Posts by shelby@shelbyart.com

As a good friend and successful investor once told me, “better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.”  I recall the comment was for insurance but it seems appropriate here. In the securities world, advisors make asset allocation decisions primarily between stocks, bonds and cash.  Further diversification can…

How do you prepare for an interview with a financial professional and more importantly, what questions should you ask? A first meeting should involve the planner asking the majority of the questions.  A second or even multiple meetings are common.  Below are some of the questions you should get answers to before putting pen to…

With the loonie trading below the 90 cent range it will be a more expensive year for those who haven’t hedged their bets by also owning U.S. dollars.  At some point you may find convenience in establishing a bank account in U.S. $ either here or below.  A U.S. dollar credit card may be of…

Not the Anne Murray song nor the southern migration of a bird of flight.  Rather, the term commonly associated with border crossing Canadians in search of sun for a good part of the year. Depending upon who you talk to it is either that enviable time you dream about or a time fraught with pitfalls,…

Once reserved for only the wealthy, access to investment counsel firms have become more commonplace in recent years. At minimum, one requires obtaining a Portfolio Manager designation or similar and the granting of a license from the BC Securities Commission with all related initial requirements of experience, capital, insurance and ongoing regulatory compliance. Potential advantages…

Many will remember the tv commercial of the mechanic who looks up at the owner of a car and says, “you can pay me now or you can pay me later.” The commercial was for Fram and the inference was that a small investment in a new oil filter and change could prevent a costly…

Both my grandfathers were born in Europe.  Both made their way to this country with little in their pockets.  Both by themselves, both as teenagers. Times have changed.  The when, how and if the kids are ready to leave and make their own way. Some choose to leave as soon as high school is completed.…

I’ve never logged, worked in a mine or a pulp mill.  The closest I got was a summer job at the former Raven Lumber.  What these occupations had in common was that they were all subject to market forces, seasonal shutdowns and strikes. Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s we saw them all.  The…

Keeping up with the Joneses commonly refers to our desire to have (or at least appear to have) the material wealth of our peers.  For at the heart of all social interactions is our desire to fit-in or belong. It starts young.  Savvy marketing aimed at toddlers.  Pretty soon a sugary cereal in a bright…

Many seniors today have benefitted from both the fortunate times they were born in and their own good financial habits.  It didn’t start out this way as most lived in modest homes, many with a single car in the driveway.  Vacations were something that involved a drive into the nearby woods sleeping under something fashioned…