(An audio version of this letter can now be found as Episode 41 of The Unlimited Podcast by Ginsler Wealth. Use the link provided or find us on your favourite podcast app.)
To Ginsler Wealth’s Clients:
A few weeks ago, I experienced what all financial advisor parents dream of. I came home to find my youngest daughter’s Grade 8 Financial Literacy test on the dining room table. She had earned a mark of 95%. I couldn’t have been more proud, and thought about ordering Ginsler Wealth business cards for her right away!
But I might have gotten ahead of myself…
Later that day, my wife and kids were going to Walmart to pick up a few things they needed. Recalling the financial literacy test topic of “needs vs. wants” (see above), I reminded Penny that while she is shopping to truly focus on buying what she needs rather than everything she wants when she is there.
Penny looked at me stone-faced and said: “I need what I want.”
I guess I won’t be ordering those business cards just yet.
THE STOCK EVERYBODY WANTS
As we hit the mid-year mark of 2024, the U.S. stock market – as represented by the S&P 500 Total Return Index – has continued its positive run, up just over 15%. This is a fantastic 6-month return, more than a typical investor would need to prudently grow their wealth. (To be clear, this is a simplified example, as you know your Ginsler Wealth portfolios are far more diversified than having exposure to a single stock market.) Our Canadian equity market – as represented by the S&P/TSX 60 Total Return Index – has returned a fine, but relatively underwhelming, 4.9% so far this year.
However, the stock everyone wants is Nvidia, which is up over 150% in 2024 and which briefly became the most valuable company in the world with a market value above $3 trillion. In fact, it is important to note that Nvidia alone is responsible for approximately 30% of the S&P 500’s gain so far this year.[i]
Nvidia is a fantastic company that is powering the current artificial intelligence revolution. Most of our clients will have exposure to Nvidia through the broad market equity holdings in your portfolios.[ii] But we always caution investors against having too much exposure to a single equity, or any investment for that matter.
NEEDS-BASED FINANCIAL AND INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
This is because our role as your financial and investment advisor is to approach the management of your wealth from the lens of “needs” as opposed to “wants”.
Our clients do not need 150% 6-month returns, nor do they want the corresponding risk that comes from striving for that level of return. In fact, most of our largest families ignore individual stock or stock market performance and focus instead on the performance of their diversified portfolios, which target steady growth—at a rate meaningful to their specific circumstances and needs. This is because they understand that meaningful wealth is typically created by operating and growing businesses or professions they control, rather than by picking the day’s hottest stock. And staying wealthy happens through prudent investing, and prudent management of their financial and tax affairs.
SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER
When you try your best, but you don’t succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
—Coldplay, Fix You
Speaking of tax affairs, the Coldplay lyrics above sum up our current Liberal government’s approach to fiscal management, the prime example being the recent increase to the capital gains inclusion rate.
As you know, we spent a significant amount of time this past quarter reviewing these changes and taking action in your portfolios with the goal of reducing the overall tax liabilities that these changes could create. (Listen to The Unlimited Podcast episode Federal Budget Breakdown featuring tax expert Ali Spinner, to get a refresher on what changed.)
While the government wants the wealthiest Canadians to pay “just a bit more” (as it did in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023)[iii], what it actually needs are taxation and other policies to encourage investment and productivity. No less an authority than Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem said just last week, “figuring out how to make Canada a better place to invest is critical…”. Increasing taxes on the fruits borne from investment surely won’t accomplish this. While school is now out for summer, perhaps our country’s leaders could brush up on their financial literacy education as well.
WHAT GINSLER WEALTH NEEDS
This past quarter Ginsler Wealth was pleased to be named by Wealth Professional, a publisher focused on the Canadian wealth management industry, as an Excellence Awardee in the category of Holistic Advisory Team of the Year and a 5-Star Wealth Management Firm – a listing of some of the best wealth management firms in Canada.
Most firms want industry accolades, but we prioritize your satisfaction above all. At Ginsler Wealth, our main focus is ensuring you are happy with the service we provide. While industry recognition is nice, our greatest need is knowing that we’ve done a great job for you.
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Have a wonderful summer. We hope you get to enjoy both what you need and what you want.
Thank you for your trust, support, and confidence. We are available 24/7 should you need us.
Sincerely,
Brian Ginsler
President & CEO
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[i] https://www.wsj.com/finance/stocks/ai-frenzy-propels-stocks-to-monster-first-half-620229cc?st=i80f4h4e79q2onh&reflink=article_email_share
[ii] For the balance of this letter, please recall that our clients have different investment goals, objectives, and risk tolerances, and therefore will have different portfolios, which may not include some of the strategies or securities detailed herein.
[iii] Years determined with the help of Perplexity AI, which scanned 15 sources to compile the applicable years, and with the help of OpenAI ChatGPT 4o, which conducted a similar operation. Sources included: Grant Thorton LLP Canada, The Fraser Institute, The Canadian Press, Reuters, The Financial Post, Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Reuters, CBC, CTV News, The Associated Press, Wealth Professional, The Liberal Party of Canada, among others.
