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strategy lab

The Globe and Mail Strategy Lab, which launches Monday, pits several classic ways of evaluating stocks against one another. Whether you’re a dividend collector, a value hunter, a growth junkie or an indexing enthusiast, one of our strategists should fit your own investing philosophy.The Globe and Mail

Four of Canada's brightest investors are poised to match wits in a battle for portfolio supremacy.

The competition among them should generate sparks. Better yet, it will provide readers with a steady stream of stock market ideas and investing insights.

The Globe and Mail Strategy Lab pits several classic ways of evaluating stocks against one another. Whether you're a dividend collector, a value hunter, a growth junkie or an indexing enthusiast, one of our strategists should fit your own investing philosophy.

Strategy Lab will take you behind the scenes and let you watch as experienced investors manage model portfolios. Each of our four strategists will file regular commentary on why they're buying, selling or standing pat. And each will provide their take on market conditions, potential buys and opportunities (or pitfalls) they see ahead.

Just as important, our strategists will explain why they believe in a particular type of investing. A beaten down stock might delight a value investor looking for bargains; the same stock could appall a growth investor on the prowl for tomorrow's rising stars. Is someone right in this debate? Or are both approaches valid?

Our strategists will each start with a hypothetical $50,000 portfolio. They can each hold five to 12 Canadian or U.S. securities and trade as often or as little as they wish. We'll monitor their portfolios on a regular basis so you can see how they're performing.

Along the way, you'll have a chance to get to know each of our strategists. They represent a diverse range of backgrounds, and each has a track record of delivering timely insights.

Andrew Hallam, our indexing strategist, is the author of Millionaire teacher: The nine rules of wealth you should have learned in school. Raised in British Columbia, he now teaches personal finance at Singapore American School – and built a million-dollar investment portfolio on a teacher's salary.

John Heinzl, our dividend guru, writes The Globe and Mail's weekly Yield Hog column. A business and investing journalist since 1990, he believes that a diversified portfolio of dividend stocks or exchange-traded funds is one of the surest routes to building wealth for do-it-yourself investors.

Norm Rothery, our value investor, is the founder of StingyInvestor.com. A CFA charter holder, he publishes the Rothery Report, a value stock newsletter, which recently celebrated its 11th anniversary. Norm obtained a PhD in atomic physics from York University before following his passion for investing.

Chris Umiastowski, our growth advocate, holds an engineering degree as as well as an MBA. He has more than a decade of experience analyzing technology stocks in his former position as a top-ranked equity analyst on Bay Street. Prior to that, he worked as an engineer in the telecom industry. His experience helps him identify investment opportunities that come from sweeping change in tech-centric industries.

Of course, the ultimate responsibility for choosing any investment lies with the individual investor. We urge you to research any stock carefully before buying or selling. And we invite your comments as the competition unfolds over the months to come. Disagree with our strategists? Let them know. Want to point out a promising stock? We invite your input.

Playing the market is never easy, but with Strategy Lab, it just became a little simpler – and a lot more fun.

Discuss this article at Globe Investor's LinkedIn group here.

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