1. Frontline, a program on PBS, featured a story called The Retirement Gamble (the show itself may not be available to all readers) recently. The program takes a hard-hitting look at the state of retirement savings in America: too many people don’t save enough and those that do save are not investing it wisely or are getting fleeced by the financial industry. A cool graphic available here as a web extra, takes a stab at showing how much retirement fees are really costing you. Don’t let this happen to you.
2. A New York Times article profiled a money management firm that has an unique sales pitch by showing their expected returns after fees, taxes and inflation. Hint: Real returns are going to be rather modest.
3. This column in The Wall Street Journal says that stocks and bonds are pricing in divergent scenarios and one or both markets could turn out to be wrong.
4. Here’s a sobering article that points out that accumulating a $1 million nest egg isn’t as easy as the financial industry makes it out to be from a surprising source: CNBC.
5. Fortune magazine ran a story alleging long-term criminal fraud at Ranbaxy Labs, whose generic medicines appear to be widely prescribed in Canada as well. One wonders, what, if anything, Canadian authorities are doing to keep our medicines safe and efficacious.
6. The Economist magazine ran an update to its story on global real estate with valuation estimates based on rents and income. The Canadian housing market ranks high among the most richly valued markets.
7. The global financial crisis dealt only a glancing blow to Canada compared to many other developed markets. Outgoing Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney explained why in a recent speech.
8. Rich people are different from you and me. They lose more money in investing quipped Dan Solin, in a talk to clients of PWL Capital this week. Michael James on Money reported on the talk and a local radio station did a short interview with Mr. Solin.
9. Tom Bradley of Steadyhand Funds has put out a report called Five Essential Elements to Being a Better Investor. It contains sensible advice for keeping your emotions in check, a key to becoming a better investor.
10. Now for something completely different: Jon Stewart ran a funny piece on the troubles surrounding Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.
