Comments on: 2008 Portfolio Returns

By: MoneyEnergy

MoneyEnergy — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 07:10:26 +0000

I haven’t been keeping track of such year-to-year fluctuations in market value. The numbers I look at more often are simply networth (ok, that is partly based on MV) and cashflow: is the cashflow growing. But judging from my RRSP numbers alone, my RRSP is still down about 25%. It’s mostly in Canadian dividend income.

By: Four Pillars

Four Pillars — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:07:11 +0000

James – yes, the currency changes often outweigh any investment decisions.

DGI – you’re right – good moves are just luck!

CC – wow, that’s some good trading!

By: Canadian Capitalist

Canadian Capitalist — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:08:52 +0000

I owned E*Trade and AIG and sold out of them as part of a move to mostly passive portfolio. Glad I did. Both are down more than 90%.

By: Dividend Growth Investor

Dividend Growth Investor — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:46:26 +0000

I have gotten “lucky” before as well. However any time I get lucky twice in a row and start believing that I am the best investor in the world, third time my luck evaporates into stock market losses.

So I keep a simple allocation, diversification and dollar cost averaging..

Dividend Growth stocks did well in 2008overall , so the fact that I had a slighlty worse return than you is not because I am the best stock market investor in the world.

By: James

James — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:43:46 +0000

Although in the long run… it will come out in the wash, in January I moved the majority of my non Canadian Index ETFs (85% of portfolio) to Vanguard on the NYSE, which of course is traded in Canadian dollars. The move was motivated by the significantly lower MERs. Because of the weakened CAD, the paper loss is significantly lower (21% vs. 40%).