Minding Money: Lara's Insights

A financial newsletter and blog in the Comox Valley

I'm glad you're here - being on this page means you want to learn more about how your financial choices can impact your quality of life.

I have been passionate about the importance of financial literacy since I started in this industry 20 years ago.  Minding Money is a quarterly newsletter I started for my friends and clients to address common questions when it comes to wealth and retirement planning and talk about the latest news in the investment industry.

If you would like each issue of Minding Money emailed or mailed to you, please send me an email.  On this blog I'll post a link to the PDF versions, as well as links to financial market and strategy opinion pieces by RBC Wealth Management professionals.

If you have any questions about anything you read here, please get in touch!

 

Latest Newsletter

 Fall 2025

In this edition:

  • Dr. Tom Deans "Every Family's Business" Thursday November 6th
  • Are you overlooking the tax-free opportunity?
  • A tax-efficient withdrawal strategy
  • Year-end checklist

Nothing new about September slides for stock markets

 August 29, 2025 |Kelly Bogdanova

Equity investors have long dreaded September. But we provide some context as to why stocks tend to sag in the month and explain why investors should keep their eye on the long-term ball when it comes to portfolio positioning.

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Life reimagined: The biotech revolution and longevity

 August 29, 2025 |Frédérique Carrier

There’s more to a long life than simply a long lifespan. The number of years we spend in good health, or healthspan, is key. With biotech spurring promising medical innovations, we look at how it can fit into investment portfolios.

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Europe summer 2025: Headlines galore

 August 22, 2025 |Frédérique Carrier

Europe has seen heavy news flow this summer. We look beyond the headlines to identify what we believe are attractive areas of the European equity market.

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Tapping the brakes on the equity rally Q3 Q4 challenges ahead

Tapping the brakes on the equity rally: Q3/Q4 challenges ahead

 August 15, 2025 |Robert Sluymer, CFA, Technical Strategist – New York

The S&P 500 uptrend reached an all-time high, but there could be more challenges in Q3 and Q4. With market cap concentration, seasonality trends, and valuation concerns, is it time to rebalance your portfolio?

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Tech steals the Q2 earnings show

Tech steals the Q2 earnings show

 August 11, 2025 |Kelly Bogdanova

There are more positive than negative aspects of the Q2 S&P 500 earnings season. But there are some nuances within the Information Technology sector data that we think call for restraint.

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Transmission framework: How tariffs will flow through the U.S. economy

Transmission framework: How tariffs will flow through the U.S. economy

 August 06, 2025 |Frances Donald and Mike Reid

As U.S. tariff policy continues to evolve, investors are facing more questions than answers. RBC Economics provides a roadmap on when and where tariffs will start to impact the U.S.

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A central bank at rest tends to stay at rest

A central bank at rest tends to stay at rest

 August 05, 2025 |Thomas Garretson, CFA

The Federal Reserve held rates steady once again, but with the added wrinkle of a hawkish outlook—likely pushing back the timing of any rate cut even further.

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