It is a bit quiet on the Canadian Money Forum this week owing to the holidays but check out this thread that contains some excellent posts on the basics of bonds.
- Voting for the “best of the blogs” continues on the Globe & Mail website. iBankCoin, a blog liberally sprinkled with four-letter words is a runaway winner at 533 votes but Million Dollar Journey (311 votes) and Squawkfox (296 votes) are headed towards a photo finish. The votes will be tallied on Monday and your vote may decide who goes home with the silver medal.
- This week, Bernie Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison for running the largest Ponzi scheme in history. Jonathan Chevreau wonders if investors should diversify among money managers in the post-Madoff world. Then again, hiring multiple money managers isn’t without its share of problems.
- Larry Swedroe explains how to avoid being scammed by the Bernie Madoffs of the world.
- Avner Mandelman reckons that investors can estimate the intrinsic value of certain securities rather easily.
- Michael James says that the assaults on private-sector pensions will, unfortunately, continue.
- On Canada Day, Four Pillars highlighted some of the newer financial blogs.
- I almost chocked on my morning coffee when I read the title of Gail’s post: The Upside of Credit Cards. Gail hasn’t gone over to the dark side — she explains that credit cards are simply a tool and there are benefits in using them responsibly.
- Million Dollar Journey featured a post that answered some common questions regarding financial coaching.
- I find a written investment policy statement incredibly useful in keeping emotions in check during periods of euphoria or panic. Financial Highway explains the basics of an IPS.
- Money Energy says that stress can lead to bad money decisions.
