Blog
Browse hundreds of posts from Dan’s award-winning blog for information about all aspects of Couch Potato investing.
Couch Potato Portfolio Returns for 2013
Here are the 2013 performance figures for my Model Portfolios. Last year was one of stark contrasts: huge returns in stocks combined with dismal bond [...]
Remodelled Portfolios for 2014
Another new year is upon us, and it’s time review my model Couch Potato portfolios. I’ve been at pains to discourage investors from tinkering with the [...]
The Failed Promise of Market Timing
I’ve long believed the most difficult part of being a Couch Potato investor is resisting temptation. Index investors are asked to be content with mark [...]
Why Has VRE Outperformed Its Rivals in 2013?
It's been a marvellous year for equities, but 2013 has not been kind to real estate investment trusts. Like other income-producing investments, REITs [...]
The Powerful Pull of Possibility
If the evidence in favour of passive investing is so strong, why isn’t the strategy more popular? I hear that question all the time, and there are sev [...]
Ask the Spud: When Should I Use US-Listed ETFs?
Q: Under what specific circumstances would it be better to hold a US-listed ETF if there is a Canadian equivalent? For example, when it is preferable [...]
Norbert’s Gambit: The Complete Guide
[This post was updated in February 2015 to reflect recent changes at some brokerages.] Norbert’s gambit remains the least expensive way to convert Can [...]
Pulling Off the Bandage Quickly
Deferred sales charges (DSCs) may have been the mutual fund industry’s greatest marketing innovation. Back in the 1980s, it wasn’t unusual for funds t [...]
The Hidden Cost of Bid-Ask Spreads
Trading commissions get a lot of attention from ETF investors, and rightly so. But depending which ETFs you use and the size of your trades, the impac [...]
A Touch of (Corporate) Class
ETFs are generally more tax-efficient than mutual funds, but there is one area where they’re at a disadvantage. Investors who use non-registered accou [...]
