August Monthly Insight
Canada – An Emerging Market?…..”Canadian stocks do have a far closer relationship with emerging market stocks, both currently and over time, than with U.S., European or even Asian stocks.”
Emerging market economies have generally undertaken economic reform programs that are designed to propel them to stronger and more sustainable economic performance, as well as producing greater efficiency and transparency.
Click here to read more: Monthly Insight – August 2015 – Canada – An Emerging Market
Q2 Portfolio Commentary
Market Outlook – The second quarter was a bit of a dud for the stock market with the U.S. still the best performing market for the quarter.
Due to the continuing Greek financial crisis, most of the major European stock markets suffered corrections, after peaking in late April, to their July 7 lows.
Click here to read more: Cardinal Quarterly – July 2015
The 4 Cs of Conflict-Free Family Businesses
Focusing on growth is harder when your co-owners are your relatives
by Fred Pidsadny for ProfitGuide.com
Family-run businesses are like elastic bands—they can be stretched only so far, in different directions, before tensions cause them to snap. Those who run family businesses know that stress can often be elevated by forces that don’t exist in non-family firms, from hiring obligations and bloodline silos to next-generation financial demands to under-performing family members. It’s one thing to discipline or even fire a stranger, quite another to turf a brother or daughter. For such businesses, finding a successful balance is an ongoing challenge.
So how can family-owned businesses avoid conflict and focus on growth? For a number of years I’ve been working with a company run by three brothers, each with their own family and their own unique take on strategy and succession planning. They have benefited tremendously by learning and practicing what I call the four Cs of strategy execution for owner-managed businesses:
Is it Time for your Insurance Audit?
Has it been awhile since you last looked at your insurance portfolio? Are you a little sketchy in your recollection of all the coverage you have and why you have it? Are you uncertain as to whether or not your portfolio reflects your current situation? If this is the case, this might be the ideal time to have an audit of your insurance policies. Circumstances can change over time and making sure your protection keeps pace is a worthwhile exercise.
A comprehensive audit should review the following:
- Is the total death benefit of your life insurance appropriate to your needs? A current capital needs analysis can help to determine this.
