Winter 2025
Well, it’s been such a peaceful few weeks… We almost thought about not sending the newsletter!
We’re kidding, of course. We know that many of you will be concerned about what’s happening to the South, for myriad reasons. Probably on that list is tariffs and how they may impact you, your jobs, your businesses, and the people you love. We share your concerns, in that regard.
What we remain confident about, though, is that the global economy always finds a way forward. Keep reading for deeper insights and, we hope, a sense of calm amidst the storm.
The Big Stuff
TARIFFS
We’ve lived through a whirlwind of events these past few years—pandemics, wars, and now a fight with the neighbours. History shows us the economy will do what it always does: grow and evolve. Will there be some bumps ahead? Definitely. There will be another market pull-back; it’s as certain to happen as it is impossible to predict. A long-term investment strategy needs to be designed to withstand those bumps because they will happen. After all, we’re due for a little discomfort—it’s been relatively smooth sailing for quite a while now.
That being said, as long as we stay true to our mantra of “Keep your short-term money short-term and your long-term money long-term,” we’re doing the right thing. If we equate market volatility with weather events, let’s put it like this: We’re not built for the weather. A properly constructed portfolio doesn’t care about the weather. The weather just is. To put it very bluntly, clients who are hearing from their advisors that tariffs mean they should be doing something differently with regard to their investments or financial plan, should find a new advisor.
Before the latest tariff announcements, our CEO Colin White sat down with Morningstar to share his thoughts—providing a solid rundown of where things stood at the time. Since then, tariffs may have been announced, rolled back, or even escalated (all before you finished reading this sentence), but the core message in Colin’s interview still applies. Read the full piece here: Colin White shares insights on potential tariffs for Morningstar.
We are not discounting the real human impact of what is happening, but we want you to remember that we’ve all been scared before and things turned out ok.
We’re here if you have questions, and you can reach out to any member of the team that you’d like to speak with. Everyone’s phone number and email address are here on the website and we welcome a chat.
Quarterly Updates
QUARTERLY MARKET UPDATE, AND MANAGER’S NOTES
We have a new Barenaked Quarterly Market Update as well as Manager’s Notes on both the Verecan Global Equity Fund and the Verecan Global Income Fund.
Podcast: Barenaked Money
LATEST EPISODES
We put out as many episodes as we have time to do, aiming for weekly. If you haven’t had a chance to check the podcast out, this is a great time to start. We have a look back at our predictions for 2024 and how we did, as well as a look ahead at what we think might happen in 2025. Our tongues are firmly in our cheeks, as we continue to remind you that no one can predict the future. Check out Dylan Wilson’s recent Market Minute on professional sports investing for proof that no one saw that coming!
Verecan in the Wild
WHERE WE’VE BEEN AND WHERE WE’RE GOING
We finished our road show on Conflicts of Interest in the Financial Services Industry and have posted a recording of the event online, which you can view here. The event was a lot of fun, and we’re looking forward to another round of events in the Spring. If you have any subjects you’d like us to cover, let us know!
We’ve been in the media a lot in recent months, so hopefully you’ve caught a couple pieces but just in case here’s another really relevant and timely interview on BNN that allowed Chief Investment Officer, Josh Sheluk, to share our philosophy. You can watch that interview here.
Until Next Time
We’re here to help! Have questions or feedback on this newsletter—or anything else? Drop us a line. ClientExperience@verecan.com or 1.800.782.2345
We are, possibly, the lone voice of reason you’re hearing right now. If you’ve got friends or family who are hearing other messages, feel free to have them reach out to us. We are here and willing to provide information and clarity to anyone, whether they’re a client or not.
