16 - North Shore News — Wednesday, February 2, 2000 HIGHT ECH | Money seminars want your business money matters “STEP right up, ladies and gentlemen, do we have a show for you! Learn the latest ways to save tax and make money! “And be sure to fill in your name and address for all our wonderful door prizes!” If it’s RRSP and income tax time, then it must also be money show time. Should you attend these investment and tax seminars? Nobody does anything for nothing. I was involved in money shows for 15 years. [ earned a fee for my presentation, The Newspaper sponsor built on its relationship with its readers and produced a special adver- tising supplement, the Certified General Accountants sponsor raised its profile, the Anancial institudons who had booths at the show promoted their products and services. Carefully choose the semi- nars and shows you attend. Will the featured speaker(s) provide information you will find helpful? Are you prepared for a sales push? The sponsor — a financial institution or planner — will almost certainly be looking for new clients. Fill in your name and address for a dvor prize, and expect to hear within a few days from the sponsor seeking to do business with you. You'll get mail, perhaps a phone call. There might be an offer of a free financial coun- selling session. You need to learn about the different financial products and advisory services available. ‘The seminar can give you a chance to size up the quality of the presentation, the follow- up tells you more about the firm. But as with any business, you should aim for the best. What experience and expertise do the financial advisers have? What about qualifications? References? Which comes first: their desire and need to make money by selling you some- thing, or a professional ethic to provide the advice that's best for you — even if that doesn’t maximize their com- missions or fees. Like home shows and other wade fairs, money shows can be a good way to learn about different products. But always ask: “What's in it for me — and for the organizers?” Then be prepared to discount any obvious bias or agenda. Some companies put on appreciation seminars for clients, often inviting anendees to bring along friends. The company might be providing a value-added service, perhaps a true “thank you for your busi- ness” event. Buc whether it’s implied or openly suggested, the company will also be hop- ing to get more business. Mike Grenby is a columnist and independent _ personal financial adviser; he'll auswer questions in this column as space allows but cannot reply personal- hy. Contact him at P.O. Box 50029, South Slope R.P.O., Burnaby, B.C. V5] 5G3; e-mail and see pre- vious coltumns at Mike's Wet site, . Site offers mentors to girls interested in science YOUNG female science and technelogy enthusi- asts can now access a ’ telementoring section of . the SCWIST (Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology) ‘ Web site, courtesy of Ionysys Technology ‘Corporation. — The new Web site provides information on a SCWIST pro- gram that connects young girls interested in science and tech- nology with female mentors working in science-related fields. Ionysys is a Vancouver- based firm of technology con- sultants, of whom over one- third is female. The SCWIST telementor- ing program allows young Michael Campbell is British Columbia's most “respected business analyst. He is best known as ". . the host of Canada’s top rated business show - Money Talks - heard across the country on the WIC radio network. He is the Chief Business Analyst for BCTV and the national Canada Tonight broadcast. He is the business analyst for the Vancouver Sun and writes the lead business col- urn three times a week. He has wiitten the National bestseller titled Cooking the Books with Mike: Michael Campbell's Favourite R ipe for in int Financial women to connect with a pro- fessional female through week- ly e-mail communication. The mentor may share her experi- ences, offer advice, guidance and encouragement and inspire a young girl to pursue a career in science and technol SCWIST is a non- profit vol- untary association helping to promote and empower women in science and technology. SCWIST provides current information on careers and training to educators, its mem- bers and the public. Tonysys Technology Corporation specializes in ¢- commerce Web sites and client/server applications. To view the SCWIST tele- mentoring site, go to: . Saturday - _ Febery td a vend : IN Greater Cyberia, we are what we bookmark. North Vancouver resident — and lawyer Guy Murphy shares some of his fivourite Web clicks. Murphy likes: www.cnn.com I ohave omy browser defaulted to load this page. It is constantly current, | never have any downloading problems, and it is exceptionally informative if you want to access breaking stories — [ think it is easily the best live news site on the Web. www.courts.gov.be.ca This site has all the text of all decisions rendered in the B.C. Supreme Court and Court of Appeal since 1996. If you want to find decisions this is a great place to go as it is free, it has a fairly robust search engine and is updated constantly with new deci- sions. Chances are that once you read about it in the paper, it will be in the data base. For the layman it has a very good explanation of the judicial system available, written by the Chief Justice Allan McEachern. Given my line of work, 1 use it quite frequently. www.nfl.com/www.espn. com Ifyou are a sports junkie, these are good sites to get infu. During the football season I get all the up-to- date stats, injury reports, odds ete. that {need te raake my picks for my football pool. Both sites are well laid out and quick. Wwww.nsnews.com What can I say? When I started surfing the net, which was when the net was just beginning, this was the best laid out community newspaper site by far, and it has oniy improved. As a North Shore resident, | usu- ally drop in to The North Shore News Web site at least weekly for news, the survey, and links. www.darwinawards.com Stupid human tricks. This site just cracks me up with its macabre sense of humour. Just goes to show you what a truly boring indi- vidual I am. Lender Broker fees may apply has assisted numerous clie ScotialVicLeod's Chris : Carter lives and works in North Vancouver. He spe-" cializes in previding investment consuiting- and retirement planning for individual investors - who have retired or are ~ planning for their secure retirement. Because of the fluid nature of the’. § * Canadian job market, he . #4: nis through the process of early } retirement and continues to oversee their accounts... - Chris is also the business commentator on the BCTV |. Morning News, contributing five reports weekdays from 5:30am to 8:00am. He is reguiar contributor ic the busi~ ness section of the North S! hore News, pubslisher of the Prudent Investor newsletter and has recently published a special report for Canadian facing an early retirement pack- age from their employer. His newsletter, special reports and market commentary are available freo at’: : e a ; David Briggs My approach is based on the “value” philoscply pioneered by Or. Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing and the author of ‘The Intelligent investor. The basic concept is to buy securities trading below their estimated intrinsic value. Put into practice, this would typically mean buying securities: ‘e trading at a substantial discount to Cundill's estimate of net value; and ¢ withia acceptable debt to equity leveis . The approach is asset oriented and requires a longer-term per- speclive... and patience. The major benefit is relatively lower volatility.