tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5433839636644874439.post3181820486696190220..comments2024-03-04T13:37:11.022+00:00Comments on Canadian Financial DIY: Fees and Deals on TFSAs at Banks and Discount BrokeragesCanadianInvestorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645767559302303541noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5433839636644874439.post-15320460757010417012009-03-25T08:55:00.000+00:002009-03-25T08:55:00.000+00:00fundseeker, it appears that yes, you can trade suc...fundseeker, it appears that yes, you can trade such options in a TFSA. It looks like trading is now through Nasdaq. cf http://www.nasdaq.com/includes/canadian-dollar-specifications.stm<BR/><BR/>I've checked BMOIL and they show up as tradable symbols there so likely they will be offered at all Canadian brokers since they all offer access to Nasdaq.CanadianInvestorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05645767559302303541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5433839636644874439.post-83246322436730398522009-03-25T03:05:00.000+00:002009-03-25T03:05:00.000+00:00Can you tell me if Currency Options trades throug...Can you tell me if Currency Options trades through the Philadelphia Stock exchange, could be handled through a TFSA with any of the financial institutions offering them?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5433839636644874439.post-76488585681223282952008-12-13T02:33:00.000+00:002008-12-13T02:33:00.000+00:00Alan, good on you. Ya gotta be quick in this world...Alan, good on you. Ya gotta be quick in this world!CanadianInvestorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05645767559302303541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5433839636644874439.post-60753499765647369492008-12-12T19:41:00.000+00:002008-12-12T19:41:00.000+00:00That Canoe site is not always showing the true rat...That Canoe site is not always showing the true rates, as sometimes there are temporarily bonus’s that won’t show. But it’s a good start for research, for sure. Rates are dropping lately as well.<BR/><BR/>Believing that the rates for High-interest Savings and GICs are going to drop soon, I locked in some “interest-bearing” money to 3-year GIC with Canadin Tire Financial (min. $20K, cashable with lower rate), using several purchases of $20K each so as to keep flexibility. The rate of 4.45% included a .25% incentive.<BR/>Canadian Tire Financial:<BR/>https://www.myctfs.com/Rates/GICRates/ <BR/><BR/>HAH! I checked above and they have just reduced the rate yesterday, Dec. 11, to 3.75%, but still offer the .25% bonus, so it would be 4.0% on 3 year term.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5433839636644874439.post-74791789184491004622008-12-12T16:12:00.000+00:002008-12-12T16:12:00.000+00:00You are welcome Jordan. Re the TFSA withdrawal to ...You are welcome Jordan. <BR/>Re the TFSA withdrawal to avoid transfer fees, yes that can be done but the CRA rules do not allow you to put the money back back into a TFSA until the following year. <BR/><BR/>As for the real return bond question, the answer is that it functions like a separate asset class, uncorrelated to both regular bonds and equities, but it's worth another post with some details.CanadianInvestorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05645767559302303541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5433839636644874439.post-17901150467596627482008-12-12T15:41:00.000+00:002008-12-12T15:41:00.000+00:00I really appreciate answering my bond question so ...I really appreciate answering my bond question so quickly. Your bond ladder article was exactly what I was looking for. And you make a good point about inflation risk. +3% inflation makes a 2.5% real return bond look pretty good. Does a real return bond have the same level of negative correlation to the stock market like short term bonds?<BR/><BR/>Actually the TFSA article is very good as well, it's got me rethinking things.<BR/><BR/>One thing about your cost spreadsheet is Questrade doesn't charge you to close your an account, only to transfer. So if you wanted to move you could cash everything out on Jan 1st, close the account and re-deposit the amount somewhere else without losing anything contribution room or paying any fees.<BR/><BR/>Other places will probably cover transfer fees once the TFSA assets get larger.Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14261191417363201262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5433839636644874439.post-76476925113972182272008-12-12T10:54:00.000+00:002008-12-12T10:54:00.000+00:00Hi Jordan. Glad that Canoe link is useful. Sometim...Hi Jordan. Glad that Canoe link is useful. Sometimes the incidental info is better than the gist of the article, huh? ;-)<BR/><BR/>For the fixed income question, I wrote a detailed post last year http://canadianfinancialdiy.blogspot.com/2007/10/bond-index-etffunds-vs-bond-ladder.html about the pros and cons, which hopefully can get you down the road to deciding which route is best for you. The only thing I would add is that I am more and more becoming a fan of real return bonds since they maintain their value and provide after-inflation gains no matter what the economic situation. If inflation takes off in a few years as a result of all the monetary expansion going on right now, then locking in 5% won't be much good. Real return bond yields are reasonably good right now at around 2.5% (see CanadianFixedIncome.ca link in the right column of this blog under resources to get actual numbers right at the bottom of their page in a tab). There is a fund XRB for these but I don't believe it is useful or necessary to diversify, or incur the MER hit of the fund, since I plan to keep them till maturity and the issuer (Gov. of Canada) is about as safe as one can find.CanadianInvestorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05645767559302303541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5433839636644874439.post-16314707740821937622008-12-12T08:39:00.000+00:002008-12-12T08:39:00.000+00:00Thanks very much for providing the Canoe GIC Rates...Thanks very much for providing the Canoe GIC Rates link, I've been looking for something like that for a while. I'm still learning about fixed income and really had no idea how to compare the rates available.<BR/><BR/>Slightly off topic, but if I may ask... I'm looking to invest in bonds/gic for the 20% safe portion of my long term investments. It's suggested to buy a bond index like XSB or start a bond ladder, but with a 5% rate right now would it be better to just lock all or most of it in if I don't need any income out? Or is it still better to spread it out? Thanks!Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14261191417363201262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5433839636644874439.post-937336098705661372008-12-11T19:32:00.000+00:002008-12-11T19:32:00.000+00:00Thanks for the info, Charles, that's very useful.Thanks for the info, Charles, that's very useful.CanadianInvestorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05645767559302303541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5433839636644874439.post-16305795409663344512008-12-11T18:27:00.000+00:002008-12-11T18:27:00.000+00:00Qtrade has not made an outright announcement with ...Qtrade has not made an outright announcement with their commission structure, but there is a TFSA link on their web site: https://www.qtrade.ca/_pdfs/en/tax_free_savings_account_q_and_a_2008.pdf<BR/><BR/>This would seem to indicate they'll do it.<BR/><BR/>I'm presently a Credential Direct customer and I've been happy with them, so when they announced no annual fee and no withdrawal fee (although there's a transfer-out fee), that was good enough for me.Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15409812104188139451noreply@blogger.com