting Shares (GIB.A)

Boralex Inc. Class A Shares (BLX)

Quebecor Inc. (QBR.B)

Logistec Corporation Class B Subordinate Voting Shares (LGT.B)

Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (BEP.UN)

Leon's Furniture Limited (LNF)

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)

Brookfield Renewable Corporation Class A Exchangeable Subordinate Voting Shares (BEPC)

Cascades Inc. (CAS)

JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN)

AirBoss of America Corp. (BOS)

Suncor Energy Inc. (SU)

Pender Growth Fund Inc. (PTF)

Rogers Communications Inc. Class B Non-voting Shares (RCI.B)

Total: $65,853.19

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund + CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund + CIBC Monthly Income Fund: $3,590.93

Energy and Base Metals Term Savings (Indexed term savings): $577.30

Natural Resources Term Savings (Indexed term savings): $502.45

NBI Income Fund: $1,380.79

Manulife Fidelity NorthStar GIF CAP

Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio 

Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund

Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund

Manulife GIF MLIA B World Invest

Total: $8,845.85

Other various: $26,066.38

TOTAL: $106,816.89

Social Capital at Desjardins Membership share: $35

Online money: $30

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-free Savings account + RRSP:

On the date December 23, 2021

$382,726.19

My debt situation on date of December 23, 2021

Margin account debt: $46,458.03 @ 3.75%

Annual interest: $1,742.18

On the date December 23, 2021

**For a complete update regarding my debt, click on the label "Debt situation" located at the right column of this blog.

Saying a big thank you and goodbye to PFB Corporation (PFB)

My non-registered portfolio closed this past Friday at $134,223.99, my US portfolio at $4,649.57, my RRSP stocks only portfolio at $63,068.63 and my TFSA portfolio at $125 996,88. It's not as good as my best top results of back November 8 of this year, but things are let say under control. Today, my portfolio numbers are unfortunately a bit lower. My non-registered portfolio closed today session at $132,983.52, my US portfolio at $4,622.30, my RRSP portfolio - stocks only - at $62,869.75 and my TFSA portfolio at $124 663,25.

Recently, I was able to inject another 2k in cash over my non-registered portfolio. I will probably proceed with a contribution to my RRSP in the next couple of days, probably for that same amount. I am not a super fan of RRSP, RRSP totally sucks, but since I already have a bit my both my non-registered and TFSA portfolios, I guess that a little 2k contribution to my RRSP portfolio won't hurt, especially when its to help lower my taxes for 2021. Maybe I will add another 1k. Following what I would have close to 5k invested for my RRSP for the fiscal years of 2021.

Starting today, PFB Corporation (PFB) will no longer be listed over the TSX. Unfortunately, The Riverside Company completed the acquisition of PFB Corporation (PFB) and as result, PFB will no longer be over the TSX. That Riverside Company is not listed over the TSX, so we won't be able to see OFB grow inside Riverside over the TSX. I welcomed PFB Corporation (PFB) inside my TFSA not too long ago, back in August 2021. Before that, I had my eyes on PFB Corporation (PFB) for a little while. I actually found PFB Corporation (PFB) using Stockopedia back in 2019. At the time, I really wanted to invest in PFB, however, I found their website to be incompleted. There were just no pictures of the owners. Strangely, just that was a turn-off for me. I took my time, but I eventually invested in 100 shares of  PFB Corporation (PFB). I just needed to invest in PFB for my portfolio. It was kind of a fatal attraction but which turn well. Today, I actually went ahead sold the stocks that I was holding of PFB inside my TFSA portfolio. Before that, I had received a great dividend and a special dividend distribution coming from PFB Corporation (PFB). That's how came to an end my little journey with PFB. I had enough and wanted to move on.

When I first began to invest in stocks, I had a whole list of stocks that I wanted to invest in. Since I began my investment journey from scratch, everything needed to be done. At a point, my portfolio was loaded with all those marvelous stocks that I so wanted to have in my investment portfolio for quite a while. Over time, it became harder and harder to find new stocks to invest in. I barely ever find new stocks to invest in my reading of financial's newspapers or by listening to BNN. I was lucky enough to find Savaria Corporation (SIS) by reading Roger Dufour from La Presse. Otherwise, new stocks to invest in haven't come my way very easily. I mostly invest in Derek Foster and Susan Brunner stocks.

It seems to me like I started using Stockopedia back in 2016. It's been a real game-changer for me. No need to rely on anyone, no need to wait after the news, BNN, Derek Foster, or Susan Brunner to find new great investment ideas! 

In a way, my journey with PFB Corporation (PFB) is kind of similar to the one I have right now with Pender Growth Fund Inc. (PTF). Just like my old PFB stocks, Pender Growth Fund Inc. (PTF) is quite mysterious. I received questions regarding the investor fee for PTF. Well, it's not really clear. Just like PFB wasn't really clear for me lol. So it's the same old song, PTF is just as mysterious as my old PFB, and I kind of like it. However, my investment in PTF is tiny little small. I no longer provide the number of shares I hold per investment because it's no one business. I am not looking forward to providing more information than that. What I want is to throw a max of investment ideas to people who, like me, are having a hard time figuring things out.

The sell of my precious PFB sell is leaving me with an annual dividend income of $8,790. That amount excludes the dividend earned inside my RRSP because RRSP sucks.

NOTIFICATION ALERT: Emera Incorporated (EMA) and Fortis Inc. (FTS) are both in fire!

The TSX closed today's session at 20,648.57 points. This left my non-registered portfolio at $133,294.10, my US portfolio at $4,601.43, my RRSP portfolio at $62,194.66, and my TFSA portfolio at $124,349.61. Today, I received two notifications via my Yahoo Finance application: one for Fortis Inc. (FTS) for an all-time high and also one for Emera Incorporated (EMA) as an alert for a 52-week high.

Ever since I invested in Fortis Inc. (FTS) for my TFSA portfolio, FTS never really gain value. However, I knew it was just a matter of time. I had been holding on to Fortis Inc. (FTS) inside my non-registered portfolio for a longer time and I did really well on it. Fortis Inc. (FTS) is like just that perfect stock, easy to hold, completely reliable, and best of all, the stock is a really good dividend payer. Things cannot get better than this.

Emera Incorporated (EMA) is also one of my really long-time holdings. I also did really well on EMA over the years. It was quite satisfying to watch Emera hitting on its 53-week high today. 

I am enjoying my time in New Brunswick, but I have to admit that things are getting a bit monotonous. Other than going out for some walks when the weather is ok and going shopping at Wal-Mart from time to time, I am not doing many activities. Options are limited, and the increase of COVID cases is not helping my case. Let say that I probably won't be exposed to COVID while being here. And other good points are: I have no problem with saving money, I am enjoying my regular paychecks and I won't have to travel in the cold of winter this year, which I absolutely hate, because I am already in New Brunswick. However, let me say that I will be happy to go back to Montreal in a few months from now when the time will come.

Here are a couple of pictures I took a little while ago, to give you an idea of the local vibe:

Other than that I am always thinking about new investments and I may invest again in some BNS stocks soon.

Welcome in my RRSP portfolio Pender Growth Fund Inc. (PTF)!

I had a small amount available coming from dividend distributions leftover inside my RRSP portfolio, so yesterday, I decided to invest that little sum in Pender Growth Fund Inc. (PTF). Unfortunately, PTF doesn't pay a dividend distribution. I only invest tiny little money in Pender Growth Fund Inc. (PTF), but I am happy with the investment anyway. I really like PTF because its overall chart is just too hot, all the way to the top baby. Also, Pender Growth Fund Inc. (PTF) brings on a nice diversification to my portfolio. I do not hold to anything in the tech sector, but I do now, indirectly, with PTF.

Inside my RRSP portfolio, PTF closed today's session on a little gain of 0.56%. It's quite encouraging no matter how little is the gain, knowing that the TSX closed today's session under the marvelous 21,000 points. 

It's hard to watch, but it's during a downturn that you need to invest your bucks in the stock market. Luckily enough, I am going to end the month of December with something like $4,500

Just like for Hammond Manufacturing Company Limited Class A Subordinate Voting Shares (HMM.A) in which I invested in just a few days ago, Pender Growth Fund Inc. (PTF) is well ranked in Stockopedia. I like to browse here and there from time to time on Stockopedia once in a while. In the past, I had found many of my best investments on Stockopedia. Like for example Cargojet Inc. (CJT) - who's among my top performers, as well as Park Lawn Corporation (PLC) and Richards Packaging Income Fund (RPI.UN), just to name those three. 

I frequently write about my investment ideas and the new stocks that I invest in using the Stockopedia platform, but no matter what, you may like to try it for yourself to see what it's all about. You never know, you might be able to find your next pot of gold using Stockopedia. If you are interested in Stockopedia, please click here and use this link to register for a 14-day free trial, 30-day money-back guarantee. By using my link, you'll encourage the writing of this blog and at the same time, you'll allow me to earn a discount on the cost of my annual subscription to Stockopedia. I think you should start using Stockopedia in 2022 :-)

Since I recently paid my Stockopedia subscription around 2 weeks ago, I was in the mood to do some browsing on the platform. Other than Pender Growth Fund Inc. (PTF) and Hammond Manufacturing Company Limited Class A Subordinate Voting Shares (HMM.A), I came across a few interesting stocks. When I am in a mood to find new stocks to invest in, I sometimes have a facility to find great stocks on Stockopedia. When I spotted HMM.A and PTF during the same evening, I knew I was in for more new interesting findings, and so did I. Sometimes I won't be able to get into any search at all, because I am sometimes too tired during the evening, it happens from time to time.

I am just quickly putting in here the stocks found and I will write in another post my impressions about those new findings:

HDI, HTL, AND, WCN, VCM, OTEX, LNR, IFP, mfi.

Other than that, I previously wrote that I was looking forward to invest in Empire Company Limited Non-Voting Class A Shares (EMP.A). I may do so in the future, as a small investment, but I recently heard on BNN Bloomberg that EMP.A was not receiving really good reviews from analysts so I kind of changed my mind about EMP.A.

Welcome in my TFSA portfolio Hammond Manufacturing Company Limited Class A Subordinate Voting Shares (HMM.A)

The TSX, just like Bitcoins and Ethereum, closed the day on more positive gains, which is nice because I don't like to see my net worth value going down the drain. Today, my non-registered portfolio closed the session at $135,680.74, my US portfolio at $4,475.88, my RRSP portfolio at $62,921.90 and my TFSA portfolio, at $127,075.66. Those numbers are better now, butunfortunately not as good as on November 8, 2021, when I reached my highest net worth ever.

Today, Enbridge Inc. (ENB) announced a dividend increase. This bring up my annual dividend to a good $10,810.43. Without considering the dividend earns inside my RRSP, my annual dividend income is now at $9,101.57, which represents an equivalent of $758.47 per month. I came with an easy plan in order to push that amount to an equivalent of $800 per month: to sell my investment that I hold in Boyd Group Services Inc. (BYD) and buy instead some Royal Bank of Canada (RY) stocks. BYD is not a real good performer and pay a ridiculously low dividend to its investor. Next, I will sooner or later received cash for my PFB Corporation (PFB) shares. To that amount, we can add the amount I will get once I decide to sell my crypto ETF investments. I could eventually invest the combine amounts in Canadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce (CM).

There are other moves I could so, like for example selling the investment that I hold in Saputo Inc. (SAP), which doesn't perform very well these days. And why not, selling JFT Strategies Fund Class A Units (JFS.UN) who doesn't pay a dime in dividend. But for now, I am not in a rush to increase my dividend income, I am just considering my options.

I had a few dollars left available inside my TFSA portfolio, so I decided to invest a small amount in Hammond Manufacturing Company Limited Class A Subordinate Voting Shares (HMM.A). I really like HMM.A, in the kind of industrial stocks that I like the most. Hammond Manufacturing is a family own business. I found HMM.A on Stockopedia. Best thing, HMM.A pay a small dividend to its investor, which is always welcome. 

Today I was able to find many stocks on Stockopedia. Among them, I also find Pender Growth Fund Inc. (PTF), which I find quite interesting because PTF has that overall perfect chart. Unfortunately, PTF doesn't pay any dividend.

Welcome again Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in my RRSP portfolio

The dividend increase party just continues for our fabulous Canadian banks! Yesterday, both the Royal Bank of Canada (RY) and the National Bank of Canada (NA) declared an interesting increase in their dividend distribution! And that's not all.

Also yesterday, I received PFB Corporation (PFB) generous dividend. Following what, I had a couple of hundred dollars at my disposal to invest inside my TFSA portfolio. Among the big banks, the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) is among the cheapest, and with the recent dividend increase for BNS, I have to admit that I was really tempted to invest in a few shares of BNS... And so I did. When I first started my investment portfolio about 14 years ago, the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) was among the first stocks that I bought for my non-registered portfolio. Back in the days, Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) was a Derek Foster's stock.

Yesterday, my non-registered portfolio closed the session on a low $130,781.83, my US portfolio at $4,296.11 US, my RRSP - stocks only - portfolio at $61,571.20, and my TFSA portfolio at a super low $123,767.51. 

Today, both Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) and Canadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce (CM) increased their dividend distribution. My annual dividend income is now at $10,745.95, the equivalent of $895.50 per month. For dividends earns outside my RRSP, my annual dividend income is now at $9,037.09, or if you prefer $753.09 per month.

Welcome again in my RRSP portfolio Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)!

These days, it's looking bad for stock markets, and not only for the TSX. Obviously, the value of my different investment portfolios is down. My non-registered portfolio closed today session at $131,014.59, my US portfolio at $4,320.99, my RRSP portfolio - stocks only - at $61,902.58 and my TFSA portfolio at $124,076.43

A stock market "correction" is never fun to watch, but this kind of event occurs from time to time. Unfortunately, it's part of the game while investing in stocks. Over time, you'll eventually get used to it. Those corrections are part of the reason why it's important to keep a portfolio diversified in different sectors, different companies, and also, it's part of the reason why it's nice to always have a cash reserve available on hands when the price of stocks drop like that. I currently have a cash reserve, yes, but that money means to be my only savings. Now you understand why I don't have much in savings... Just too many occasions to make nice bucks over the TSX.

I would like to put in a 2k inside my Canadian margin account to help secure it. I have a debt of 48k on my margin account. I think I will be able to do so because this upcoming Friday is payday. I am also thankful that I was smart enough not to buy anything on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. 

I had a few dollars available in my RRSP, enough to buy one extra share of Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), so I taught, why not? I am enjoying National Bank Direct Brokerage's $0 commission fee to the max. What National Bank Direct Brokerage is offering to Canadian investors is quite a huge deal. I can now invest whenever, no matter how small the amount of money that I have at my disposal, and that's quite awesome. This is how basically I built my investment portfolio, by investing from time to time. But now, what's new is that I can invest whatever amount I want because commission fees how now have no impact on me, thanks to National Bank Direct Brokerage. The single thing that I really dislike about National Bank Direct Brokerage is that they don't show the investment portfolio's value in real-time but that's a small inconvenience for a $0 commission fee so I live with it.

We were expecting it, however, it's always fun when it officially announced: Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) increased its dividend distribution! BNS is the first Canadian bank to announce a dividend increase. It's being expected that all the other Canadian banks will follow the lead this week! So get ready for dividend good news all week long! This is basically Christmas before Christmas! :-)

And guess what, I hold more than just Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in my very marvelous portfolio. I also hold on to some Canadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce (CM), Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD), and Royal Bank of Canada (RY) shares. Canadian banks are easy to hold and quite profitable. It should be included in any individual's investment portfolio while investing in other sectors as well.

With today's BNS dividend hikes, my annual dividend income is now set at $10,657.97. My dividend income, excluding the dividend earned inside my RRSP, is now at $8,962.61, the equivalent of $746.89. This dividend income of mine is slowly beginning to show off some real bones. We are now in serious business. With the upcoming dividend increase for the other banks I own, I should be at least on a $750, and certainly more, but it's hard to tell.

While enjoying great news for my dividend income, I received earlier today some price alerts coming from my Yahoo Finance application for a few of my stocks which go as the following: 

K-Bro Linen Inc. (KBL): reached  52 Week low at $33.88

TFI International Inc. (TFII): down 4.94% to $128

LifeWorks Inc. (LWRK): reached a 52 Week low at $25.05

Saputo Inc. (SAP): reached a 52 Week low at $28.69

Other than that, today at BNN Bloomberg, Ryan Bushell Top picks included all stocks that I have in my investment portfolio: K-Bro Linen Inc. (KBL), Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PBL), and New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI).

A recap of my experience switching broker from TD Direct to National Bank Direct Brokerage

I was grocery shopping today with my mom and I spotted some turkeys, which I didn't have in a really long time. The price for a Butterball frozen turkey - the best turkey EVER by the way - was ENORMOUS: $63.99. And that's before taxes! So the delicious Butterball stays where it was in the freezer... I don't care about turkey. But wait, I also saw some ham at $43... and not even half of a big ham... The price for groceries here in New Brunswick is not cheap at all. 

One day, my mom bought a small bag of clementines for $8... She wanted to please me, but I told her not to buy anything high price. I can sacrifice my clementine for instead apple or banana, which are way cheaper fruits. If you buy fruits that are out of price, you are giving the impression that you actually accept to buy items at a high price, and it's not my case, even if I really like orange, clementines, and grapefruits. 

Generally speaking, I find that everything is cheaper in Montreal. However, it's possible to buy groceries at a fair price here where I am in New Brunswick, it's just that you cannot buy everything you want. You need to buy what is on sale and plan your meals accordingly. Nothing too complicated. You need to do what you need to do in order to save a few bucks where you can, and that includes commission fees for trading.

Currently, in Canada, we now have two brokers how are offering a 0$ commission fee for trading: National Bank Direct Brokerage and Desjardins Online Brokerage. National Bank Direct Brokerage was the first institution in Canada to offer this opportunity to investors. Desjardins Online Brokerage followed the lead shortly after the National Bank Direct Brokerage historic move. National Bank Direct Brokerage made its announcement during the summer while I was away on vacation in New Brunswick. 

At the time, we didn't have Internet at home in New Brunswick, so I couldn't do anything. When I came back from my vacation, I immediately took action. In my mind, it was all clear. I had to take advantage of the National Bank Direct Brokerage offers, and ASAP! I had been using TD Direct brokerage services since something like 2007-2008. I actually began to invest in stocks shortly before the 2008 stock crash. Since that time, I had been paying $9.99 per buy and sell trading operations. I just prefer not to even try to calculate the amount of money I spent on trading fees over the years...

I quickly realize that National Bank Direct Brokerage was now a real game-changer. And here is how goes my process from switching from TD Direct to National Bank Direct Brokerage. 

First, I call TD Direct, asking if there were any upcoming changes in regard to their commission fees, and if they were planning to do like National Bank Direct Brokerage. I learned that nothing had been announced in that regard and TD Direct didn't expect to abolish their commission fees at the present time. Unfortunately.

Next, I called National Bank Direct Brokerage. I asked if their $0 commission fee was just temporary, like a promotion or something - or if it was for the long run. I knew the answer to that question, but I just wanted to make sure... And the answer was the one that I expected, this wasn't a promotion for a limited time, it was for the long run. Basically, it's how things were going to be from now on with National Bank Direct Brokerage. The National Bank Direct Brokerage's broker told me that I needed to call TD Direct to make sure everything was ok regarding my margin account.

After that, I contacted TD Direct one more time, explaining that trades with National Bank Direct Brokerage were at a $0 commission fee, that I really liked TD, but I was thinking about switching over to National Bank Direct Brokerage. I explained to the broker that I needed to verify if I could proceed with the transfer and if everything was fine with my margin. The broker put me on hold, and told me everything was fine with my margin. I don't really know what they were looking for, but in my case, everything was ok.

Following this, I opened a broker account with National Bank Direct Brokerage. I already had a small investment with National Bank. I used that already existing account info to log in and from there I completed a PDF form online, on which I entered my info to proceed with the transfer "as is" of my investment portfolio from TD Direct to National Bank Direct Brokerage. The selection of "as is" is really important if you want to take everything you have at your current broker transfer as is over your new broker. "As is" means that you proceed with the transfer as is, without selling anything, without changing anything to your existing investment portfolio.

Opening a broker account with National Bank Direct Brokerage was quite easy and quick. My account was created within 48 hours. Following this, both National Bank and National Bank Direct Brokerage proceed with a credit check, which is mandatory for a margin account. It took a while for my margin account to be created. My non-registered Canadian margin account had been the last account to be transferred from TD Direct to the National Bank Direct Brokerage. 

It took me a good month to get everything transferred to the National Bank Direct Brokerage. I guess I got stuck at the time where the 0$ commission fee was a bit more well-known and I guess that many investors may have switched over the National Bank Direct Brokerage at the exact same time that I did.

I knew that an account of mine at TD Direct was about to get transferred to National Bank Direct Brokerage when the account at TD was no longer there. When an account is nowhere to be seen, it meant that the account will arrive the following business day over the National Bank Direct Brokerage. Following the arrival of one of my accounts over National Bank Direct Brokerage, I checked for those points for each and single investment:

-the list of actual stocks - to check if nothing is missing in that specific account;

-the number of stocks per investment;

-the initial value per share;

-the initial value of the investment.

Following the arrival of an account to National Bank Direct Brokerage, don't panic if you are missing one investment or more. It usually takes 48 business hours before you'll receive everything. It took more than 48 hours for my non-registered portfolio, but I let it go, and I received everything in a matter of a couple of days. If you notice that you are missing an investment, I would suggest that you wait at least 48 business hours before calling National Bank Direct Brokerage.

While proceeding to an "as is" transfer from let's say TD Direct to National Bank Direct Brokerage, don't perform any trades at TD Direct. It's important that you don't change anything because you just don't know exactly when the transfer of assets will be made. When you decide to actually switch brokers, don't proceed to any trades until your transfer is done and completed.

Also, when you decide to switch brokers, save all statements for the previous years and the current years, all past tax papers, etc. Save everything you can because once your account goes transferred over from let say TD Direct to National Bank Direct Brokerage, it's most likely that your account will get closed at TD Direct once everything got transferred over National Bank Direct Brokerage.

I am currently at the real end of this whole transfer process. I asked TD Direct to reactivate my accounts so I can have access to my upcoming tax papers for 2021 via their eServices, which is their service to receive all of your statements online. I don't want to receive anything by mail. TD Direct was able to reactivate my accounts. Everything is now in order. Overall, my switch from TD Direct to National Bank Direct Brokerage went smoothly.

There are just a few things that I don't like with National Bank Direct Brokerage: very long delay before being able to talk to a broker over the phone. And secondly, with National Bank, you don't see the value of the investments that you hold in your portfolio in real-time. There's always that 15 minutes delay, so the value that you see of your stuff online with National Bank Direct Brokerage is never totally accurate. That's for me a major turn-off. However, if you place a buy order, you'll have the value in real-time of the stock you want to buy. When the new acquisition is in your portfolio, the value that shows up is not in real-time. 

I find this to be really insulting. It's like National Bank Direct Brokerage is screaming right in my face: YOU ARE JUST A F SMALL INVESTOR AND YOU DON'T DESERVE BITCH TO SEE YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS VALUES IN REAL TIME.