By 2 Cents on November 21st, 2011 | Category: Life Balance |  We’re not talking about mere balance here . . . A visionary company doesn’t simply balance between idealism and profitability; it seeks to be highly idealistic and highly profitable . . . a highly visionary company doesn’t want to blend yin and yang into a gray, indistinguishable circle that is neither highly yin nor highly yang; it aims to be . . . both at the same time, all the time.
~ James Collins & Jerry Porras, Built to Last
The English proverb tells us that we can’t have our cake and eat it too. I’ve often struggled to understand exactly what that means. I guess it’s supposed to imply that we can’t have it both ways. How can we preserve something of value if we continue to consume it?
Today’s quote comes from a book I’ve been reading on visionary companies: the ones that stand the test [...]
Read on and enjoy … Why Can’t We Have Our Cake and Eat It Too?
By 2 Cents on November 18th, 2011 | Category: Economics |  Editor’s Note: The following is a guest post by John C.K. Daly.
The good news is that on 8 November the International Energy Agency released its 2011 “World Energy Outlook.” While it will cheer nuclear advocates, overall the report makes for grim reading. Pulling no punches, the report states at the outset, “There are few signs that the urgently needed change in direction in global energy trends is underway.”
Stripped of its cautious language, the IEA report essentially noted that should present trends continue, the world’s governments through a lack of progressive initiative embracing alternative energy sources would continue to rely on ‘tried and true” fossil fuels, resulting in increased pollution, more fossil-fuel dependency and increasingly upward energy prices. For environmentalists, this is all good news, but the report contained a caveat virtually anathema to all green movements, that accordingly, governments should reconsider their reluctance to embrace [...]
Read on and enjoy … IEA Report Advises Governments to Embrace Renewables and Nuclear
By 2 Cents on November 15th, 2011 | Category: Saving |  Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
~Leonardo DaVinci
When the Tax Free Savings Account was introduced in Canada in 2009, it was hailed for its practicality and simplicity. Any Canadian 18 years or older can now contribute up to $5000 per year to a TFSA and have those savings grow completely tax free. While TFSA contributions are not tax deductible, you will not have to pay any tax on the money you withdraw from your TFSA.
You can put just about any type of investment in your TFSA, or choose a number of different TFSA accounts for different purposes. You could simply have a TFSA savings account, or you could open a TFSA brokerage account whereby you could include stocks, bonds, ETFs or just about any other type of investment vehicle. Whether you earn interest, dividends or capital gains on your savings, your money can be withdrawn tax free. [...]
Read on and enjoy … TFSA Contribution Limit for 2012
By 2 Cents on November 9th, 2011 | Category: Investing |  You don’t get harmony when everybody sings the same note.
~Doug Floyd
Every so often I like to write about what the bulls are saying versus what the bears are saying. Usually, both make a pretty good case. That doesn’t make it any easier for investors to make decisions, but it does offer them some balanced information which they can then use in any way they like. Today’s bull vs. bear debate zeroes in on a few specific factors rather than presenting a comprehensive overview.
I recently came across two differing takes on the market heading into the end of the year. The fourth quarter is often pivotal for portfolio managers as it’s their last chance to meet or beat their benchmark. Like it or not, that’s the nature of the game and it can affect markets as investors jump on trends in an attempt to cross the [...]
Read on and enjoy … Bulls vs. Bears: Q4 2011 Edition
By 2 Cents on November 4th, 2011 | Category: BJ News | It’s time to announce the winner of the signed copy of Never Too Late by Gail Vaz-Oxlade. I chose a random number based on the number of comments. The number was actually 1, so the first commenter won the book. Congratulations Sue! I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.
By 2 Cents on November 2nd, 2011 | Category: Investing |  Illusions commend themselves to us because they save us pain and allow us to enjoy pleasure instead. We must therefore accept it without complaint when they sometimes collide with a bit of reality against which they are dashed to pieces.
~ Sigmund Freud
November started out much the same as October. Global markets plunged. By October 4th, however, most indices had bottomed and proceeded to embark on a historic month-long rally in anticipation of some kind of tangible action to quell the Eurozone debt crisis. As of October 30th, Toronto’s TSX was up about 7.7% on the month while the S&P 500 was up a whopping 13.5%. Those gains moderated somewhat to 5.5% and just shy of 11% respectively because of the Halloween dip.
So what caused the October bounce and subsequent fall from grace? Perhaps there were just enough rumours of a Eurozone debt solution throughout October [...]
Read on and enjoy … What Happened to the Euro Deal Euphoria?
By 2 Cents on November 1st, 2011 | Category: 20 Cents |  It’s hard to believe 2011 is already winding down. Soon we’ll be busy with holiday preparations, year end reviews and goals for 2012. It’s been a beautiful fall in our new city and I look forward to experiencing Christmas here for the first time. Now ~ 1. Where to find a tree? & 2. Where to put it in the new house? Hmmm . . .
While I wrestle with these profound questions, I’ll leave you with a selection of 2 cents from 10 different places. Enjoy!
1. Jonathan Burton of Market Watch wrote an interesting article on Why Geezers Give the Best Investment Advice. ‘Based on the evidence found in the research, anyone between 43 and 63 “is really in their cognitive sweet spot.”’ Woo hoo! I’m almost in my cognitive sweet spot! Wait . . . does that mean I’m almost [...]
Read on and enjoy … 20 Cents from October 2011
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