16 — Wednesday, March 31, 1999 - North Shore News
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Deflation makes debt cheaper |

How would you man-
age if your stock market
and real estate invest-
ments fell sharply in
value — by one-third, a
half or even more?

“For the past 25 years, the
biggest economic enemy in
most countries has been inila-
tion,” said the cover story in a
recent issue of The Econontist.
“Today, in most of the world,
a greater danger may be detla-
tion.”

There’s not much we as
individuals can do to influence
the economy’s future. But we
should review our finances to
make sure we can survive —

erhaps profit — whatever
the the brane brings

Ifyou have Been an aggres-
sive, short-term investor,
building assets to buy your
first or a bigger home, for
example, or to provide a nest
egg for retirement or other
purposes, you might want to
cash out to lock in your profits
— and preserve vour capital.

If you have been a long-”
term investor, whether in the
stock market or property, you
should also consider rebalanc-
ing your portfolio.

Deflation praduces lower
interest rates. A long-term

* bond cr an annuity, for cxam-
ple, would fock in today’s

rates. Even a 5% return would
look good if rates fell to 1 or

a prices did drop, investors
with cash would be able to
pick up some great stock,
property and business deals.
Once the economy recovered,
both the investments and the
investors could do very well.

When you rearrange your
portfolio, try to keep as many
of your interest instruments in
an RRSP, RRIF or even RESP,
to shelter the interest from
tax.

But don’t go overboard

into cash. If governments and
central banks make the right
moves to help economies sta-
hilize — as The Economist
magazine hopes — you will
sull want ownership rather
than debt investments tor
long-term growth Simply
decide how much of your
investment portfolio should be
conservative (“I'd rather miss
a chance to make money than
lose that part of my capital”)
and how much should be
More aggressive (“I'd rather
take a chance on losing some
of this capital than miss the
chance to make money with
it”).

Finally, while deilation
makes debt cheaper, any debt
can be a problem if your
income drops or disappears.
By all means have or establish
a line of credit or other debt
facility so you can choose to
borrow if that becomes a
good strategy. Bur in the

Florist has potted orchids

Fram page 15

and vases, we have a huge
selection of roses, Ecuador
roses, a lot of local product as
well. We have a nice selection
of giftware and potted orchid
plants and a few specialty

K. Gregory Senda,

Lawyer

¢ International Business Law

¢ International strategic partnering:
technology alliances,
distribution,
import-export

« 15 years experience, 9 years living
and working in Japan and the US

Tel: (604) 913 8880 Fax: (604) 913 8881
Email: gsenda@ uniserve.com

4
i fee

Mr. Mathiesen.

funds.

standards.

«toll-free in B.C.

Pusiic ANNOUNCEMENT
GARY K. MATHIESEN

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of B.C.’s
Discipline Tribunal held a hearing on January 18-
22, 1999 and March 8, 1999 into the conduct of

The Discipline Tribunal Pane! found Mr. Mathiesen,
a member in industry, to have violated a number
of the institute’s Rules of Professional Conduct
during 1995 ~ 1997. He was found to have misled _
indepeiident contractor salespeople and Revenue
Canada with respect to the handling of remittances
of voluntary income tax withholdings. Additionally.
they found that hc behaved unprofessionally in his
dealings with specific real estate agents when they
pursued recovery of the withheld but unremitted

The Panel ordered that Mr. Mathiesen:
be suspended for a period of one year,
' commencing March 31, 1999;
/2. pay forthwith to the Institute a tin: of $5000
3. as acondition of reinstatement and lifting of
his suspension, successfully complete the-
Institute’s one-day course on rules and

For more information please contact
‘Brian Gardiner, CA, CFE at (604) 681-3264 or

1°800-663-2677.
eed (| A

Chartered
Accountants
of British
Columbia

types of items as well.”

3009
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Qdeon Cinemas, Bread
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687-2020

Leniter Broker fees may apply

meantiine, eliminate debt,
especially the personal, non-
deductible sort.

—Mike Grenby is a North
Share-based columnist and
independent financial adviser
who works with individuals:
he will answer your questions
in this column as space allows
— write to Mike clo 2444
Haywood Ave., West
Vancouver, V7V 1Y1.

ams

4 Fae
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985-7195 [are

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