The year of 2021 was an incredibly strong one. After showing signs of weakness in late September and November the markets generally finished strong with 25%+ equity returns in both Canada and the USA and 6.5% and 11% respectively for the fourth quarter. 

FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• S&P/TSX Composite hits an all-time high of 21,796.20 on November 16th
• S&P 500 hits record high of 4,808.93 on December 30th  
• Canadian dollar hits 12-month low of $0.7714 USD on December 19th
  
• WTI Oil hits 86-month high on December 25th closing at $85.41 USD       
• Bank of Canada maintains overnight rate at 0.25% in Q4

U.S, Canadian and global equity markets started Q3 where Q2 ended, confidently charting a course forward. By the end of August, equities had notched a seventh straight month of gains, with the S&P 500 Index finishing near its all-time high and the TSX Composite Index on its longest winning streak in four years.

THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
• S&P/TSX Composite hits an all-time high of 20,897.60 on September 7th
• S&P 500 hits record high of 4,545.85 on September 2nd
• Canadian dollar hits 7-month low of $0.7723 USD on August 19th
• WTI Oil hits 35-month high on September 28th closing at $76.67 USD
• Bank of Canada maintains overnight rate at 0.25% in Q3

The global economy continued to recover in the second quarter helped by the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, U.S. fiscal stimulus programs and supportive monetary policies from the Fed and other major central banks.

SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
• S&P/TSX Composite hits an all-time high of 20,295.2 on June 16th
• S&P 500 hits record high of 4,302.43 on June 30th
• Canadian dollar hits 6-year high of $0.8328 USD on May 31st
• WTI Oil hits 32-month high on June 25th closing at $74.05 USD
• Bank of Canada maintains overnight rate at 0.25% in Q2

Markets in the first quarter of 2021 have been marked by ongoing volatility as the world recovers from the negative effect of the first waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
• S&P/TSX Composite hits an all-time high of 19,037.1 on March 17th
• S&P 500 hits record high of 3,994.41 on March 31st
• Canadian dollar hits 3-year high of $0.8097 USD on January 3rd
• WTI Oil hits 23-month high on March 5th closing at $66.42 USD
• Bank of Canada maintains overnight rate at 0.25% in Q1

By Kevin Wark

Most insurance advisors are familiar with the benefits of corporate-owned life insurance. To start, it may be "cheaper" to fund the premiums with after-tax corporate dollars rather than using personal funds.

Despite a resurgence of COVID-19 cases and renewed lockdowns in many regions, markets trended upward during the fourth quarter of 2020, boosted by growing clarity around the outcome of the U.S. presidential election and significant COVID-19 vaccine progress.

FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
• S&P/TSX Composite hits 9-month high of 17,684.1 on December 17th
• S&P 500 hits record high of 3,760.2 on December 31st
• Canadian dollar hits 32-month high of $0.7880 USD on December 17th
• WTI Oil hits 10-month high on December 18th closing at $49.24 USD
• Bank of Canada maintains overnight rate at 0.25% in Q4

Check out this great read from our partners at Belliveau Veinotte on how the CERS is open to property owners and not just tenants.

The idea that retirement is a continuous vacation is a myth. It takes planning to spend time with purpose. Make no mistake it is important to relax, travel while you can, and enjoy every day - but that shouldn't be a retirement thing, it should be an everyday state of mind. Too many folks think life starts at retirement but get there to find disappointment realizing that life is best lived with purpose, which takes effort.

 Recovering from the pandemic-related downdraft of the first quarter, financial markets enjoyed a period of relative calm and optimism through of the summer of 2020. Equity prices in many markets continued to improve, with some sectors moving sharply higher as lockdown restrictions eased and economic activity gradually resumed ...

What does everyone know about group health & dental plans? That's easy: The cost goes up every year, and selecting a specific plan design for the increasingly diverse needs of ​staff can be a challenge.