Ellen's Investment Club

Wishing everyone a happy holidays and an exciting new year from Ellen's Investment Club! What lies ahead? RBC analyst predicts the economic outlook in 2012: http://www.rbc.com/economics/market/pdf/fcst.pdf

Hi everyone, Thank you so much to those who completed the survey - a summary of the results is outlined below.    This survey  reinforces the needs of the group and it clearly highlights that members are most interested in analyzing stocks as well as reviewing bond investing strategies as a second priority.   The remaining   three categories in question #1 are listed in priority sequence.   As part of company reviews we can discuss components of the analysis such as P/E ratio, debt/equity ratios, etc.   In regards to guest speakers there were a number of suggestions and I recommend we pursue some of the suggestions and create a separate meeting date for guest speakers...possibly on the months we are not scheduled to meet and also invite other clubs to these meetings.   It appears that we will not be participating in the Investopedia challenge ...some of us have taken part in this and it was a lot of fun but it does require commitment from members. We will take some time at our next

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Hi guys, Robin emailed me his value stocks picks for 2012. Feel free to visit his website  or contact him directly if you have any questions. A small disclaimer: please do your OWN research before decide on buying any stocks from the list below. 10 Value Stocks for 2012 1. RIM 2. Canadian Tire 3. Northwest Company Fund 4. RBC 5. Sun Life Financial 6. Rio Can 7. Abbot Labratories 8. Chubb 9. Goldman Sachs 10. Walt Disney By: Robin R. Speziale Author of Lessons From The Successful Investor Download on iBooks - Barnes and Noble - Smashwords.com - Kobo

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Thanks for attending our meeting on November 15, 2011. Our guest speaker Robin R. Speziale showcased his new book: Lessons From the Successful Investor. His investment philosophy consists of a 10-step analysis: 1. Profit from market folly 2. Evaluate a business for advantage 3. Evaluate a stock for value 4. Invest in only the ideal investment 5. Manage effectively your portfolio 6. Think like the successful investor 7. Beat the market like investor giants 8. Ignore industry and investor sentiment 9. Compound your wealth forever 10. Employ a utility belt of equations You may find more information about his book at:  www.successfulinvestorlessons.com Please note we will not have a session in December. Please stay tuned for our date/agenda in January 2012. Luke Zhang General Secretary Ellen's Investment Club Blog: http://ellens-degenerates.blogspot.com Twitter group: http://twitter.com/EllensShareClub   Google group: http://groups.google.ca/group/

Ellen's Investment Club Meeting November 15, 2011 7:30pm - 9:30pm Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre 750 Spadina Ave, Toronto ON M5S 2J2 Room#: Please ask the front desk where the meeting is held 7:30 PM: Sign in and payment ($10) 7:45 PM: Financial Check In 8:15 PM: Lessons From The Successful Investor: Value Investing Seminar by Robin Speziale 9:00 PM: Stock Review: NYSE:SJM 9:15 PM: Open Forum

Patrick Doyle's film: Taking Stock Movie: Ancient Fear and Modern Greed is being screened at the Varsity Cinema on November 17, 2011. Details at www.takingstock.ca

I added a Twitter button to the Blog posts so followers of our Twitter group will receive updates to club's activities as they are posted on the Blog

I've been receiving emails inquiring whether there is a meeting tonight. Please note our meeting will be held next on November 15, 2011 @ 7:30pm at the MNJCC.

Hi everyone: To eliminate inefficiencies in mail forwarding, we will phase out forwarding to members' emails who are not part of mailing list. What this means: If you receive Ellen's Investment Club emails addressed to ellensdegenerates@googlegroups.com , then you don't need to do anything. If you receive Ellen's Investment Club emails addressed to your specific email address, then you need to apply to be added to our mailing list: Visit http://groups.google.ca/group/ellensdegenerates and follow instructions online to be added to our mailing list  or Email ellensdegenerates@googlegroups.com with your desired email address and I can approve you directly. Luke Zhang General Secretary Ellen's Investment Club Blog: http://ellens-degenerates.blogspot.com Twitter group: http://twitter.com/EllensShareClub Google group: http://groups.google.ca/group/ellensdegenerates Google mailing list: ellensdegenerates@googlegroups.com

Hi everyone: Thank you for attending Ellen's Investment Club meeting on September 20, 2011. Guest Speaker: Our guest speaker Gerry Hogenhout gave us an insightful presentation on holding mortgages in RRSP. Specifically this involves an arms-length transaction between you as the borrower and a third-party lender. The benefits are evident: high-interest rate, monthly payment, and tax-free. But risks are also weighed proportionally: lenders often cannot meet the requirement from banks, this industry is not regulated, complicated dealings with multiple agents. So we should do our due diligence to ensure our hard earned money isn't going to evaporate over defaults (especially in a housing market which some may consider in bubble territory). Ellen's Investment Club Survey 2011: Due to a lack of attendance lately we polled members during the summer to determine whether Ellen's Investment Club should continue. And if so what can we do to improve attendance? We receive

Ellen's Investment Club Meeting Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre 750 Spadina Ave, Toronto ON M5S 2J2 Room#: Please ask the front desk where the meeting is held 7:30 PM: Sign in and payment ($10) 7:45 PM: Financial Check In 8:15 PM: Presentation: Holding mortgages in RRSP by Gerry Hogenhout 8:50 PM: Discussion: Investopedia Winner 9:15 PM: Discussion: Ellen's Investment Club Survey 2011 Results 9:30 PM: End Meeting agenda items are subject to change. Luke Zhang General Secretary Ellen's Investment Club Blog: http://ellens-degenerates.blogspot.com Twitter group: http://twitter.com/EllensShareClub Google group: http://groups.google.ca/group/ellensdegenerates Google mailing list: ellensdegenerates@googlegroups.com

I am happy to announce Ellen's Investment Club 2011 Survey is now online at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/95VZKXM The survey will run between June 30 to July 14, 2011 and is meant to address the recent lack of attendance from our members. I encourage all members to provide feedback to help improve our wonderful club. Luke Zhang General Secretary of Ellen's Investment Club

Ellen's Investment Club welcomes you to a special presentation by David Toyne and Tom Bradley from Steadyhand Investment Funds Inc. who will discuss the investment philosophy and business principles at Steadyhand. ITEM # TIME TOPIC DETAILS 7:30 PM: Sign in and payment ($10) 7:45 PM: Guest Presentation (Steadyhand Investment Funds Inc.) 9:15 PM: Open discussion See you all there.

This is the information Ellen talked previously BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB)

Thank for attending Ellen's Investment Club on May 17, 2011.  We briefly discussed the recent proposal for acquisition of the TMX Group Inc. by a number of Canadian financial institutions in the light of the London Stock Exchange Plc bid.  Ellen talked about the CPP changes that will impact our decision of receiving the pension earlier than 65. The Investopedia topic of the month was Futures trading. I just want to clarify a bit for the achievement system to reward actively contributing members. The system is broken down to 4 aspects. Each instance awards 1 star. The member who accumulates the most stars at the end of year will receive a $30.00 Chapters Gift Card (like the Investopedia challenge). * Online contribution. Member who offers online articles and participates in discussions on our Google Group. * Book Review Member who offers a book review during our club session. * Stock Analysis Member who offers a detailed stock analysis (using our format) during our club sessi

Ellen's Investment Club Meeting Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre 750 Spadina Ave Room#: Please ask the front desk where the meeting is held ITEM # TIME TOPIC DETAILS 7:30 PM: Sign in and payment ($10) 7:45 PM: Financial Check In 8:20 PM: Discussion: TSX / LSE merger 8:50 PM: Investopedia Topic of the Month 9:15 PM: Open discussion (achievement system awards) Meeting agenda items are subject to change. Luke Zhang General Secretary Ellen's Investment Club Blog: http://ellens-degenerates.blogspot.com Twitter group: http://twitter.com/EllensShareClub Google group: http://groups.google.ca/group/ellensdegenerates Google mailing list: ellensdegenerates@googlegroups.com

Ellen's Investment Club session on   April 19, 2011 will be cancelled due to Passover . We will assume our regular meeting schedule on   May 17, 2011 at 7:30pm   in the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre.

Spring 2011 Educational Speaking Series by Larry Berman and ETF Capital Management: “Profiting From the Global Financial Crisis” Follow the below link for registration. http://www.etfcm.com/speaking_engagements.php

Hi everyone: Thank you for attending Ellen's Investment Club meeting on March 15, 2011.   * We reviewed the Book: Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwarz. Missed opportunities or hypothetical trade-offs add anxiety when we are facing a myriad of choices. We have to learn to reduce or simplify our investment decisions.   * We demonstrated Investopedia Simulation. I have created a word document of step-by-step instruction to create an account on this website. Investopedia How-To-Sign-Up Slide Deck * We discussed the upcoming Achievement System to encourage our members to actively participate in club's in-class and online activities.   The upcoming session will be helding on  April 19, 2011 at 7:30pm in the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre (750 Spadina Ave) .  We are also looking for volunteers to help run our club. Please email me ( xglzhang@yahoo.com < mailto:xglzhang@yahoo.com > ) if you are interested.   Luke Zhang Ellen's Investment Club Blog:  http://ellens-d

Ellen's Investment Club Meeting Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre 750 Spadina Ave Room#: Please ask the front desk where the meeting is held ITEM # TIME TOPIC DETAILS 7:30 PM: Sign in and payment ($10) 7:45 PM: Financial Check In 8:20 PM: Book: Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwarz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paradox_of_Choice:_Why_More_Is_Less) 8:50 PM: Investopedia Simulation Tutorial 9:15 PM: Open discussion (the new achievement system) The agenda of the meeting is subject to change. This invitation is generated on Google Calendar. If you did not wish to receive further notifications or you have received redundant notifications please email Luke Zhang (xglzhang@yahoo.com).

I would like to formally welcome Sylvia Sarkus as our new director who will be helping me in planning and organizing our club's monthly activities. Meeting Highlights: * We reviewed the book: How to do something about procrastination by Piers Steel. He explained procrastination stems from the lack of confidence and the need for instant gratification. So try to motivate yourself by seeing what others do and set specific and foreseeable investment goals. * We briefly talked about the TFSA and the tax effects on capital gains. Exciting Changes Ahead: I am pleased to announce few additional changes to Ellen's Investment Club, namely the structure of our new agenda: * The Member Stock Purchase Ice Breaker will now be replaced with "Financial Check In".  This will allow a member who may not have purchased an equity in the past month to share his or her financial vision or concern and actively participate in club discussion. * The Open Discussion near the end of the c

Ellen's Investment Club Meeting (February 15, 2011 @ 7:30 to 9:30pm) Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre 750 Spadina Ave Room#: Please ask the front desk where the meeting is held ITEM # TIME TOPIC DETAILS 7:30 PM: Sign in and payment ($10) 7:45 PM: Member stock purchase discussion 8:20 PM: Book: Procrastination Equation by Piers Steel ( http://www.thestar.com/living/article/912670--how-to-do-something-about-procrastination ) 8:50 PM: Investopedia Topic of the Month: TBD 9:00 PM: Open discussion The agenda of the meeting is subject to change.

You guys might be interested in checking out the February 5th Investor’s Quarterly’s Seminars. Details here: http://www.theinvestmentshow.ca/

Thank you for attending Ellen's Investment Club meeting on January 18, 2011. * Patrick Doyle and Bruno Malta, executive producers of Taking Stock (http://www.takingstockmovie.com/thefilm.html) spoke to us about various behavioural fallacies associated with investing and how to overcome as a retail investor. * The October 18th, 2010 Investopedia Challenge has come to an end. Of the 3 players that signed up (lukezskywalk, wheelon, and beanie1954), I edged to the top in both USD and CAD ranking (1.1336M USD and 1.066M CAD respectively). The next Challenge will begin on February 16, 2011. Please stay tuned. The upcoming session will be helding on February 15, 2011 at 7:30pm in the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre (750 Spadina Ave). We will review the Book: Procrastination Equation by Piers Steel. (http://www.thestar.com/living/article/912670--how-to-do-something-about-procrastination) We are also looking for volunteers to help run our club. Please email me (xglzhang@yahoo.co

Happy New Year everyone. This is just a reminder our regular club meeting will be held: Ellen's Investment Club Meeting (January 18, 2010 @ 7:30 to 9:30pm) Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre 750 Spadina Ave Room#: Please ask the front desk Patrick Doyle will be here with us to discuss in a follow up Q&A session to Taking Stock the movie. Also we will be reviewing the book Procrastination Equation by Piers Steel. You can find out information about this book here: http://www.thestar.com/living/article/912670--how-to-do-something-about-procrastination ITEM # TIME TOPIC DETAILS 7:30 PM: Sign in and payment ($10) 7:45 PM: Taking Stock Q&A with Patrick Doyle 8:20 PM: Book Review: Procrastination Equation by Piers Steel 8:50 PM: Investopedia Challenge Winner 9:00 PM: Open discussion The agenda of the meeting is subject to change.