Economy | Crawford • Ashwood Financial

In today’s challenging times marked by geopolitical tensions and fluctuating market conditions, I’d like to emphasize the importance of staying the course and not reacting impulsively to short-term news. The current uncertainties surrounding tariffs and trade wars can provoke anxiety but remember that patience and discipline are essential for long-term investment success. For many of my clients who rely on regular income from their portfolios, maintaining a “cash wedge” or “income wedge” can be a practical strategy. In short, this approach sets aside a portion of assets in cash and/or GICs to secure an individual’s income needs for a period…

As the landscape of investing continues to evolve with external factors like tariffs and political fluctuations, understanding the role of active management in mutual funds becomes top of mind. Active portfolio management not only aims to preserve capital but also to capitalize on opportunities across various market conditions. The Benefits of Active Management Active management offers the advantage of adaptability, allowing fund managers to make informed decisions based on their insights into market trends, including during uncertain political times. Their strategic approach is particularly valuable in adjusting investments in response to shifting economic policies and geopolitical developments. Here are some…

Inflation is a critical factor in personal finance that can significantly affect your purchasing power over time, particularly as you plan for retirement. As prices rise, the same amount of money will buy fewer goods and services in the future. This blog post will explore how inflation impacts your savings and investments and provide strategies to mitigate its effects, including a calculation on how retirees can maintain their retirement income needs over a period of 20 years. What is Inflation? Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises, eroding purchasing power. Central…

The month of October saw a very strong upswing on the major market indexes. This does not change the fact that 2022 has been an emotional time for investors. It’s always uncomfortable to live through these kinds of extended market downturns. During these periods of discomfort, it can be helpful to reflect on the past as means to help frame the eventual path forward. Keeping focused on your long-term goals is important during these uncertain times. During these kinds of markets, I remind my clients that these are not uncharted waters. Over the past 60+ years, equity markets have seen…

For years I have been having the conversation with clients around how interest rates won’t stay low forever, and how to be prepared for the eventual rise of mortgage rates. In the last few years, the housing market has been on fire, and houses have been selling way above their actual realistic value. Buyers have been enjoying super low interest rates, but did they think about what happens in 4-5 years time when their term mortgage renewal is several percentage points higher than when they bought (or refinanced) their house? More specifically, did they have someone advising them on some…

2022 has been the year of market volatility and understandably an uncomfortable time for investors. The “statement shock” can be worrying for many people when they see their investments worth less than they were three or six months ago. Most of my clients are experienced when it comes to the ups and downs, but nevertheless, it is a time of many questions about what you should do when markets are down. Every time it happens it feels like it’s different this time. The reasons may be different, but the response should be the same. First, I want to summarize the…

Well, we’ve climbed steadily back up, so where does the market goes from here? This is a question I have been getting a lot recently. We witnessed a huge decline in the stock market last March, and a record-breaking recovery back from that downturn. World markets are again at all-time highs, which understandably will raise questions about how it can possibly continue. When is the next crash? I have been listening to top portfolio managers, economists, and market strategists speak about the past year, and the outlook moving forward. The outlook is still very bullish on stocks. There has been…

To say 2020 has been an interesting year would be a massive understatement. Although in many ways it has been uncomfortable, it has also given us some time and space to take stock. And from my perspective as an ‘older adult’, yes ok, a senior citizen, the times of most discomfort provide the biggest lessons in our lives. When viewed with a curious mind we can find all kinds of useful learning opportunities through these times of COVID-19. Here are some things that have not changed but perhaps we needed to be reminded of: Obvious personal reminders are that our…

We’d like to share some comments on the upcoming U.S. Presidential Election—and the continuing effects of the current pandemic. It is so easy to get stirred up by the media that focuses only on the current and short-term view (which let’s face it has been rather dismal lately), and totally miss the long view. Calmer heads are looking past these short-term uncertainties however, and they are seeing opportunities for positive change in a variety of ways. We don’t profess to be experts in U.S. politics, so we won’t be calling the election here. The fact is anything could happen on…

I think that we are all feeling various levels of unease at present; from slightly off kilter to all-out anxiety. Watching the numbers of new infections of COVID-19 every day certainly doesn’t help, nor do the wild swings in markets help calm us. We are living in a world where we are bombarded with daily news and it can be exhausting trying to keep up with it all. As we talk to many of our clients, we find that everyone’s approach to coping is different. Some people are glued to their TVs and radios, others are choosing to use this…

Category Archives: Economy

Canada vs. US Trade War

Embracing Active Management Amidst Political Uncertainty

The Impact of Inflation on Savings and Investments

Market Update

Rising Mortgage Interest Rates

Market Update

Market Update

Goodbye 2020

What in the World?!

Thoughts for Difficult Times