Think Smart with TMFG

Episode 228: The Value of Global Balanced Portfolios

Global balanced funds offer several benefits to investors seeking a diversified and well-managed investment approach. First and foremost, these funds provide exposure to a wide range of asset classes, including stocks, bonds, and sometimes alternative investments, helping to spread risk and reduce volatility in a portfolio. This diversification can help cushion the impact of market fluctuations and potentially enhance long-term returns. Learn more about why you should consider global balanced funds.

(00:22): When did we realize the value of the global balanced funds?
(02:57): What a global balanced portfolio looks like
(04:35): Our approach
(05:16): Why choose a balanced fund?
(06:22): Risk Management
(06:57): What is rebalancing?
(08:53): The best way to generate retirement income
(09:34): Transparency is important.
(10:16): Flexibility
(11:21): Advantages of balanced funds
(13:16): What trends are we seeing in balanced funds?
(15:43): What do fees look like in balanced funds?

Episode 227: Could a Crystal Ball Get You the Ideal Returns on Your Investments?

If we could look into the future what changes could we make to increase your chances of success in the market? Listen today as Senior Financial Advisors Rob McClelland and Mike Connon take you on that journey.

(05:11)  Hindsight is 2020
(06:13): Exciting new ideas
(08:44): Investing in startups

(10:10): How things can go horribly wrong
(17:37): Unforeseeable advancements in technology
(19:51): Companies that have a great product but don’t turn a profit

Episode 226: Why Is it So Damn Hard to Get Good Returns on Your Investments?

Today on the ThinkSmart Podcast, Senior Financial Advisors Rob McClelland and Mike Connon discuss the many ways you can unintentionally lose money on your investments. It's astonishing to realize that just a few of these seemingly minor mistakes can be extremely costly to your portfolio.

Don't Miss Our In-Person Evening Speaker Series Why Your Investment Portfolio is Always Underperforming September 28th Thornhill Golf and Country Club 7994 Yonge Street, Thornhill, ON L4J 1W3 Doors Open for Registration and Dinner at 5:45 pm Speakers begin at 6:30 pm

 

Client Registration 

 

Guest Registration 

 

(01:19): Those small mistakes can be costly.
(04:06): Active or passive strategy?
(05:09): What do returns look like for the most common Canadian portfolio mixes?
(06:23): What about GICs?
(06:31): Why rebalance a portfolio?
(06:47): What’s the cost of not rebalancing?
(08:02): Moving to a conservative portfolio.
(08:44): Continuous savings plans are essential.
(09:25): Don’t get caught up with insider information.
(13:14): What you pay in fees matters.
(15:03): Trying to time when you enter the market never works.
(15:52): Moving to cash out of fear.

 

 

Episode 225: Big Tech Predictions 2023 and Beyond

How is technology affecting your everyday life and what should we expect to see in the future? Today on ThinkSmart Senior Financial Advisors Rob McClelland and Mike Connon discuss tech pundit Benedict Evans' 2023 big tech review. 

 

(01:34): What is web 3?

(02:30): It’s not just you cryptocurrency is a very confusing subject.

(03:18): Keeping big business and government out of everything sounds good right?

(06:13): Where we came from in the computing world

(06:55): How computing works today

 (07:28): Decentralization, good or bad?

(13:33): Convenience is causing us to choose other means of interacting with the real world

(16:03): Start-ups vs. big companies

 

 

Episode 224: RRSPs Are a Big Marketing Gimmick

We came across an article that stated, "RRSPs are a big marketing gimmick." Today on, ThinkSmart Senior Financial Advisors Rob McClelland and Mike Connon take a closer look at this statement to weigh the pros and cons of RRSPs as we know them.

 

(01:20): RRSP season now vs. 25 years ago
(01:48): RRSPs vs. Pensions
(03:58): Tax savings with your RRSP

(04:49): Is it really a gimmick?
(06:27): What's the ideal time to make your RRSP contribution?
(07:17): Dollar-cost averaging your contributions.
(08:13): TFSAs vs. RRSPs
(12:05): So, is a TFSA still a valuable account?
(13:02): How do you find the right mix between the two?
(15:17): First Home Savings Account

Episode 223: All the Financial Mistakes We Have Made Over the Years

You might be surprised to hear it, but we make mistakes too. Today on ThinkSmart, Senior Financial Advisors Rob McClelland and Mike Connon discuss some of the mistakes they have made in their personal and professional finances and the big lessons they have learned as a result.

 

Key Points from this Episode:
(01:36): Rob’s investment mistakes
(06:28): Mike’s financial mistakes
(08:12): Business mistakes

Episode 222: Delegation: How It Can Help You Achieve More Out of Life

Today on ThinkSmart, Senior Financial Advisors Rob McClelland and Mike Connon discuss the value of delegation and recognizing your unique ability. Also, learn what is happening around our office in terms of delegation and expansion.

Key Points from this Episode:
(00:34): How to make the most of your time
(04:36): How delegation has enabled us to be better Advisors
(07:14): Why do some people refuse to delegate?
(08:48): What are the advantages of delegation?
(09:52): Looking for your unique ability
(11:33): What’s happening at the office in terms of delegation and expansion?

Episode 221: The Weather Forecast: Predictions and Forecasts in the Financial Markets

Sometimes predictions and forecasts can be useful in financial planning. Listen to ThinkSmart with Senior Financial Advisors Rob McClelland and Mike Connon today to see when and how to use them well.

Key points:

(07:33): Predictions and forecasts can be important in finance
(08:13): The markets are unpredictable
(09:43): Short-term predictions
(10:06): How do we use forecasting?
(12:17): Inflation trends

 

Episode 220: Moving Money is Not Saving Money

Are you actually saving money or are you living beyond your means? Today on ThinkSmart, Senior Financial Advisors Rob McClelland and Mike Connon discuss the pros and cons of various financial products and what successful debt management should look like.

 

Key points:
(00:39): How to successfully improve your net worth
(02:56): How to reduce your debt
(06:56): Debt is debt
(08:58): RSP
(09:49): TFSA
(10:15): FHSP
(10:39): Open accounts
(10:57): Corporate accounts
(11:24): RESPs
(11:42): Registered Disability Savings Plan
(12:23): High-Interest Savings Account
(12:47): Discipline can be hard, make it easier on yourself
(14:12): In-kind contributions and moving money
(16:26): The best ways to save

Episode 219: Investing is Not Gambling

When our Canadian heroes are peddling sports gambling has Canada allowed gambling to go too far? Today on ThinkSmart, Senior Financial Advisors Rob McClelland and Mike Connon take a deeper look at what gambling might be doing to our country and our kids. 

 

Key points:
(01:13): Our Canadian heroes are promoting gambling?
(04:22): The prevalence of Internet gambling
(05:12): Sports gambling
(07:47): The risks of online gambling
(09:11): How does gambling relate to investing?
(10:19): What’s become of the Robo-advisor?