AFTER PARKING MOST OF MY NEST EGG IN VERY CONSERVATIVE INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS THERE WASN'T MUCH TO WRITE ABOUT. TPCI IS BACK WITH SOME THOUGHTS AND IDEAS, OTHER THAN INVESTMENT IDEAS, TO SHARE WITH CANADIAN BOOMERS, RETIREES AND SNOWBIRDS.


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Monday, January 4, 2010

Looking Back At 2009

My portfolio is still under water from the beginning of 2007.  Three full years and it's not back yet!  Close, but still down 8%.

On a positive note, my portfolio value clawed it's way back a full 49% from the low point of last March.  I am thankful that I did not succumb to the urge to bail.  It did cross my mind.

We ended the year on a high note.  The TSX reached a new high for the year, 11,779, on December 2.  My portfolio reached a new high on December 30.  It didn't hold for year end on the 31st but very close.

The TSX began the year at 8,987 and ended at 11,746 for a gain of 31%.  The market went up on 146 days and down on 105 days.  The value of my portfolio rose by 33%.  AT LAST!  I beat the TSX!

South of the border, the DOW began 2009 at 8,776 and finished at 10,428 for a gain of 19%.  Once again, I'm happy with my decision of a couple of years ago to stay with Canadian investments.

All-in-all, I think most of us who held on are pleased with the past year.  Others, who took money off the table a year or so ago missed a nice upside but likely slept a whole lot better.  You've gotta do what you've gotta do.  What works for one doesn't work for all.

Here we are at the beginning of a New Year.  Oil, Gold, the Canadian Dollar and the TSX are all going up on this, the first trading day.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.

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