2024 is in the books and it turned out to be a terrific year for investors' portfolios. 

 

December had a bit of a hiccup as fear of a spike in inflation reduced expectation of further Federal Reserve rate cuts and rising long bond yield put pressure on equity values, outside the usual large cap technology names. The TSX was unusually weak, down over -3%, the Dow Jones was down -5% and the Russell 2000 (small/mid cap companies) was down a whopping -8%. Even bonds were down slightly under the weight of rising rates. For those of us with $U.S. denominated assets there was a hefty tail wind of 2.7% just in December as the $CAD lost ground to the $U.S. 

Certainly 2024’s returns surpassed our expectations.

 

The index returns are as follows ($CAD) from our December

 

Monthly World Markets Report:

FTSE Bond Universe:         4.62%
TSX:                                  21.65%
MSCI World                      27.50%

 

The 2024 and 2023 returns have enabled to recoup the negative performance of 2022 and get well ahead of investors' financial planning goals. 

 

We will have a more detailed review of 2024 and an outlook for 2025 in the next few weeks that will provide some context for these returns and where we sit with a view on valuations and some of the challenges investors face from geopolitical and economic perspective. 

 

Stay tuned. 

 

 

My Well Being (Feature of the Month)

 

All the money in the world is no good if you do not have your health. It is vital to look after your physical, mental and spiritual well-being. We care. And we are there to design the best possible options for any situation that might arise to help you take ‘good care’ of yourself. We have designed thoughtful solutions that can be put in place for any and every contingency.

 

Over the years we have seen it all. We’ve helped many people manage the crisis of sudden change when it comes to their well-being. We can help you decide best options for your own crisis situations, and of course we work with and defer to the experts in these fields. 

 

Lisa’s willingness to listen and provide guidance is based on vast experience and her extensive network. But the bottom line is that we care – and we take care of you.

 

We’re excited to share an inspiring story about one of our clients, a 90-year-old Alzheimer’s patient recently featured on Fox News, who attributes his mental sharpness to skiing and other activities.

 

https://www.foxnews.com/health/alzheimers-patient-says-skiing-other-activities-keep-him-mentally-sharp

 

 

T.A.G. Recommends!

 

Since the launch of The Crossword in 1942, The Times has captivated solvers by providing engaging word and logic games.

 

In 2014, they introduced The Mini Crossword — followed by Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed and Tiles. A few years later, they proudly acquired Wordle and added Connections and Strands to their collection. They strive to offer puzzles for all skill levels that everyone can enjoy playing every day.

 

Play Here:

https://www.nytimes.com/crosswords

T.A.G. Admin

 

As we welcome the New Year, we wanted to offer you a few helpful reminders. Being able to enjoy your life and meet all of your financial goals means organizing and prioritizing your cash flow early on.

 

2025 TFSA Contribution Limit: $7,000

 

2025 RRSP Limit ($31,560)

 

Please reach out to Mara Draper, if you still need to arrange for your 2025 contributions.