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Dear Clients & Friends,

We are pleased to announce that Nathan Parkhouse has recently achieved the designation of “Portfolio Manager”.

Becoming a Portfolio Manager is one of the investment industry’s most prestigious professional distinctions. It is reserved solely for an elite group of experienced financial service professionals whom meet the highest standards for advanced education, ethical conduct, industry experience and peer endorsement.

Recent market volatility across the global economy has left many investors feeling unsettled. Rattled even.

The impulse when living through this type of market turbulence is to do something. Anything.

But, before you do, considering the following:

When markets get choppy, it pays to have a plan for your investments, and, to stick to it!

The markets have become choppy once again, as global demand for oil is outpaced by supply, Greece continues to appear on the verge of a possible exit from the Eurozone, and China tries to balance a slowing economy and potential bubble in real estate.

“Nothing causes investors to question their strategy and worry about their money like a dramatic sell-off,” says John Sweeney, Fidelity executive vice-president of retirement income and investment strategies. “A natural reaction to that fear might be to reduce or eliminate any exposure to stocks, thinking it will stem further losses and calm you fears, but that may not make sense in the long run.”

Investment markets around the world have grown increasingly volatile recently because Greece has, thus far, failed to secure help to pay its national debt, raising questions about the future of the Eurozone, the health of European banks and what the crisis could mean globally.

Normal commerce has now become impossible in Greece.  Small businesses, lacking use of credit cards or money from bank accounts, are left to rely on cash coming from diminishing purchases from customers.  But Greeks are holding on tight to what they have. And suppliers are demanding that businesses pay cash up front.

When it comes to retirement, our expectations for our target retirement age are continuously reflecting the reality that:

A – We will live longer…so we’ll need more money to fund our retirement

B – We want to travel more…so we’ll need more money to fund our retirement

C – Our adult children will continue to depend on us financially…so we’ll need more money to fund our retirement

    Which type of goal planner are you:

A) The “do-nothing type”, because the alternative is too scary, i.e. reality

                      OR

B) The “over-analyzer”, to ensure you “get it right”, right down the last minute detail.

Either way, it’s crucial to understand the difference between a simple Wish and a true Goal.

TFSAs Have Doubled in Power: How to Capitalize in Your Own Portfolio

Once formally passed into law, the annual TFSA contribution limit will now increase to $10,000 per person.

What does this mean for you?

By 2016, a couple will have the ability to contribute a combined $100,000.  Double that to $200,000 per family if you have 2 children age 18 or older whom are still relying on you financially…and frankly, which Millennials aren’t!?!

If you are a successful Baby Boomer, when it comes to your retirement plans, you are probably asking yourself:

Will I have enough money to retire, when I want, the way I want?

But, what you should really be asking yourself first is:

It’s still happening!  The US stock market has continuously been hitting new highs over the past couple of years.

And now the German stock market is up 22% Year-to-Date, that’s right, a G7 developed nation’s stock market is up 22% in less than 3 months!

Note to selves: why didn’t we see this coming?!?

Investing successfully over the long-term actually requires the ability to be both!

The following article, recently published in the New York Times, brilliantly outlays the reasons for the need to be each, from three different perspectives: