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News and Info from the team at Loney Financial #2 - May 2014
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For further information on Loney Financial services please visit our website at www.loneyfinancial.com

DAN'S DIALOGUE

This month, I spent time in Monte Carlo with Jonathan Popper who manages $12 billion dollars. Jonathan and his team have an interesting formula for managing money which you can read about in my blog below.

If you are spending money on medical bills and own your own company, you can pay those expenses with pre-tax dollars thus saving you possibly thousands in taxes. I have one client who saves about $4000 per year in taxes - you can read about this strategy in Client News.
Ever wondered about Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn? Our client Andy Gray gives us 7 vital questions you need to ask if you are using or wish to use social media in your business.

Financial News in Canada tells us how inflation is increasing and in what areas that affects us the most. I always enjoy Rodney Johnson of Harry Dent Economics and you will enjoy this short video on Football and economics.
 
If there are any subjects you would like us to cover in upcoming newsletters, please feel free to let us know.
Dan Loney
"Amateurs know what should go right but Professionals know what can go wrong"
~  D a n   L o n e y  ~

DAN'S BLOG

Monte Carlo

This past month, in Monte Carlo, I got to take in a session with Jonathan Popper of the Manulife Monthly High Income fund. This has been a stellar fund and won many Lipper awards for best in class performance. We have a lot of clients’ money managed by the Monthly High Income team which was founded by Alan Wicks.

Jonathan spoke about the philosophy and strategy of their money management which includes 30 different factors in considering whether to buy a stock. In addition to this, the fund recently has engaged award-winning, Howard Olson, a 35 year veteran of the US Bond markets. The number one goal of this fund is to preserve capital and manage downside risk. The number two goal is to produce monthly income and number three is to mitigate volatility.

In meeting with the lead manager, Alan Wicks, for lunch in December, he told me that the continued deposits into this fund cannot be sustained at the current rate. This was a roundabout way of him telling me that they will cap the fund. Also, with the inception of their new US Monthly High Income fund, this tells me that they have had to create an alternative investment fund using their philosophy and experience.

I believe this to be a good opportunity as US companies profits draw from all around the world in the global economy.

One concept that Jonathan spoke about was barrier entry which can be easily explained by the company Facebook. What did it take to create the company Facebook, simply a laptop. What does it take to create a railroad company like CN, almost impossible at this point in time to lay down competitive railroad tracks and infrastructure. Jonathan also commented on the worldwide situation regarding their stock selection. They have purchased company's like Shoppers Drug Mart and no matter what happens in Greece, Canadian consumers are still going to shop at Shoppers Drug Mart.

I am constantly on the lookout for investment funds that will meet the needs of our clients within the guarantees of the contracts that have been provided by our investment carriers. If you would like to know more about this fund and the management style, feel free to connect with me.

Read More >
 

CLIENT NEWS

A Private Health Spending Program allows you to pay for medical expenses with pre-tax dollars. This could save you thousands of dollars.

If you own a company, you can pay for many medical costs through your company with pre-tax dollars. This will include such popular expenses as chiropractor, massage therapy, groceries for Celiacs, braces for dental, tuition for special needs children and many more types of expenses.
 
Here’s how it works: if you earn $85,000 per year and have $3,000 in medical bills, you will have to earn $4,465 in order to give the dentist or medical supply company $3,000 to pay your bill. With a PHSP, you simply pay the trust company $3,300 in which they keep $300 for their fee and they pay the medical/dental practitioner with the rest. You save $1,165 which you can put in  your pocket rather than it going to taxes.
 
To learn more about this product click on the following link https://secure.olympiabenefits.com/agents/view/danielclaudeloney
 
If you would like to learn more or sign up for our webinar please email us at info@loneyfinanical.com
 

ASK THE EXPERT - ANDREW GRAY

















Social Media campaigns for Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Web site design and development. Newsletter  administration. All this and more are exactly what you are viewing designed by the husband and wife team behind SpringApp Technologies on behalf of Dan Loney for LoneyFinancial.com and DanLoney.com

Combining their extensive knowledge and experience gained in various employment capacities, Andrew & Clare Gray started the Company in the Spring of 2000. Whilst Andy handles the web design and development roles, Clare is responsible for the artistic and creative direction and administrative aspects of the Company.

Services we provide include: Social Media administration, Search Engine Optimization, Web design & development, Newsletter campaigns, Tech Support, Mobile App design & development and eBook conversion.
 

If you are not using social media to help promote your organization, you are missing out on a huge opportunity. We manage that presence on your behalf letting you get on with running the business.
 

SEVEN VITAL QUESTIONS
 

Do you have a strategic social media campaign in place getting your presence out to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Are your competitors engaged whilst you are not? If you are not using social media to help promote your organization, you are missing out on a huge opportunity.


Are you promoting your business and services by using Newsletters to engage both with current clients and prospective customers. How do they or anyone else know you exist and what you can do for them? Are you communicating and engaging proactively?


Are you keeping your clients informed of your services and product offerings on an ongoing basis relative to the season? Do you actively promote your business at Christmas? At tax time? During anniversary, birthday or holiday events?


Is your website optimized for your targeted audience and does it view efficiently on mobile and tablet platforms? Is your website 5+ years old and looking dated compared to your competitors or still using technologies such as Adobe Flash that are incompatible with the iPhone and iPad?


Are you utilizing google analytics to monitor your web traffic? Is it in coordination with social media and newsletter campaigns? Are you actively targeting and driving potential clients to view your website and monitoring the performance?


Do you use Internet security products such as Anti-Virus and Spyware removal. Is it updated daily? Do you run a FULL drive scan at least weekly? Are you 100% sure without doubt that your computer is not compromised or open to malware and hack attacks? Did you know your banking and credit card details can be captured via open public wi-fi from your iPhone, iPad or laptop?


The seven letter word. Do you perform BACKUPS both on site and to the cloud? What happens if your computers are stolen, have a hardware failure or a fire or water disaster occurs? If all your life and business resides on your desktops, laptops or mobile devices and no backups are performed on a daily basis how will you recover? Can you recover?


Phone: 604 372 4592 | Web: www.springapptech.com | Email: info@springapptech.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/springapptech  |  Tw: https://twitter.com/webdevandy
                   LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-gray/87/490/302/

FINANCIAL NEWS IN CANADA

B.C. leads provinces with accelerating inflation
 

Prices in B.C. rose 1.5% year-over-year in April after increasing just .1% in March compared with the year prior, representing the highest rate of acceleration among all the provinces.

The acceleration is mostly attributed to a 2.3% year-over-year rise in the price of food purchased at restaurants, according to a May 23 Statistics Canada report.

This comes after B.C. officially did away with the HST in April 2013 and reinstated the hybrid GST-PST system, allowing restaurants to only charge patrons 5% GST instead of 12% HST.

Canada itself is experiencing its biggest increase in inflation in the past two years as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2% between April 2013 and April 2014 following a 1.5% jump in March.

Energy prices were the biggest factor in the increase, a rise of 8.4 per cent in the 12 months to April, after going up 4.6 per cent in March. Within that, gasoline prices have increased by 6.6 per cent in the past year, while natural gas prices have risen by 26 per cent.

Electricity prices rose by a more modest but still strong 4.6 per cent.

Outside of energy, "there were no other major standout drivers in the month," BMO economist Doug Porter said, "as food costs are running close to average, as are auto prices, while clothing is barely rising."

Prices increased in all 12 components that the data agency tracks, and in all provinces and territories.

Saskatchewan led the way with an inflation rate of 2.8 per cent in April, while Quebec posted the lowest figure, at 1.4 per cent.

Despite the robust inflation figure, the CPI number is still well within the Bank of Canada's acceptable range, and in fact right in the middle of the central bank's preferred range of between one and three per cent.

Compared to other countries, Canada's inflation rate is now right in line with that of the U.S., slightly higher than Britain's, well above the 0.7 per cent rate seen in the eurozone, but slightly behind Australia's at 2.8 per cent.

Football and a French Economist - Harry Dent

The freedom to choose is a cornerstone of American life, even though it can sometimes lead to unpopular outcomes.

The recent uproar over Thomas Piketty and his book, Capital in the 21st Century, illustrates this point.

Listen and watch Harry Dent as he debates these issues.

 

WHAT'S DAN READING?


Change or Die: The Three Keys to Change at Work and in Life.
by Alan Deutschman

I really enjoyed this book and the motivation for the book. Deutschman was attending a speech by a president of a major American university who stated that 9 out of 10 heart by pass patients return to the habits that gave them heart disease within 24 months even though their life was on the line.

High fat diets, smoking and excessive alcohol all contributed to this. This amazed Duetschman and he wondered what does it take to change?

Read More >

 
Click here to see the story of a 35 year dream come true and learn about Loney Financial’s support of rescuing homeless children in Guatemala. Thank you to all the clients and associates that have helped to make this a reality.

COOKING WITH DENISE

Denise Bailey our Client Services Coordinator brings you a delicious monthly recipe from her renowned portfolio.  


HEALTHY MAPLE GLAZED PUMPKIN MUFFINS.

Author: Pinch of Yum
Serves: 16
Ah yes – another Pinterest recipe.  I tried this recipe this past weekend.  I love maple and my son loves anything pumpkin so this was a no-brainer!!  The caption also said it was a healthier version but I think I would argue that since it is 272 calories and 21g of sugar.  Who cares - pumpkin and maple.....together.....love it!  Mine actually looked just like the picture too – I think that is a first!  Glazed half and froze the other half for another day. 
Enjoy! - Denise.

Ingredients:
  • For the Muffins
    ·   2 cups whole wheat flour
    ·   1½ cups all-purpose flour
    ·   2 teaspoons baking soda
    ·   1 teaspoon baking powder
    ·   1 teaspoon each cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg
    ·   ½ teaspoon salt
    ·   ¾ cup granulated sugar
    ·   2 cups pumpkin puree
    ·   ½ cup olive oil
    ·   ¼ cup real maple syrup
    ·   3 tablespoons milk
    ·   3 eggs
  • For the Glaze
    ·   2 tablespoons butter
    ·   1¼ cups powdered sugar
    ·   1 teaspoons vanilla
    ·   1 tbs. maple syrup
    ·   1-2 tablespoons water
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Mix the dry ingredients (flours, baking soda, baking powder, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and sugar). In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients (pumpkin, oil, maple syrup, milk, and eggs).
  2. Combine the dry and wet ingredients in a large mixing bowl, stirring until just combined. Fill each muffin tin almost to the top with a scoop of batter - I like to use an old fashioned ice cream scoop with the little thumb press to get a nice rounded top.
  3. Bake for 20 minutes or until tops are puffy and spring back when you press them. Remove from the muffin pan and let cool before glazing
  4. For the glaze, melt butter in saucepan. Add powdered sugar and vanilla - it will be thick and sticky. Stir in maple syrup. Add water until desired consistency is reached.

Solutions Magazine


Invest In Yourself. 

From personal well-being to finance make yourself a priority.



Read More (PDF) >

Articles


Here are five things you need to know about the mortgage market as the spring home-buying season gets going:

1. That 2.99% BMO 5-year mortgage isn't quite as good as it sounds. BMO's recent move to bring its rate below the psychologically significant 3-per-cent mark for fixed-rate five-year mortgages is being treated as a big deal because a similar move a year ago provoked then-finance minister Jim Flaherty to admonish the bank. Joe Oliver, Mr. Flaherty's successor, is taking a more laissez-faire attitude.

Read More >

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