John DeGoey is vice-president and associate portfolio manager at BBSL. His focus is on personal finance and ETFs.
Top Picks:
Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap Index ETF
Huge diversification into 256 underlying Canadian stocks – while costing only 12 bps.
Vanguard U.S. Total Market Index ETF
Huge diversification into hundreds of American stocks - with no currency hedge and costing only 15 bps.
Vanguard FTSE Developed ex North America Index ETF
Huge diversification into hundreds of non-North American stocks - with no currency hedge and costing only 28 bps.
Past Picks: November 8, 2012
Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield ETF
Then: $24.48
Now: $29.23
Total return: +22.21 per cent
Vanguard FTSE Canadian capped REIT ETF
Then: $24.67
Now: $24.66
Total return: +1.99 per cent
Vanguard Canadian Short Term Corporate Bond ETF
Then: $25.03
Now: $24.99
Total return: +2.64 per cent
Total return average: +8.95 per cent
Market outlook:
I reject all forms of prediction-based investing. Instead, I recommend that people use structured, market-based and evidence-based products and strategies. People should buy broadly-diversified investment products that cost little and have low turnover. Then, they should re-balance those periodically, but only when their overall mix is out of line with their targets.
Editor's note: Burgeonvest Bick Securities now goes by the acronym BBSL.