Matthew Lekushoff | www.matthewlekushoff.ca

THE MARKETS

Before our last newsletter, global stock markets had endured their first serious decline in some time. Although less severe than many previous corrections (so far), the swiftness and lack of foreshock in which it came, left many investors unsettled.
 
Since then, stock markets have mostly bounced off their year-lows and are trending higher----  though calling this movement a rally would be a stretch.
 
Looking forward, our portfolios remain in good condition and don't require rebalancing. As stock market valuations remain historically high, they also don't require adjusting. Another round of market volatility may necessitate some adjusting and subsequent rebalancing.

A REMINDER: LAST CALL

The RRSP deadline is March 1. If you aren't sure what your contribution limit is, contact Revenue Canada or  set up an online account  with them to find out. Alternatively, take a look at your most recent notice of assessment.   

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him. What he needs is not the discharge of tension at any cost, but the call of a potential meaning waiting to be fulfilled by him." 
---- Victor Frankl
 
"He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how." 
----  Friedrich Nietzsche

IN THE REVIEW QUEUE

The View from the Cheap Seats  by Neil Gaiman: I chose this as an audiobook for a simple reason: Although I like the way Neil Gaiman turns a phrase, I love hearing it from his voice. This collection of essays is focused on topics near and dear to his heart-----  his favourite writers, writing, graphic novels, science fiction, and social issues. It didn't disappoint.
  
Man's Search for Meaning  by Victor Frankl: This book has been waiting a number of years for me to read it. Victor Frankl's account of being a prisoner at Auschwitz and three other WWII concentration camps is chilling, making you wonder how humans can treat others in such inhuman ways. What sets this book apart from other holocaust books, is that Frankl, a psychiatrist, partly writes this book through the lens of his profession. The second part of the book is an introduction to logotherapy, the type of psychotherapy he developed. Logotherapy is founded on the belief that striving to find meaning in your life is the most important thing you can do.
 
The 1 Percent Rule: Why a Few People Get Most of the Rewards  by James Clear: It's no secret that success (across a number of fields) isn't evenly distributed. Interestingly, an Olympian that wins four gold medals, for example, isn't four times better than one who wins one. Rather, the difference between the best and the rest can often be achieved through numerous small advantages reached through incremental improvements. A strategy we can all implement to get to the next level.
 
How the economy works  by Ray Dalio:  A simple but powerful video on how the economy works. It doesn't explain everything, but it will give you a solid foundation.
 
Warren Berger: Improve Your Life by Improving Your Questions  by Farnam Street: Some people believe the quality of your questions determine the quality of your life. If that is true, this podcast can help you live a better life.
 
These Five Cognitive Biases Hurt Investors the Most   by Visual Capitalist: With the recent market volatility, this infographic is a nice reminder about the biases that can hurt investors the most.

WINTER OLYMPICS 2018
  • To stay up to speed on all your Team Canada news, the CBC has you covered, offering a detailed play-by-play on how we've been doing in Pyeongchang. Go Team Canada, Go!
   

Matthew Lekushoff
416-777-6368
www.matthewlekushoff.ca


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