Blog: Cutting Through the Noise
Postings
For Money Managers, Small Can be Beautiful
Excerpt from Tom Bradley's blog on February 4, 2012
Boyd Erman wrote an article before Christmas titled “Squeeze Is On For Smaller Investment Firms.” When I saw the headline, I shuddered a little. Was he going to talk about firms that don’t have billions of dollars under management? Was he going to burst my...Read More
Your Portfolio Performance Needs a Regular Check-up
Excerpt from Tom Bradley's blog on January 21, 2012
A meeting I had with a prospective client a few years ago has always stuck with me. She told me her adviser had done well for her in the previous five years, but had been letting her down more recently. After reviewing the data, we discovered the...Read More
ETF Sales - Underwhelming and Disappointing
Excerpt from Tom Bradley's blog on January 17, 2012
This week the 2011 sales numbers came out for Canadian ETFs (exchange traded funds). For the year, $7.6 billion flowed into ETFs (net of outflows) and total assets in the 200 plus funds finished at $43 billion. While the number of funds exploded in 2011...Read More
First Rant of 2012: RRSP Transfers
Excerpt from Tom Bradley's blog on January 10, 2012
I just finished listening to Chris talk with a client about her RRSP transfer. He told her that the paperwork had been sent to the relinquishing institution and we would be monitoring its progress. Chris tried to set reasonable expectations, “Given our...Read More
Five Keys to Staying on the Long-term Track
Excerpt from Tom Bradley's blog on January 7, 2012
My holiday reading included two journal articles that challenge the notion that investing for the long term reduces risk. The message: It’s all well and good to recommend that an investor take the long view and not worry about short-term market dips...Read More
A List to Santa That'll Make the Investing World a Better Place
Excerpt from Tom Bradley's blog on December 23, 2011
I came out of the “me” generation (have I told you about my latest injury?), so even though this time of year is about giving, I’m mostly into receiving. In our household, my wife Lori goes for quantity at Christmas, while I’m all about quality. When I wrote...Read More
Different This Time?
Excerpt from Tom Bradley's blog on December 19, 2011
“Tom, I agree with your view on stocks, and boy, you’re so right about how negative people are, but ... I can’t help but wonder if it’s different this time.” It’s different this time. I’ve been trained to never utter these words. They’re the most dangerous four...Read More
In a World of Negatives, Search for What Could go Right
Excerpt from Tom Bradley's blog on December 10, 2011
It’s a remarkable time to be an investor and investment professional. After decades of overspending, we’re watching Europe melt down and the American empire decline faster than anyone expected. The debt burden has accelerated the power...Read More
Taking Stewardship Initiative
Excerpt from Tom Bradley's blog on December 2, 2011
As readers will know, Steadyhand has ranked highly on Morningstar's annual Stewardship Grades. That status was reinforced last night when we won the Best Stewardship Initiative Award at the Canadian Investment Awards.Read More
Now That's Ironic – Part II
Excerpt from Tom Bradley's blog on November 30, 2011
While Scott finds it ironic that the low-fee fund firms come out of high-cost Vancouver, I find it equally ironic that two of the highest fee firms in the industry come out of my home town. Winnipeg, which is known as the wholesale capital of Canada...Read More
Check Your Emotions at the Border, the U.S. Looks Good
Excerpt from Tom Bradley's blog on November 26, 2011
A year ago, I wrote a column inspired by a holiday in Arizona (my in-laws have that effect on me). The piece attempted to level a rather tilted picture of the United States, one that was firmly focused on dismal economic and political news. I suggested that from...Read More
Old News
Excerpt from Tom Bradley's blog on November 14, 2011
“I think the future of equities will be roughly the same as their past; in particular, common-stock purchases will prove satisfactory when made at appropriated price levels. It may be objected that it is far too cursory and superficial a conclusion; that it...Read More
