Pins, Alibaba , Apple Pay , L’ecosse , and #theBestFin4TheWeek

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Alibaba (the IPO) is happening today, and I am watching the whole sequence of events with great interest. I think I am prejudiced against Chinese investments like this, but part of it is because I honestly have no idea how the Chinese “market” works, and due to this how can I buy into one of their “market leaders”? It’s like asking me who is the best Pakistani Cricketer (not to be derisive about Cricket, my Grandfather loved the game, I just never watched it). I have no idea because I have no expertise in the area.

I was saddened to read about Rob Ford’s cancer issues. While I have lampooned the man, and his Mayoral run, no one deserves Cancer and I wish him good luck in his fight (I am hoping his fighting spirit works in his favour in this battle).

Apple claims 4 million iPhone 6’s sold in the first 24 hours of sales, which is interesting, since I heard from my sources that the Canadian Apple store was down at 3:00 AM when the sales were supposed to start. Amazing what tech crazes cause normal folks to do, isn’t it? Also interesting to see that the NFC chip in the iphone 6 will only work with Apple Pay (initially).

I remember when Charles De Gaulle while visiting Edinburgh shouted, “Vive L’ecosse! Vive L’ecosse Libre!“, well maybe not, but it seems my kilt wearing brethren from up North voted to stay in the United Kingdom. Speaking as the son of a Welshman, Pob lwc! and thanks for all the new powers that Wales will inherit from this healthy public exchange! As was heard during the campaign, Free Scotland! (from the Scottish)…

My Writings for the Week Ending September 19th

It is chilly and the leaves are changing colour here in Ottawa, and all the MP’s are back to do, whatever they do.

• With all of this writing about TFSA limits and such I figured I’d go find out what mine was and do a quick How To Find Your TFSA Limit article, as a public service, it does seem quite easy.
• Every time I get into discussions with Financial Professionals, I keep getting the feeling that Financially It is Never Enough, no matter what you do, you are never safe!
• More help for those parents unsure if they should start an RESP for their one year old RESP : What does $350 look like ? If you haven’t already read, So That is What  $50K Looks Like ?

This Week’s Finest

Will Alibaba open the cave of wonders? Scotland will be keeping it’s kilt in the United Kingdom at least.

• You may ask yourself, what won’t the NHL do for money? Evidently putting advertising on player’s sweaters is where the line has been drawn (a $120M line). I love watching European hockey when SKODA plays NIVA or whatever, or when the referees’ jerseys have a Cow pattern on them for “Drink Swiss Milk”.
• Gail Vaz-Oxlade has a few good takes with This and That: Questions I get All The Time, I have questions for Gail as well, but I am afraid to ask them.
• What is a Registered Disability Savings Plan ? I have outlined a lot of this information in my page on RDSP s .
• Big Investors say Hedge Fund Managers are overpaid, says Bloomberg, in other news, bears poop in the woods, and I hear the Pope is Catholic.
• Barry from Money we Have asks What’s In Your Emergency Fund ? I have Money Market, Bonds and cash in mine, since my Emergency Fund is for stuff that happens right the hell now! I have a longer term “bad things happen” fund that is more diversely invested.
• Since TMZ doesn’t do enough on how much celebrities have in their bank here is 7 Celebrity Net Worths (that might surprise you). Interesting stuff, how many yachts do they need to water ski behind before they say, “I have enough”?
• Our old friend Larry MacDonald returned in the Globe with another Me and My Money segment on a Homemaker and her Investments, interesting stuff.
• Who is Charlie Munger? If you keep hearing about the Wizard of Omaha, you need to know who Charlie Munger is, and here is a Fireside Chat with Him, he is an interesting guy.
• Mark from 2nd Career Search points out that Employment is Picking Up in the US, which is a good thing.
• Haven’t read enough about RESPs yet? The Canadian Capitalist wrote a chestnut about The Basic Rules of Registered Education Savings Plans a while ago, but still well worth reading.
• Marie from Boomer and Echo asks the good question Extended Warranties: Good Deal or Cash Grab, given at Future Shop the sales guy gets a big bonus if you sign up for one, I am leaning towards Cash Grab (but it depends). The extended Warranty I bought on my GM Montana Van saved me a BLOODY FORTUNE in repairs.
• You know that Apple Pay has Paypal worried when they Publish Attack Ads against Apple Pay . I can see where Paypal might be  concerned.
• You know who knows a lot about Insurance? Actuaries, and my favorite On-Line Actuarial Blogger is Riscario and he advises to Check Your Insurance Statements for Mistakes!
• You have a limited time to do everything you ever wanted. Now is a good time to start. From this site
• I just finished reading Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who Play It (Amazon Link) a very entertaining book about Dungeons and Dragons, but now I see that there is a Play about this? Wow…
• For those of you looking for information about Registered Education Savings Plans, you should read my RESP Page which has an index of my writings on the topic. Looking to open an RESP ? How about some free trades to help you get started at Questrade
• Blessed by the Potato brings us an entertaining view on investing with Potato’s Third Law of Finance which seems to be a derivative of Clarke’s 3rd Law.
• If you are a Costco Member (like I am, in Canada) evidently our Amex Cards will no longer be honoured at the store in 2015 according to MSN? #WTF ?
• Are you rich and have foreign assets over $100,000 ? If so the Blunt Bean Counter has some info for you with Form T1135 – Permanent Changes for 2014 and Beyond.
• Michael James goes back into his archives to ask Does the Value Premium Exist? Redux, I don’t know is my simple answer.
• Mark from My Own Advisor looks to be on a campaign to help out the New Investors, and I applaud him for doing so, and this week he continues with DIY Investor Mistakes .

Preet on Television

Yes, Preet , was on the Bottom Line this week on the CBC. He was growing a beard, but he seems to have shaved it off, or was this taped at a different time?!?! Hmmm… TV is an interesting medium.

And Now For Something Completely Different

A hot dog eating contest, with a hamster.

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Random Thoughts for 2014

Lots of these kinds of Best of articles in 2014. Here is a list of them.

• World Cup Side-Effects, Seinfeld Cars, and #BestofFinancial What happens around the World at half time of the World Cup Final? Is it like Flushed away? Is there a sudden tsunami? Who knows?
• Cuba, Rubles, Christmas and #BestThisWeek – getting close to Christmas but Ian McKellen can teach us about impulse control.
• Snow, Christmas, Enhanced and #BestThisWeek talk of more festive ideas, like how to save money at Christmas.
• A Gentleman, Day of Disability, Christmas, Rugby and #BestThisWeek noted the passing of Jean Beliveau and John Oliver’s views on Lotteries.
• Black Friday is Here, Advent, and #BestThisWeek speaks of the blessed Black Friday and associated sales but also includes a Fanfare for the Common Man.
• Lake Effect Snow, Web Cameras, Travel Insurance and #BestThisWeek November brings snow in Toronto, as we see, and other financial ideas.
• Asteroids, Tax Cuts, Lemurs and #BestThisWeek how many times has the Earth almost been hit by an asteroid? Too often to remember.
• Lame Ducks, Financial Literacy, Working for Free and #BestThisWeek lame duck leaders never really get that much done, no matter how they negotiate.
• Happy Halloween, Income Splitting and #BestThisWeek a wonderful financial time of the year is Halloween? Maybe income splitting is a better subject.
• Ottawa We Shall Remember, Bank of Canada and #BestThisWeek after a bad week in Ottawa, with senseless violence.
• Crashing Markets, Ebola, Low Loonie, Cheap Gas and #BestThisWeek even in 2014 the markets were a little volatile.
• Hockey, Turkey, Leaves, Carry On Bags and #theBestFin4TheWeek is it right that the hockey season starts before Thanksgiving?
• October, Hello Ebola, Give Blood and #theBestFin4TheWeek October arrived unexpectedly this week, almost unnoticed. As we have entered the final (calendar) quarter of the year 2014, it may be time to start considering a year-end review of your financial plans.
• Autumn , United Kingdom, Beer Money, and #theBestFin4TheWeek the colours in Ottawa during Autumn are truly spectacular.
• Pins, Alibaba , Apple Pay , Lecosse , and #theBestFin4TheWeek remember when Alibaba the IPO happened, those were heady days.
• Home Despot, iPhones, and #theBestFin4TheWeek
• Back to School, Tim Burger King, Knee Defenders and #theBestFin4TheWeek will the dutchie ever come back? I can only hope.
• Broken Humerus, Ebola, Anniversaries, Blood and #theBestFin4TheWeek remember when we thought Ebola was going to wipe us out?
• It is Done, Ice Bucket Challenge, Media Perceptions and #theBestFin4TheWeek
• WW1 Centenery, More Hacked Passwords and #theBestFin4TheWeek
• The Long Weekend with no Name, Defaults, and #BestFinancialForTheWeek
• Unmasking Super Heroes, Dogs of Summer and #BestOfFinancialForThisWeek
• All Stars, Al Stars and the #BestOfFinancialForWeek the world cup was a big thing in 2014 as was Bastille day too.
• Brazilian Defeats, Tour De Chunnel, and #BestOfFinancialForWeek you mean Brazil can lose at the world cup?
• Tennis, Racing, Inflation and #BestofFinancial Canada Day is the start of the summer for most Canadians, and financial stories too.
• The Stand, Football Biting, Naughty Banks and #BestofFinancial even in 2014 the banks were misbehaving with shenanigans.
• Elections, Dad’s Day, World Cup, Friday the 13th and #BestofFinancial somehow the Liberals won the 2014 Ontario Provincial Election
• No Rate Hike, Better Performance, Montreal Grand Prix and #Bestof-Financial back in 2014 we were worried about rates, but they were already pretty low.
• Elections, Farewell Knowlton, May Done, and #Bestof-Financial Knowlton Nash was the voice of news for Canada for a while.
• Internet Memory, Grand Prix of Monaco and #FreeFormFridays the Internet has memory?
• Time Off, Elections, Victoria Day and #FreeFormFridays Victoria Day is always a fun weekend.
• Frosts, Elections, Farley Mowat and #FreeFormFridays it does get cold in May!
• Rain, Budgets, Bloggers Meeting, May Day and #FreeFormFridays When financial bloggers meet what happens?
• Beware the Financial Jabberwock, Netflix Expansion, Model Trains, Backups and #FreeFormFridays a thematically odd article.
• Easter is Here and a Saturday #BestOf for the Weekend a time of renewal, new beginnings in life and financially as well.
• RIP Flaherty, Heartbleed, Tax Time, Quebec Elections and #FreeFormFridays the former finance minister did a lot of good for the economy.
• #Selfies, Quebec Election, Big Joe, Awareness, and #FreeFormFridays would Big Joe Mufferaw have been a good fit for the Redblacks? We’ll never know.
• Don Quixote, Tax Time, Cheap Mortgages and #FreeFormFridays gotta hate tax time.
• Spring Has Sprung, March Madness, Celebrity Blogger and #FreeFormFridays talking about Spring in March in Ottawa can be a bit early.
• Pi Day, March Break, Two Ferns, Snow and #FreeFormFridays given pi is infinite, how much pie can we expect?
• Quebec Elections, Eating Sugar, Suing Parents, Big Rocks and #FreeFormFridays those elections in Quebec are never dull.
• Saint David’s Day, Big Posts, RRSP Time, the Dating Game and #FreeFormFridays always a good time to put a Welsh Choir Clip in an article.
• Hockey Day, Tax & RRSP Time and #FreeFormFridays Hockey day in Canada? Well it does happen, right around RRSP time too.
• More Olympics, Budgets, Love Day and #FreeFormFridays Valentine’s Day: Celebrating Love and Dealing with Financial Whining.
• Olympics, Not Super Bowls, Creationism and #FreeFormFridays 2014 Olympics Opening Ceremonies and Soshi Stadium’s Doppleganger: The Super Bowl.
• Senators, Weak Loonie, Superb Owls and #FreeFormFridays Rugby is a Hooligan’s game played by a Gentleman.
• Polar Vorteces, Olympics, Mayors and #FreeFormFridays The Polar Vortex brings Winter in Canada. But don’t worry – -30C highs in Ottawa in January are normal.
• Giveaways, Oil tanks, Eagles and #FreeFormFriday Have you checked your oil tank if you heat with Oil? What will your insurance do if the tank ruptures?
• Truly Canadian Issues, Ultra HD TV, Car Loans and #FreeFormFriday Get your lock de-icer and unlock your Super Mailbox cubicle like I did – Canadian Tire to the rescue!
• Some #RandomThoughts from 2014 Some of the best of, best of posts on my random thoughts weekly post.
• CPP Reform, Snow, Christmas, Boxing day and #FreeFormFriday Did the CPP reform of 2013 fix much? Kind of, but Christmas was coming too.

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