Long awaited rate cut came in today from the Bank of Canada. Rate cuts are not always good news, but a bit of reprieve for Canadian debtholders. Reach out to us to discuss what affect this has on mortgage rates, savings rates, bonds, and the Canadian Dollar.

Are you working from home exclusively or a hybrid schedule? Or are you back to work full time? This recent chart from Statscan shows a high percentage of people are working from home over 50% of the time. Employers appear to be losing the battle with employees a few years removed from the pandemic.

What to expect in 2024? Stocks go up and down and 2024 will not be any different. Downturns in the market are normal. The average intra-year drawdown in the S&P 500 going back to 1980 is down over 14% from peak to trough. However, most years end positive, despite the intra-year downturns. What's the takeaway? Stick to your long-term plan and try not to let the short term noise of the markets interrupt it.

The Magnificent 7 stocks have been driving S&P 500 returns this year. The S&P 500 is a market-cap-weighted index, meaning companies are weighted according to their size (market capitalization). Larger companies have a bigger impact on the index's performance. This means a few large companies can significantly influence the S&P 500's movement.

First hint at potential rate cuts from Bank of Canada Governor Macklem. The ''higher for longer" narrative has been in the news for the past several months. However, mention of cutting rates came up during Macklem's last press conference. The BOC's goal is to get inflation back down to the targeted 2% and Macklem made sure to emphasize that if they were to cut rates prior to hitting that inflation target, they would need to see a clear path to inflation dropping to 2%. Recent bank forecasts have inflation only down to 3.5% by 2024, not so fast on the cutting rates talk.

Technical Recession? Another sign we are likely closer to the end of one of the most dramatic rate hiking cycles in history.

Inflation is hot again continuing to show in food, shelter, energy prices. CPI came in at 3.3% above the Bank of Canada target. Check out this article to see some correlations and fallout from higher inflation.

This article has a special place with me (CJ) as I really resonate with Michael's story. If you are feeling lost with where you are at, or wondering what the future might hold, this is a must read! Might just motivate CJ to write the origin story between him and Jerry!

This is something that Jerry and CJ work extensively with clients to prepare them, hopefully years in advance for the eventual drawdown of their investments. There are a number of factors to consider when it comes to this planning. You have to plan for this from when you are 40 all the way to 90! This would be a big change if they were to alter the mandatory withdrawal calculations and is 100% worth a discussion with your advisor. Reach out now to discuss!

For the second straight month the Bank of Canada is holding its key interest rate steady. The pause continues from Tiff. After almost a year of increases, we are finally seeing a reprieve. Read the article to see what data the Bank of Canada, Jerry and CJ are following.

Spring is a seasonally strong time for real estate. This report from TD Economics reviews the 2023 headwinds and tailwinds facing the Canadian real estate market.

BMO economists have concluded that rates will likely settle at a higher level than markets have been used to. Hikes may be coming to an end but don't expect rates to drop back to historic lows seen over the last decade.

With the substantial rise in interest rates this past year the price of buying a home has dropped. Will the downward trend continue in 2023 and how much further down?

Planning a home reno for a family member? The federal government is offering a new tax credit to make it easier for Canadians in multi-generational homes.

How did your most recent performance review go? Do you have one coming up at year end? This article is for you. Across Canada people are feeling the harsh pinch of rising inflation rates how can you best approach your boss for raise? 

It is tough to avoid the major push from companies to get you to sign up for their gambling websites! Be careful if signing up and playing or avoid it all together. Since the legalization the amount of money being wagered is staggering. The article reviews how Ontario legalizing gambling and the push through Canada's biggest sport hockey to get your business.

The Ontario government is set to make changes that would apply to small businesses, seniors and those receiving disability payments.

The rise of inflation in 2022 has led to an increase in the annual TFSA contribution limit.

"Talking with your adult children about your future can benefit the whole family". The article discusses how to approach these sometimes difficult conversations that should be taking place more and more both from the older parents perspective and the adult child's. Share with family and friends that might be going through this right now.

With social media and technology, information sharing has never been faster. Sometimes good, sometimes not. With all of that information it is tough to see the forest through the trees at times. In this article, author Ben Carlson, talks more about the need to take a long term view by discussing one of the most frequent cliché's in the finance industry - the similarities between staying physically fit and staying financially fit.

With a title that includes a reference to one of Jerry's favourite movies, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", how could we not share. With the rise of online shopping, the 0% financing for purchases of all types has also risen. This article explores the details of these types of "deals" and if you should avoid them or not.

Here at Philotimo Wealth we are big fans of Mr. Money Mustache and his personal finance blog. CJ is also a fan of Dr. Andrew Huberman, an American neuroscientist and tenured associate professor in the Department of Neurobiology at the Stanford University School of Medicine, as well as very successful podcast host. The article discusses health and lifestyle changes to improve mental and physical health. What is the point of financial independence, early retirement if you are not healthy enough to enjoy the fruits of your labour! 

Discussing the science behind how our brains work and reward us, how we can make a few simple changes and stop putting off rewards to keep us motivated. Rich is the author of a great book "The Attributes" (link in the article).

Downturn in stocks has continued, after the worst day since 2020 this month happened, the month didn't end up any better. This article takes a look at historical returns to prepare us for October. As always, past performance and historical returns are no guarantee of future results.

September 13th was the worst day for stocks we have seen since June 2020. What happens next? The article looks at historical data, which as we know does not predict future results, but can help paint a picture for us. Including a special YouTube talk by Stanley Druckenmiller linked at the end.

The importance of a plan and being prepared has never been more crucial. New legislation in Ontario could force elderly patients into long-term care facilities, wherever there are beds- virtually no matter how far away, there could also be a charge for those who do not comply. Read more of our take and the article.

The Bank of Canada recently announced it's overnight rate increased by 0.75%, taking the rate up to 3.25% from the 0.25% low. What does this all mean for Canadians though? If you have a variable rate mortgage or line of credit this article is for you. If you are renewing your mortgage or in the market to purchase a house, this article will prepare you for your options.

For decades and decades people give something up to practice self-discipline and reflect. There has been a rise in popularity of "Sober October", fasting, diets, cleanses, or taking a break from social media. This article focuses on applying those themes of giving something up to your finances and spending. Are we turning to these not-so-great habits for a simple distraction? The article lays out the author's journey through her 'Buy Nothing Month' describing her experience and challenging us to give it a try.

Whether you are retired, retiring at the end of the year, or thinking about retiring in a few years. This is a great article on the psychological aspects of the retirement transition. You may be prepared financially, but mentally, do you have a plan for what you want to do. Highly recommended read.

Inflation, inflation, inflation. It is seemingly everywhere! Not just price increases, every news outlet and social media. We have spoken about it a few times here as well. The latest on the 0% inflation increase in July (from the US). What does it all mean?

Are you considering taking your Canada Pension Plan early or delaying? This article has great information on how the Canada Pension Plan works and when you should take it. Reach out to us to talk more specifics!

The price of gas at the pump in Canada and the United States has been on the rise, as prices have been reaching record highs. This article explains what factors dictate the prices. It also includes a great one page infographic picture that does a great job summarizing.

The events of investment history don’t repeat, but familiar themes do recur, especially behavioral themes. It’s these that famed investor and writer Howard Marks studies. In the last two years, we’ve seen dramatic examples of ups and downs. Through these ups and downs we have seen a reappearance of some classic themes in investor behavior. The article provides insight on what pushes the market up and down.

"Ontario parents who are hoping to see their daycare fees drop in May, as the province said they would, might have to wait until the fall to realize any savings – a consequence, critics say, of Ontario waiting so long to sign the $10-a-day federal child-care program."

"During volatile markets, it’s difficult to focus on anything beyond the short term, but at times like this studying market history for reminders of the benefits of long-term investing can be helpful for investors"

Whether you are active on social media or not, we have all noticed the world changing, access to information available at our fingertips. Is this a good thing though? The article goes in depth walking us through the internet and social media timelines to where we are today.

Amazon vs. Walmart: How the Giants Look to Each Other to Best Each Other. The line between Amazon and Walmart is becoming increasingly blurred, as the two companies seek to maintain their slice of the estimated $5 trillion retail market while chipping away at the other’s share, often by borrowing the other’s ideas.

Last week Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance tabled her second Federal Budget. Check out Baker Tilly's commentary in the linked article. Baker Tilly is one of the country’s largest associations of chartered professional accounting firms in Canada.

The latest buzzword on CNBC and BNN is the dreaded inversion of the yield curve as a recession leading indicator. This article takes a look at which yield curve has inverted, what that has meant historically, and one we should be keeping a closer eye on.

Check out this video from the Wall Street Journal team, discussing the recent economic sanctions against Russia and how they are being felt across the globe.

A very interesting look at one of the largest companies in the world, NVIDIA. The keynote shows what they are working on. If you are interested in self-driving cars, artificial intelligence, robot warehouse workers, and the future in general - this was a really cool video. Skip to 6 minutes in if you don't like the technical stuff!

Inflation is one of the top financial buzzwords of 2022. Here is a great article that walks us through what causes it, why some inflation is good, and what happens now?

Update on sector returns and a discussion on the benefits of a diversified portfolio. Timely, considering the market downturn we have seen to start the year. Quick read to reinforce the power of diversification with updated data.

Interesting read as it appears the world is heading back into a "new" normal. What does that mean for annual conferences, corporate retreats, or monthly work gatherings? Check out our take and the article for more!

We work with our clients, discussing "ESG" investments and the pros and cons. This article explores how we can find a compromise between the three pillars, Environmental, Social, and Governance to achieve long term sustainability not just in our portfolios but in our world.

You have to see this article! Quick read. We all have heard success stories from family, friends and neighbors, friends of friends. However, often times you are not getting the full story. It is important to take everything with a grain of salt as they say.

One of our favourite follows LPL Research has shared their 2022 Market Outlook. Check out their interactive article at the link attached.

Ron takes us on a road trip discussing potential unforeseen events and bumps along the way to our destination. "To the faint of heart, it may well appear that we find ourselves in uncharted territory. Are we overdue for a ‘correction’ or even a full-fledged ‘bear market’ – or will stock prices continue their lengthy upward trajectory?" - Ron Miesels

Ontario condo developer suddenly cancels years-long sales deal — unless buyers pay $100K more. Read more for questions to ask and be aware of if purchasing a new development condo/home.

What is the real inflation rate? This article debunks the theory that big names are referencing when discussing inflation lately.

What does success look like these days? This article goes beyond the norm to discuss a "unique type of success that is too often overlooked".

Inflation has been a major buzzword in 2021. With the latest headlines showing inflation on the rise, this article takes a look at a worst case inflation scenario. This article is full of great data, charts and information that we feel will be worth your time.

Are you and your family planning on travelling within Ontario in 2022? The Ontario government has announced its plan for a tax credit. See the full article from CTV News linked.

New articles coming soon!