Stop Whining Already

Although, I prefer to spread things around, people keep whining for more economic splashes. So here's 1 big wave

1. Pay off debt before anything else.

2. Never borrow $, except for education or a house.

3. Be an investor, not a trader--an occasional buyer--not a seller.

4. Use an on-line discount broker--not a full service broker

5. Brokers are salesman, not analysts.

6. Minimize fees

7.In the market, perception is reality

8. Maximizing Education, maximizes income

9. Government jobs give generally lower wages, but far better benefits than the private sector

10 Try to save 20% of your net income to pay down debt and invest.

11. First-get a TFSA, then buy a house and pay down Mortgage.--and look up new words you may not know.

12. Get mortgages with weekly, not monthly payments

13. Buy disability, term, replacement cost property and vehicle insurance.

14. Don't buy whole life or appliance repair insurance.

15. Use DRIPs

16. Buy ETFs, Never Mutual Funds

17. Active trading and, speculation are strictly for "insiders" and pros

18. Don't buy options, currencies, airlines, airline, television or desk-top computer manufactures.

19  Don't buy companies who provide goods and services where their prices are regulated by government.

20. Buy ETFs--not individual stocks

21 Buy "vanilla" ETFs that actually hold stocks, rather than options.

22 Have 1 credit card that collects dividend rather than Aeromiles, and pay it off automatically each month.

23. Economics is called the"dismal science", because it pretends that it is a science.

24. Don't follow the herd.

25. If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.

25. Buy houses and ATVs in Dec.: electronics, appliances and dress clothes in Jan,: cars, winter clothes and snowmobiles in March, and buy summer clothes, and boats in Aug.

26. Never buy a new car--buy used with an extended warranty, give it regular maintenance and drive forever.

27 In investing your asset allocation is more important than your specific holdings.

28.After age 50,  the % of your total total assets ( excl.real estate) that are in fixed assets should=your age, and the balance of your total should be blue chip growth stocks, EFFs..

29. Buy Canada, USA, India and Brazil.

30 Only invest indirectly in China.

31 Buy stocks in agriculture, water, leisure, on-line retailers, artificial hips.

32. In terms of taxes, a principal residence is best, then dividends and then interest income--unless its in a "sheltered" account.

33.50% of stock returns come from dividends.
 
34. There are no guarantees in life--or the market.

35. Generally, look at your investments just once a quarter--instead live your life.