Hub Blogs

Hub Blogs contains fresh contributions written by Financial Independence Hub staff or contributors that have not appeared elsewhere first, or have been modified or customized for the Hub by the original blogger. In contrast, Top Blogs shows links to the best external financial blogs around the world.

Collateral vs Conventional Mortgages

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By Sean Cooper

Special to the Financial Independence Hub 

Collateral and conventional mortgages may sound similar, but they’re actually two separate and distinct things. In this article we’ll look at the difference between the two.

What is a Conventional Mortgage?

A conventional mortgage is the mortgage type most Canadians are familiar with. When you make at least a 20% down payment on a property, you can take out a conventional mortgage. This differs from an insured mortgage, where you can put down as little as 5% on a home.

With a conventional mortgage, the lender will let you borrow up to 80% of the property’s value. The property value is the lesser of the purchase price or the appraised value. Usually the purchase price and appraised value are the same, but sometimes they differ.

If the home is appraised higher than the purchase price, that’s a good thing. That means that you’re getting a good deal on the home. However, if the home is appraised at less than the purchase price, you’ll need to make up the difference if you still want to put at least 20% down.

With conventional mortgages, you get to choose the length of the mortgage. The most popular lengths or amortization periods are 25 and 30 years. If you’re looking for the lowest mortgage rate, a 25 year amortization usually offers that. However, if you’re looking for lower mortgage payments, the 30 year amortization is the best option.

What is a Collateral Mortgage?

Not to be confused with a conventional mortgage, a collateral mortgage is a lot like a conventional mortgage, but with a key difference. Unlike a conventional mortgage, a collateral mortgage re-advances. This means that a mortgage lender is able to loan out more funds as the value of the property goes up, without needing to refinance your mortgage. Continue Reading…

Stocks expected to keep outperforming bonds next 10 years: Franklin Templeton

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Investors should expect North American and international equities to continue to outperform bonds over the next ten years, according to senior portfolio managers for Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions. As the accompanying chart illustrates, expected returns for equities the next 10 years range from a 4.6% for US stocks to a high of 6.5% for Emerging Markets stocks. Canadian stocks are expected to do almost as well, at 6%, and EAFE equities will also outperform US stocks, with retiring expectations of 4.9%.

Returns for bonds are more modest: Franklin Templeton projects 1.8% return for Government of Canada Bonds and 2.4% for Global Investment Grade Bonds. The chart shows the volatility, topped by Emerging Markets at 16.9% and Canadian equities at 15%.

The forecasts were provided Tuesday at a virtual webinar at the Franklin Templeton 2022 Global Investment Outlook.

3% Global Growth should keep pace with Inflation

Over the next 7 to 10 years, the firm expects 3% annual global growth, roughly keeping up with inflation, said CFA William Yun, executive vice president for Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions. Over that time, equities should outperform fixed income and non-US equities should outperform US equities, he said.

Looking to Canada, Canadian stocks should have slightly higher expected returns, albeit with greater volatility, said Senior Vice President Ian Riach. The outperformance will be because of lower  “more reasonable” valuations for Canadian stocks, he added. “We are quite positive on the Energy and Financial Services sectors.”
Continue Reading…

How to pick US and Canadian Dividend-paying stocks

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By Ian Duncan MacDonald

Special to the Financial Independence Hub

Once upon a time there was a man who loved apples so much that he wanted to own an apple tree. So, he went to an apple-tree broker to buy one.  The man was impressed to see an apple tree one hundred feet tall with apples the size of basketballs. He asked how much it would cost to buy such a magnificent tree.

The apple-tree broker smiled tolerantly and said, “No one person can own such a magnificent tree. You can only own one tiny piece of it, a small branch a few inches long. How much do you have to invest?”

The man replied that he would like to own more than one tiny branch. Surely there must be something in your orchard that I can buy?”

The apple-tree broker said of course there is, but you must understand that for twenty years the apples that come from this magnificent tree have got increasingly bigger and even more plentiful. Even these  little twigs, in time, will produce several more giant apples than they do now.

“What else do you have?”

“Well over in this corner are 10 trees you could buy for the same amount of money; however, some years they do not produce apples and the apples are very small but if you really want a  bargain, I can give you 100 apple trees for one dollar. Hold out your hand.”

The apple broker poured one hundred apple seeds into the man’s palm who testily responded, “These aren’t magnificent apple trees?”

“No, these are speculative apple trees.  You are buying them for their potential.”

“What else do you have?”

“Well, see those fellows over there. They operate apple tree funds.  They buy 500 apple trees at a time and sell people like you a piece of their apple tree fund.”

“Are these 500 apple trees all magnificent trees?”

“No. Of course not. There are fewer than 100 magnificent trees available to buy.  The fund may have partial ownership of a dozen magnificent trees but for diversification they spread the risk of apple trees over five hundred trees. They call it their safe apple tree index.”

”Would this include some that are just seeds, some a few inches high, some a few feet higher and some fully grown ones whose production of apples may be spotty from year to year?

“It would but some might grow into magnificent trees, and you might be able to sell units in the fund for more than you paid.”

Safer to invest in 20 dividend-paying stocks than funds

This allegory is an attempt to explain why you are safer investing in 20 financially strong companies paying high dividends then investing in index funds, mutual funds, and ETFs. Why would you invest in hundreds of weak, mediocre stocks when you could invest the same amount of money in financially strong companies paying high dividends?  Strong companies with easily accessible historical records that can show their share price and dividend payments increasing yearly for decades.   Continue Reading…

How the new MoneySense ETF Finder Tool combines with the MoneySense ETF All-stars

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I will be giving a half-hour virtual presentation on Dec 2, 2021 on how the annual MoneySense ETF All-stars package can help retirees and near-retirees build their nest eggs and then draw income from them. (i.e. Accumulation and Decumulation).]

There will also be some new content on the new MoneySense ETF Finder Tool, which you can find here at the MoneySense site.

Below I describe how the new tool combines with the annual ETF All-star feature to help retail investors craft effective low-cost portfolios of ETFs.

The Canada Virtual Expo talk is on Nov 30 to Dec 2.  Registration is free. For more information, see this link posted at MoneySense.ca. Below is an ad that ran last week in the Globe & Mail: one of the event’s media sponsors:

 

Here’s how MoneySense describes the virtual talk it in the following post published Monday (Nov 29): What the right ETFs can do for you.

Jonathan Chevreau will be presenting: The MoneySense ETF All-Stars and Their Role in Establishing Financial Independence and Generating Retirement Income on Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 12:25 p.m. to 12:55 p.m. EST. Now in its ninth year, the ETF All-Stars helps Canadian investors narrow down the field of ETFs from the more than 1,000 currently available to a short list of roughly 50, spanning Canadian equities, US equities, international, fixed income, and one-decision asset allocation ETFs. Chevreau spearheads a panel of eight ETF experts, who also contribute more eclectic individual picks through the popular Desert Island pick feature. This talk will also cover the new MoneySense ETF Finder tool and how it works with the ETF All-Stars, covering core low-cost diversified investments as well as explore specialized theme, sector and regional ETFs.

ETFs have become so popular that there are now more than 1,000 listed on Canadian exchanges alone, with thousands more on US and international stock exchanges. Now in its 9th annual edition, I write up the feature each spring after conferring with an all-star panel of eight investing professionals and specialists. Together, we narrow the field to the very best options across five categories: Canadian, U.S., International, fixed-income and all-in-one asset-allocation funds.

In addition individual panelists provides their unique “Desert-Island Picks” that they are particularly passionate about and that may merit consideration, but don’t achieve the full-consensus vote otherwise required to make the cut.

Personally, ETFs are the “Core” of my personal portfolio now that I’m living in “semi-retirement” — working part-time, on my own terms, while also drawing income from investments. This lifestyle was described in my coauthored book (with Mike Drak): Victory Lap Retirement. Continue Reading…

9 ways Entrepreneurs finance their Startups

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As an entrepreneur, how have you financed your startup?

To help finance your next startup, we asked business professionals and leaders this question for their insights. From crowdfunding to savings from a full-time job, there are several ways to fund a startup.

Here are 9 ways entrepreneurs finance their startups:

  • Look into Commerce Authority Programs
  • Partner with Others
  • Finance with Commercial Bridge Loans
  • Connect with Local Non-Profits and Support Networks
  • Raise from Crowdfunding
  • Apply for Small Business Grants
  • Pitch to Potential Investors
  • Ask for Support from Family and Friends
  • Save Your Full-Time Salary

Look into Commerce Authority Programs

I’ve bootstrapped the financing of our company for 10 years, but programs from a local commerce authority can certainly help support and fund new initiatives. For example, the Arizona Commerce Authority offers programs such as the Small Business Capital Investment Incentive Program, where the ACA may certify up to $2.5M [US$] in tax credits each fiscal year, or the Rapid Employment Job Training Grant, a reimbursement for training and development expenses. Look into the programs at your local commerce authority, as many small businesses and startups may discover funding and grant incentives designed just for them. — Brett Farmiloe, Markitors

Partner with Others

Financing your business with partners to fund your growth in exchange for special access to your product, staff, distribution rights, ultimate sale, or some combination of those items using strategic partner financing is the best strategy to finance your startup. I’ve noticed that this option is often neglected. Strategic investments are similar to venture capitalism in that it is typically a stock sale (rather than a loan), yet it can also be royalty-based, in which the partner receives a portion of every sale, in my opinion. Partner financing is a great option because the firm you partner with is likely to be a huge corporation, and it may even be in a similar industry or one that has a stake in your company. — Carey Wilbur, Charter Capital

Finance with Commercial Bridge Loans

We like to overcome the obstacle of financing small businesses by bringing innovative solutions to the table. One such solution is our commercial bridge loans, which are flexible short-term financing options for commercial real estate properties. This might be a great option for fast growing businesses as they continue to grow and scale their operations.

As loan experts, we commit to truly helping clients as advisors. If you’re just starting a business, consider consulting a lending expert. Make sure your needs are heard and that you are provided with affordable options to choose from. — Allan J. Switalski, AVANA Capital

Connect with local Non-Profits and Support Networks

In addition to bootstrapping, local not-for-profit organizations and networks that support female entrepreneurs are some great ways to fund your startup. You can find funding and investors through these kinds of organizations like we did when we found Beam. One of the other great things about organizations like Beam is that you will become part of a network you can lean on for support and can also find mentorship from business professionals in your area. This mentorship can make a huge difference in helping you grow your business. Also, there’s a lot of grants out there that support female-founded businesses which require a little extra upfront research and work but another great avenue to fund the business.

— Sara Shah, Journ

Raise from Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding may be an alternative if you have a hot idea and are good at social media. When crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo were launched, there were a lot of enterprises that had significant success raising funds through their reach.

What’s the disadvantage? Because many businesses seek funding through crowdfunding, you must build a lot of buzz in order to cut through the total signal noise. Unfortunately, it’s also easy to overextend yourself and irritate backers, which can lead to a lot of resentment before your firm even gets off the ground. — Veronica Miller, VPNOverview

Apply for Small Business Grants

I usually advise startups to consult small business grant administrators to fund your startups. Especially, when your new company is a pioneer and investing in innovative technologies and techniques, more funding opportunities arise.  What’s more, small businesses founded by women, minorities, or veterans are often eligible for grants from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and other organizations that promote entrepreneurship. If you fall into one of these categories, you should contact your local SBA branch or chamber of commerce to see if there is any local grant money available. — Spiros Skolarikis, Comidor

Pitch to potential Investors

We joined an accelerator program that connected us to investors. In turn, they take a share in the company in exchange for capital. The ownership-to-capital ratios are variable and are usually determined by a company’s valuation. I believe this is a wonderful option for companies who don’t have physical collateral to serve as a lien on a bank’s loan. However, it is only a good fit when there is a proven high growth potential as well as a competitive advantage of some sort, such as a patent or a captive consumer. Another advantage of working with investors is that they may give you a wealth of information, industry connections, and a clear path for your company. — Guy Katabi, Lightkey

Ask for support from Family and Friends

Borrowing money from friends and family is a traditional method of starting a business. While it may be more difficult to persuade investors or banks of the excellence of your idea, your family and friends will typically trust in your ambition.

They might be more willing to contribute to the funding of your company. If you do seek loans from friends and family, make sure that each of you has appropriate legal guidance, especially if the money is taken as a loan. However, what about the disadvantages? Borrowing money is an easy way to alienate friends and ruin family relationships. If you decide to go this route, go with caution. — Edward Mellett, Wikijob

Save your full-time Salary

I financed my startup with the salary from my full-time job. I was fortunate to have a good paying job as a software engineer, which enabled me to fuel my startup while it was just a side hustle. I’ve never been a big spender, and I live modestly:  this low-cost lifestyle left me with enough money to feed my business while getting it off the ground. I have since quit my job and operate my small business with the money it generates. –– Andy Kolodgie, Cash Home Buyers Georgia

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