Insights

By Joel Clark, CEO - Current macroeconomic factors have created a trifecta of headwinds for markets – namely, inflation, the monetary policy response to inflation, and the very real possibility of an economic downturn as a result of that policy response.

With interest rates rising, the housing market seems to be in a state of flux. The direction of housing prices – up, down or sideways – is a hot topic of conversation around dinner tables and office watercoolers, which is hardly surprising given how much wealth Canadians’ have tied up in their homes.

To say that the past few weeks have been rough for financial markets might be the understatement of the year. From April 1 to mid-May, the S&P 500 declined by nearly 12% – a full-blown correction.

Perhaps more than at any time in recent memory, today’s investing world seems to be driven by macroeconomic forces. No investor can afford to ignore what is going on in the big wide world – right now, it all matters.

Of all our financial affairs, planning for when we are not around is probably the most tempting one to put off. But it is also one of the most important. Setting aside a day or two every spring to do a “clean-up” of your estate planning documents will ensure they accurately reflect your goals.

Love is always better the second time around, as the old song goes. Yet the reality is that new relationships later in life can be fraught with peril, especially from a financial perspective.

As October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, KJ Harrison outlines the most common cyberattacks and how you can carry out simple security measures to protect yourself and mitigate potential security risks.

Learn more about the risk reflation poses to traditional bond allocations, the adverse impact of rising interest rates and alternative assets to generate income in this environment.