Blog
Investing In Your Corporation
With no immediate end in sight to record-low interest rates, it's time to think seriously about how to put your excess cash to work and build wealth effectively. For example, if you are an entrepreneur or professional and have incorporated your business, did you know...
BNN Interview – Canadian Banks Still Offer Value
Yesterday, I discussed with Paul Bagnell at BNN why I think Canadian banks still offer value to investors in Canada. While the housing market and energy losses are a concern at the banks, I still believe our largest Canadian Banks can be a great investment for the...
Volatility: Often The Spark To Investor Fear – Canadian Money Saver Magazine Article
Recently, I wrote an article in Canadian Money Saver magazine about Volatility: Often The Spark To Investor Fear. Check out the complete article on the Canadian Moneysaver site, and learn What Sparks The Fear; How You Can Avoid Falling Into The Traps; and why Sitting...
BNN Interview – Investors Forced Into Equities
Sat with BNN's Amber Kanwar and Jon Erlichman yesterday to discuss why investors are "being forced into equities" because of low interest rates - and that the alternative to not being in the stock market is nothing. While the overall market isn't cheap, we should see...
The Allan Small Difference
Two years ago, PwC published a study on small and mid-size businesses providing financial advice in Canada. The report revealed there were about 80,000 financial advisors working in this segment, which accounted for $19 billion in GDP and 180,000 jobs. These are big...
Finding The Right Fit: Hiring An Investment Advisor
Any HR professional will tell you that fit--both in terms of technical ability and shared values--is critical to hiring right for your business. The same rule applies to hiring an investment advisor. While there isn't necessarily a simple test you can administer to...
BNN Interview – Why Valuations Are The Real Market Challenge
Yesterday, I sat down with Greg Bonnell on BNN's The Close to discuss why my investment strategy isn't being influenced by the Brexit vote, and why valuations are the real market challenge. Watch the full interview here
Six Questions To Help You Determine How Much Your Investment Advisor Knows About The Markets
Every investor working with an advisor wants to feel confident that their hard-earned money is in competent hands. And that means finding an investment advisor who has a solid understanding of equity (stock) markets and industry trends. Here are six key questions you...
How To Find A Good Investment Advisor
You've identified a goal and are ready and able to get serious about saving money to achieve that goal. Maybe you're planning to purchase a home, funding post secondary education for your kids, imagining what you want retirement to look like or perhaps you've come...
Best Practices For Investing In Good Or Bad Markets
Can you hear that? All the noise at the start of the year as markets around the world went into a short-lived free fall is gone proving the old adage that no news is good news. It's an interesting time for investors as we try to understand how we've arrived at this...
BNN Interview – Dark Cloud Over Pharma Sector Means Opportunities
Yesterday, I sat down with Michael Hainsworth on BNN's The Close. We discussed the pharma sector and why I still see the opportunities despite the cloud of concern over a few players. We also discussed where I see the oil and gas sectors heading over the next while....
Make Sure You Have An Investment Strategy
There are many reasons why people want to invest -- some save to purchase a bigger home, others are planning to help their kids with post-secondary schooling and many are simply planning their retirement dream. What's required to achieve these goals varies from person...
How To Reduce The Cost Of Investing Without Sacrificing Returns
Reports show Canadians pay some of the highest fees in the world to manage their mutual fund investments, according to a story in the National Post. And while it's true Management Expense Ratios can run between 2% and 3%, it is also true that in life you get what you...
When The Stock Market Falls, What Should You Do?
When the stock market falls, people tend to panic. Watch this Q&A with Allan Small to learn what are the steps you should be taking. I welcome you to call me at 416-332-3863 or email me at allan@allansmall.com for a free one hour portfolio review.
Nervous About Retirement?
You don't have to be. There are many questions when deciding how to invest and planning for retirement. Watch the Q&A with Allan Small regarding important factors to consider. I welcome you to call me at 416-332-3863 or email me at allan@allansmall.com for a free...
The Impact Of World Events On Investing
Geopolitical unrest, acts of terror, tsunamis and tornados, crashing currencies, stalled growth and falling commodity prices can all create fear among investors. And that fear typically pushes markets downward. In today's era of social media and the 24-hour news...
Is Gold A Safe Haven?
When markets spiral down, investors have traditionally sought shelter in gold. That faith is misplaced. Research from CNBC shows that when the S&P 500 or the Dow are down 6% in a week, gold trades negative the majority of the time. When the Chinese market is down...
Making Sense Of The Tough Start To The Markets In 2016
It's been a disastrous start to 2016 from a markets perspective. The TSX, The Dow Jones Industrial Average, The Nasdaq Composite, Stoxx Europe 600, the Shanghai Composite Index have all entered bear-market territory. These are the facts. The big question is Why?...
Diversification Does Not Mean Buying As Many Investment Types As You Can
Too often, investors hold too many investments thinking it's the best way to spread the risk and protect their wealth. While it is absolutely true that diversification is key to a successful portfolio, you don't have to be everywhere. Over-diversification can work...
BNN Interview – Equity Market Losses Don’t Make Sense
This morning I discussed with Amber Kanwar at BNN that the depth of the equity market losses so far this year don't make sense. Stocks have been trading like there's a recession and it's time for investors to take advantage of the fall and look for buying...
CityNews Interview: Stock Markets Start 2016 With A Sharp Drop
Stock markets got off to a tumultuous start in the first trading day of the year as a sharp decline in China triggered a sell-off that spread worldwide. Watch the CityNews news story by Amanda Ferguson and my thoughts on today's market selloff.
Why Do People Say: When You Purchase A Mutual Fund, You Are ‘Buying’ The Fund Manager?
Put simply, actively managed mutual funds are the result of the work of their managers. It's the manager that researches the huge number of investment products available and then chooses and buys the ones that best reflect their investment style. As an investor, you...
Why Is It So Hard To Buy Low & Sell High?
Of course, as a smart shopper, you want to buy clothes, shoes, cars, furniture, travel--you name it--when it's on sale. It's just good sense. Everyone likes to get a deal. So you check the item to make sure there are no holes, tears or any other type problem and make...
What’s Your Investment Style?
Investors are typically defined by their risk tolerance, age and time horizon until retirement--all key characteristics of your investing profile. Less understood but perhaps more important is to know your preferred style of investing. Understanding your investment...