Love it!! I had to send that on to my friends :)

Hi chemicals that'd curl yer hair, As I mentioned, this seems a useful strategy for Canadians as an alternative to a tax-deferred retirement fund. Here, if I borrowed to invest in the tax-deferred retirement system, interest paid on the loan is not deductible. If I borrow to purchase stocks outside of the tax-deferred system which have a good possibility of being profitable, the interest is deductible. When in regular account I buy Canadian stocks that pay dividends, I pay tax on them at a much lower rate - 4% interest earnings and 3% dividend earnings produce about the same after-tax result. If that dividend income is in my tax-deferred account, that tax benefit is lost. If I invest to earn interest, usually the value of the underlying asset, while it can't shrink ... ... it can't grow, either. So - all that it will ever earn for me is earned - NOW! And taxed now - at top rate. But - the value of the underlying asset deteriorates each year, due to the depradations of inflation ... which means that I must put part of current earnings with the asset in order to preserve purchasing power. I expect that you've read my story about the two rats that eat your cheese. But - if I borrow to invest, and pay interest-only on the loan each month ... ... a few years down the road, I pay back precisely the number of dollars that I borrowed. Each one of which will buy less than when I borrowed it, so I gained from inflation. One wants solid, strong companies in his/her projectred retirement fund, and share prices of such companies tend to stay more stable during down markets ... especially if they are paying a fairly good dividend. If I buy a stock inside of the tax-deferred account, when I sell it, if before the time that I'm to withdraw it, I pay no tax on the capital gain, either, at that time. But the problem is - that when I withdraw funds from that account, which I must do, beginning at age 70, I must add every dollar to my income at the time that I withdraw, with no deductions - and whether or not I'd prefer another course of action, e.g. if I had a substantial other source of income in one year, to put me into a higher tax bracket. And I'm required to withdraw an increasing percentage annually, to 20%, I think it is, at age 90 and at that rate annually from then on. In the regular system, if prices of the stocks that I've bought go up, when I sell them (or die) I deduct the amount that I paid originally, then pay tax on half of the gains, at regular rate - but I pay no tax on half of that gain. When I invest in stocks inside the tax-deferred system, I lose the tax advantage of both the dividend tax credit, and of the deductibility of half of the capital gain. If I hold those quality stocks for long periods, which I tend to do, I don't have to answer to the income tax people till I sell them, which gives me most of the advantage gained by the people who use tax-deferred retirement accounts. When the value of my assets increase, I laugh some. If they go down, I cry a bit. I don't want to be in a position where I must get out at a time not of my choosing. And as I showed you in the message to you the other day - the major composite index in the U.S. has always been up in the last 50 years, give it a 10 year span. You expect to be around for more than that, don't you? If not - no doubt your kids will ... and if they inherit a stock that's doing well, they'll not likely dump it. However - if I buy a chunk of the index here, I can't get share certificates issued, which means that I can't use them as collateral for a loan at the bank - but I can from the broker (as far as I know). Broker's interest rate charged is usually about 1% above the rate that the bank charges. Ideologically speaking, I'd rather do business with the local credit unions, but the rates that they charge are usually substantially higher than those charged by the bank. I've had gains, and I've had losses, but I've never been caught where I had to sell stocks when the market was low in order to keep the bank off of my tail. As some people in the investment group that I've attended for years say - "Losses are the tuition in the learning-how-money-works game". Good wishes for your skillful participation in that game. ole joyful

I'm high ranked in mcgill. I know very well what i am talking about. ANd Canadian education is not the same as American. Its not hard to get an A/A-/B+ as you put it. THe grading system is Completely different. There are schools in the states that are of the highest order. They are amazing. But not all students attend some of the best schools. And i really hate to give you more light on this subject but many Mcgill applicants with A- have been rejected due to quota and other admission issues. Its a business ladies. Remember. I say its not hard to get in because i see alot of smart students. Alot , many who apply to mcgill have these high marks. Trust me, i know. The only thing wrong with parents paying for college and university is if the child expects it kkny. Dont twist my words ladies. I dont think its wrong for parents to help their children BUT they have to work partime, they have to not expect it because they are the chidl and that is my parent. And i would help my child in university as long as they have a part time job and they're grades are high. I've seen a few cases not only in concordia but in mcgill and two other institutes where the poor parents pay and the kid goofs, while having his cell phone and car paid for by said parents. Its RIDICULOUS! Parents in this society must draw the line and how they raise their kids now adays. These kids will the futur and this entitlement must be changed. Now we have gone off topic and we can discuss schools and politics all we like. In the end, after being part of this forum for almost 10 years, ladies you are beating the same horse from a different angle. Kkny you still have your chip on your shoulder against SM Obviously me being one will get your knickers in a fancy. Lets not forget i was also a stepchild. I know both fences. As for tone, i'm not the one who 's bitter and jealous in my situ. good day ladies.

First off, Middlebury was my dream school. I wasn't accepted :( Second, I always wanted, and would still like, to attend one of the Concordia language Village camps in Minnesota (they have adult AND kids camps!) Third, send your daughter on a homestay program in France. I went in high school. It included 3 weeks living with a family. They did not speak English, so I HAD to speak French. It also included classes for our group and field trips. When I walked in to French class in September, my teacher noticed right away that I was more fluid, my grammar and vocabulary had improved, and I was the better for it. edit to add, my "fraude famille" included a 3-year-old. One day my American classmate asked her if something was masculin ou feminin. Naturally little girl had no idea what she was talking about. Then we asked "le ou la?" and she got it right off the bat. It was just kind of funny. A family experience is great! As for my own kids, one went on a 3-day weekend immersion when he was in middle school. He came home speaking French much more comfortably, and much more willing to speak it around the house with me. Now he's a senior and we still converse in French sometimes, though most of our exchanges are limited to "Leve-toi!" at 6:28 a.m.