Portfolio Update February 2021

Another 3 months have gone by, so it’s time to report on our DIY Portfolio progress. As usual, expect our next update in about 12 weeks.

You can have a look at previous portfolio updates here:

All Portfolio Updates
Portfolio Update August 2018
Portfolio Update November 2018
Portfolio Update February 2019
Portfolio Update May 2019
Portfolio Update August 2019
Portfolio Update November 2019
Portfolio Update February 2020
Portfolio Update May 2020
Portfolio Update August 2020
Portfolio Update November 2020
 
On the human scope of things, those last few months have been rocky to say the least. Yet we all were lucky because events could have been even harsher, disasters were and are still just at our corner. Let’s hope for all our sake that things will get better now that the wolf is out of the sheepfold.
 
The air already feels fresher as common sense, cooperation and decency are getting back to the forefronts. Let’s hope most conservative Americans can wake up and really see the benefits of being kind to each other and sticking together.
 
Investing-wise, it has been smooth sailing, at least for us. We’ll briefly report on it next. Our main topic today will be to talk about our adventures withdrawing from our big banks RESPs. We’ll conclude with another quick review of our latest DIY Portfolio transactions.  
 
Once more, I’ll remind you that I am not an investment or tax professional of any kind. The intent of this blog is not to give specific investing advice. Before investing yourself, we suggest you do all necessary research and consult a licensed financial professional if need be. 
 
Still Going Strong
 
As always, we manage to stay patient thru all this. Markets and our morale were up and down (or maybe down and up) all last year. Our DIY Portfolio finally did quite well in 2020 with an overall return just under 15%, so our long-term average climbed a little to about 13%.

12-Minute Financial Makeover Step 4 - Keep Cash Flowing with Crap-Happens Plan

Our Financial Makeover Series talks about personal finance basics and lets you figure out what applies best to your own unique situation.

In Part 1, we pointed out to avoid fees as much as possible, especially the devastating recurring ones. We also suggested to open a no-fee online checking account.

In Part 2, we followed up by proposing to use no-fee savings account to organize the projects that provide you pleasure. We insisted on how budgeting can allow you to spend more on things you truly love.

We continued on a similar theme in Part 3, telling you that budget choices can make you feel awesome and emphasized on how it could provide you more freedom.

This time, we’ll talk about another way to liberate yourself from financial worries setting up a solid custom-made contingency plan.

In the financial realm, we often hear about that basic concept to set up a rainy-day fund. Some might argue that their financial days are already rainy, if not stormy.

But we really believe starting an emergency fund can be a great first step to getting out of the hazardous living-paycheck-to-paycheck spiral.

The object is not to obsess about risks. In fact, your own crap-happens plan could allow you to forget about possible misfortunes and free you up, allowing you to truly taste and appreciate life joys and ventures.

Try to Get Money Worries Out of Your Way

We know many of you worry about money even in normal situations, some even worry about finances all the time.

The main objective of the financial aspect of your contingency plan should be set enough money aside to allow yourself to focus on living through tough situations and fixing things for you and your family. Your contingency fund should allow to relieve financial pressure as much as possible in these bad situations.

It’s impossible to anticipate all eventualities, especially the worst ones. But, having some and enough money stashed away for those bad periods sure may help to cope with any situation. No matter how bad it can be.

For instance, losing your job can be very tough both financially and psychologically. Yet, having money aside should at least give you some time to get your act together and focus on finding a new job.

Another example would be if your fridge or car breaks down. Most people often have to move heaven and earth just to scratch sufficient funds for those kinds of repair. The actual hassle of just getting those things fixed is bad enough. At least get the money part of it out of your way.

Because it’s Much More Than About Money

You don’t have to become survivalists, but your contingency plan has to be more than about finances. For instance, everyone should have a plan in place to survive at home for 3-4 days.

Dealing with Complex Retirement Considerations

As eluded to in our latest Portfolio Update, Boy! is the Canadian retirement system complex. We recently have been doing some research on retirement planning and will now report our findings here. We won’t cover every possibility as we concentrated on our own situation. It should still give you hints on major points to consider. We’ll remain thorough but try not to lose you in all the details. We suggest you pick up all that applies to your retirement situation and refine other pertinent details on your own from there. At least, our exploration should give you a decent head start.

Our main objectives in all those proceedings in to retire comfortably and to try to provide as much money for our kids and grand kids while we’re alive and not only after we die. From the beginning, we thought that minimizing taxes along the way would be one of the best ways to achieve this. As we discovered, it may not be that simple.

Additional Interesting Budgeting Ideas

A couple months ago, we started this series on budgeting by presenting our distinctive way to Enjoy the Pleasures of Budgeting.

Last time, we talked about How Budgeting Can Be So Simple and Easy as even children can have fun with it.

Today, a more profound look at budgeting will propose interesting advanced budget ideas.

So, let’s cut to the chase and get right to it!

Additional Budget Tips

Before spending any of your hard-earned cash, you should always ask yourself this vital question: 

Do I really need it?

As we already talked before, in our consumption-driven society, a lot of people seem to crave high-ticket items and end up buying plenty of useless stuff.

To address this bad habit and improve deficient buying decision making, we like to convert possible purchases into working hours.

How Budgeting Can Be So Simple and Easy

Last month, we wrote about our unique way to Enjoy the Pleasures of Budgeting.

Today, we’ll continue on the same exciting subject and see how budgeting can be simple, accessible and even fun for everyone. We’ll also share some easy starting pointers. These fundamental basic budget principles should get you going in the right direction.

In our next and last article of this three-part series on budgeting (coming your way in June), we’ll continue to expose our distinctive point of view on the matter. Additional Interesting Budget Ideas will be presented to you along with more elaborate tips.

Simple Math

Many people get stopped by the supposedly complex nature of budgets.

But in fact, budgeting is only basic math. The arithmetic behind a balanced budget is far from rocket science. You only must obtain a positive result (greater than zero) when you add up your different sources of income and subtract all your expenses. No magic can get you around this basic budget equation.

Enjoy the Pleasures of Budgeting

Many view the budget as an ugly nagging beast they will never be able to master. Because it only reminds them about the frustration of being in the red, they prefer to ignore it instead of trying to tame it.

In the same fashion, many other persons not completely averse to budgets still find it utterly dull. In that sense, a lot of people resign themselves to accept the sad truth that money matters are a reality of our modern life and nobody can really get around it.

For us, keeping a budget is quite the opposite. It’s much more fun and to some extent, it rhymes with excitement! We get those pleasant vibes perhaps because we mostly associate budgeting to having dreams, realizing projects and the freedom of making choices.   

From our standpoint, a budget is an easy-to-use tool to understand where your hard earned money goes. It helps you regain or keep control over it. It can also point out interesting opportunities to improve.

An effective budget can be set-up on a single piece of paper, using the most sophisticated software or with many possibilities in-between.

Next time, we’ll talk about How Budgeting Can Be So Simple and Easy.

So today, let us expose our unique point of view on this simple yet extraordinary tool. Let’s hope you’ll see how powerful it can also become for you!

Focus Your Life On What You Love

A couple weeks ago, I was often feeling down as I got irritated and annoyed by every little detail that went wrong. I know it will probably sound very cliché but then I remembered to simply focus my life back on things and people I love.

Thinking that way again almost instantly made me feel better. Or at least, it got rid of unnecessary tension and that lighter, more relaxed atmosphere got me back on the happiness trail…

Over the years, trying to stay positive in that fashion has been the best way for me to cope with hardship and to remain happy.

So when I’m able to remind myself, I always try to focus on the fact that I love numbers, I love reading, I love writing, I love to help others, I love to play games…I sometimes love being alone but above all else, I love being a devoted father and husband!

Teach your Children to Properly Manage their Money with Both an Investment Account and a Fun Account

Investment Account and Fun Account

To help your children adopt good financial habits, open them a Long term investment account. But also open them a Fun account.

Every time your children receive money, ask them to deposit half of it in their investment account and the other half in their fun account.

Subsequently, they can do whatever they want with their fun account money as long as it’s something fun for them.

You Must Have A Will If You Have Kids

To Protect Your Children

If you have children, and even if you are still relatively young and healthy, it’s essential to have a valid and up-to-date will.

While it’s not pleasant to think about that possibility, there are certain arrangements that you should take now to ensure that your family is in good hands if both you and your spouse die.

Tutors and Life Insurance

Thus, in addition to clearly outlining your last wishes in your will, you should also appoint one or more tutors to take care of your loved ones if necessary. Adequate life insurance coverage is also desirable.

Learn About RESPs If You Have Kids

In Canada, governments really entice you to save for your children’s education. Especially if you are a low-income family, you must take advantage of all this free money.

Let’s start by looking at the Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). Although the RESP is a bit complex, it can be pretty interesting for most families.

Here are some highlights of the RESP to help you get the most out of it:

Contributions Not Tax-Deductible: RESP contributions are not deductible from your income tax, contrary to those of an RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan).

Grant and Bond: Instead, governments pay incentives to the RESP in the form of grant and bond.

Tax-Free Growth: money can grow tax-free while in the RESP.

Give Priority to Personal and Family Matters

Family First

While it’s commendable to think of others, you should always take special care of your family. Personal and family matters should be your first priority.

If you don’t do it, nobody will!

Work Hard Without Neglecting Your Family

Some work rigorously and prove to be outstanding managers for their company. But often become careless regarding their family and personal affairs. Therefore give at least as much importance to your family business.

Find A Good Family Doctor While You Are Healthy

Your Access-Point to the System

Nowadays, it is essential to have a good family doctor. Indeed, a good family physician will give you access to the whole healthcare system and its services.

Our healthcare system is not as bad as we believe; it is often only difficult to gain proper access to it.

Register Your Family Before You Get Sick

Because the registration process is usually pretty long, do what necessary now while you are still in good health and that you can bare the dreaded waiting-list. Even if this can take several months, it will be worth the wait.

Register all members of the family with the same doctor. Your future doctor is perhaps in a neighboring city, so make sure to check all services available in your surrounding area.

Quickly Estimate Your Life Insurance Need

Use the following formula to quickly estimate the level of life insurance coverage that you need:

Life Insurance Need =

Dependents x10 + Final Expenses + Debts – Assets

Dependents:

The annual amount necessary to meet the needs of people who financially depend on you. These people are mainly your children, maybe your spouse or other members of your family.  Your children will usually reach financial independence around the age of 25.

Factor 10:

This factor is an approximation.  The number 10 is relatively suitable for most cases, especially if dependents are young children.  It should be increased if a longer dependency period can be anticipated, for example, for handicapped dependents or stay-at-home spouses.

Final Expenses:

Mainly funeral expenses and other expenses to cover at death. The only part of the equation for all, throughout life. 10,000 to 15,000$ should be sufficient.