Guarding Wealth: Long-term investing is a sure thing

There are short-term risks, but inflation and survivor bias make long-term bets winners

Let’s have a heart to heart talk about the fundamentals of investing on the farm and off the farm and, for that matter, investing in education for a career or a used car. Every investment has character, whether it’s a tech stock and you have to bet on a new trend or product on the […] Read more

Bubble in the finance world

Guarding Wealth: When will the stock market bubble pop?

Stock markets are soaring in spite of increasing risks. If this is a bubble, will it last?

When is a bubble a bubble? The Oxford English Dictionary defines a bubble as “a significant, usually rapid, increase in asset prices that is soon followed by a collapse in prices… typically arises from speculation or enthusiasm rather than intrinsic increases in value.” The question is vital right now, for one of the best guides […] Read more


Guarding Wealth: Farmers would be hostages in a trade war

Guarding Wealth: Farmers would be hostages in a trade war

Canadian farmers could suffer from American initiatives to shut borders to imports

Donald Trump’s elevation from businessman to American president could injure Canadian farmers gravely. Little is known of his plans, less of the laws he may try to push through the Congress and executive orders he may issue. But trade war is on the table and through no fault of their own, Canadian farmers may be […] Read more

Farmer walking toward combine.

Make sure your farm is competitive

Prairie farmers are going to have to stay on the ball to remain profitable in today’s markets

After some of my recent articles (see links at the right hand column of your screen) talking about what is happening around the world in primary agricultural production — which countries are leading the way and who we in Western Canada are going to have to compete against in the world markets — I have had […] Read more


Understanding feeder cattle risk: Pt. 2

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: You don’t want to be using marketing tools to lock in a loss

The feeder cattle market has experienced extreme volatility over the past three years. For this reason, I’ve been writing on managing financial risk for feeder cattle and particularly for backgrounding operations and cow calf producers. In the first column, I discussed the mechanics of hedging, explained historical basis levels and using these basis levels to […] Read more

Saskatchewan Farmland Prices.

90 years of Saskatchewan farmland prices

Saskatchewan land prices have been on the move since 1968. What’s next?

Readers have been asking for an update on farmland prices but I was having trouble accessing the required data. Thanks to Terry Bedard of Saskatchewan Agriculture for sending me recent average price data. This data is just for Saskatchewan. Alberta land prices are changed by many factors that are not related to what is grown […] Read more


Guarding Wealth: Changes ahead for 2017

Guarding Wealth: Changes ahead for 2017

Rising interest rates and the Trump Effect 
bring uncertainties in the New Year

If investing were easy, we’d all be rich. Today, capital markets have many new uncertainties. Top of the list: the Trump Effect. That is, what the new President may do after his inauguration on January 20. Also worrisome is where Europe is going if other members of the EU follow the United Kingdom out of […] Read more

one dollar banknote among wheat grains

World events will change prices

In the first of a two-part series, Brian Wittal looks at market forces

Looking out the window at -20 C and eight inches of snow I can hear that old proverb repeating in my head. “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” I am going to take some creative license with this saying and replace the word “nice” with the word “informative,” in hopes […] Read more


Successful woman handing out Canadian dollars. Female entrepreneur doing business in Canada. Giving or donating money. Female success in a multicultural society

Ready to share your wealth with employees?

An Employee Share Ownership Plan may be a good option for your farm

If you’ve had a tough year with poor crops and low prices and are feeling financially short, regardless of how it turned out, you’ll likely always need labour support to get the job done. One of the biggest fears of founders that I coach is the fact that they may lose loyal, hard-working employees after […] Read more

Magnifying glass on newspaper

Guarding Wealth: Canadian interest rates to rise

But don’t hold your breath — any big rate moves are at least 18 months ahead

To quote the most recent winner of the Nobel Prize for literature, Bob Dylan, “the times, they are a-changin’.” In capital markets, the U.S. Federal Reserve Board is likely to raise the interest rate it charges banks to borrow money overnight to maintain reserves — a key indicator for all other interest rates in the economy. This increase […] Read more