Experian explains its move with this official statement from its website:

Effective April 17, 2009, Experian will unfortunately discontinue its Canadian consumer credit bureau operations as a result of the very difficult economic environment in Canada and around the world, which Experian believes will persist for some time. This means that as of April 18, 2009, Experian will no longer be providing credit reports out of its Canadian database regarding any consumer in Canada.

We will continue to respond to ongoing consumer requests for copies of credit reports, as well as handle disputed items and other consumer assistance until April 17. After that date and upon completion of any disputes in process, all consumer information will be deleted from our database and will no longer be available to consumers or creditors.

If you have not previously obtained your credit report from us or initiated a dispute on your Experian credit report, you may wish to contact one of the other credit bureaus for assistance.

One immediate question that came to mind was regarding what happens to those who were subscribed to an Experian credit profile/monitoring product. If you’re a personal/business consumer of Experian services. I’ve love to hear from you!

What has the media been reporting about Canada’s “credibility” through this credit crisis? Here’s what we know so far. The IMF (International Monetary Fund) praised Canada for its solid banking practices, compared to the American system, as the reason why its financial infrastructure has not fallen in shambles. The Canadian banks have so far given quarterly reports that look stellar when compared to its American peers. The government is constantly seeking for validation of its own economic forecasts, a function that they’ve historically failed with gross inaccuracies… while staving off comments from former Bank of Canada governor, David Dodge. But also in-fighting for authority with the government’s own federal budge watch-dog - the parliamentary budget officer.

In a way, I’d have to categorize the events thus far as being very Canadian in scope. After the Swiss, the Canadians are internationally regarded as a neutral country. And right now, we seem to have been unscathed during the global financial turmoil. The focus has deservingly been on Canadian’s manufacturing and commodities sectors. But if we scratch beneath the surface… who knows.. there just might be an ugly financial puss/scab forming underneath the skin painted over by the government and the media? There are no answers yet. But rest assured, Investorial will continue to monitor the situation and share with you thoughts about Canada’s credit crsis.

Have you recently dealt with Equifax or Transunion lately? I’d love to hear from you about your experience with its products. What are you most worried about with Canada’s credit situation. Or is there no cause for concern for Canadian’s financial sectors from your perspective?

“[Put buyers] are paying the seller to assume some risks they are not willing to bear and it would be wise to assume that the premiums reflect the risks involved.”

CC starts with a common scenario that would entice investors to sell puts, and breaks it down by explaining the difference between INTENT and OBLIGATION. You’ll dread that obligation, when you’re hung out to dry in a bad investment situation, with no options remaining.

This is not instant replay, head on over to Canadian Capitalist to read what he has to say about this subject, and stay there for more investment wisdom. Why I liked the article was because he was providing an excellent counter-point to Derek Foster’s book “Money for Nothing and Your Stocks for Free“.

Let’s face it, that book title was used because it will sell more volumes than perhaps a boring one like “Fundamentals of options, and mortgages”. Aren’t you the sucker for not picking up the book and and employing the strategy within? Meanwhile, the publishing company and the author are getting richer with every new copy sold. Too much financial media out there are sounding more and more like infomercials. I guess it’ll be futile to hope for finance as a non-entertaining subject? It’s my belief that those who approach it with that attitude gets the most out of the information.

Now, I’m not all negative and down on the idea of using options. There are times when using them wisely is the right move. Options have made some people money. Just don’t expect to dive head first and make oodles of it without any risk or consequence. For every financial instrument that have made people rich, those same instruments have also sent some others to the poor house. Don’t be blindly influenced by tactics devised by Gurus who are getting rich off their advice. NOTHING IS FOR FREE!

I feel bad for Jim Cramer. I truly do! And not because he looked ass-silly, being forced into this confrontation by CNBC; a move that will inevitably close the curtains for Cramer’s on-air career. I felt sorry for Cramer not because he seemed in need of a bullet to be put out of his misery, agreeing and nodding to each and every one of Jon Stewart’s passionate pleadings. But as Jon Stewarts puts it best, “It’s unfortunate that [Jim Cramer] has become the face of this situation.”

What I am afraid of is that since Cramer is the face, CNBC will be able to close the book on this tell-tale episode, and continue quietly business as usual. It’s very easy to single out one person instead of looking at the entire system. Jon Stewart did a great job of staying on the right track during the showdown. The funniest and most poignant point of the interview was when Jon Stewart gave his best Carly Simon invocation and laid it out to an ego-bruised Cramer, “This song is NOT about YOU!” It’ll be interesting to see how CNBC reacts to Jon’s plea for the “news” media outlet to turn into an investigative arm, rather than be perceived as in bed with other snake-oil salesmen.

In the past, I’ve bashed Cramer quite often, you can find some examples here, here and here. Heck, I even found an unfinished draft titled “Jim Cramer Is A Pump And Dump Stock Spammer!” that never saw the light of day due to my laziness. Watching the interview struck a personal chord, and it revitalized why I was initially motivated to launch Investorial. This blog’s mission statement couldn’t be more crystal clear, and yet I blew it by laying on the sidelines. I’m sorry.. but it’s time to launch a comeback!

What follows will be a renewed commitment to Investorial. I look foward to a new design, more postings, and I will fight to gain back my reading community. This song is not about me either, I’m not the white knight in dark financial times. I’m just a man who feels that sharing what I think about investment and financial media can be beneficial if we bring out smart discussions and share education.

Like George Constanza exlcaimed, “I’m back, baby!”

P.S. I’ll share with you, some of the better write-ups (in my opinion) regarading the Stewart vs. Cramer showdown out in the blogosphere, from Gawker.com, and TreeHugger.

I’ve previously blogged on how I loved PH&N - a Canadian investment management firm possessing a terrific reputation. On July 2^nd, PH&N will launch B and F series of their funds. Their elitist minimum investment restriction lowered to $5,000 from $25,000. Compared to its Canadian peers, its funds bear MER costs that are well below the industry standard. Isn’t that a refreshing concept to hear from an investment company?

Solid Performance At A Lower cost
I’m really tempted to drop $5000 and open a PH&N account myself. Though I’m a stock picker at heart, I also engage in some mindless mutual fund dabbling for the portions of my portfolio I don’t want to fuss about. It’s my way to diversify by style; to ensure that I don’t totally ruin any chances of future retirement through bad trades. And no, I don’t suffer from lack of confidence if you haven’t noticed. Ha-ha..

No grand arguments here about how PH&N have the best funds. But you should take a look at the fund performances they boast - solid across the board. The majority of these funds fit my criteria: long history, steady / above industry peer performance, no extreme dips and swings in style, performance and management. Most mutual fund investors aren’t the types to constantly worry about their funds. The PH&N principals have proven they’ve got what it takes to give you that piece of mind with their conservative yet winning style. And why not also offer it at a lower price than most of their competitors?

A Strategic Shift - Paying Advisors
If you had a Canadian financial advisor who was recommending PH&N funds to you before, chances are that’s a good advisor who’s not in it for the money as PH&N never paid advisors. Accordingly, if PH&N wants to reach a larger investor population with its offerings, partnering up with these distribution channels was a no-brainier decision.

Reading the article above, you might also be curious about “trailer fees“. These are how most financial advisors get paid. Advisors don’t simply draw commissions from your initial investment load fee, but are also paid a tiny % of the MER annually for their continuing service of your accounts. This is precisely why many advisors want to build a large investment capital portfolio under their management because these trailers are their version of “passive” income.

Will More Follow?
Taking the high road served PH&N for quite a while, but coming down to help the common man is its own rewards. By leveling the playing field and making its services more accessible to Canadian investors. PH&N is only helping to rebuild the battered image of mutual fund companies. I’m hoping that more companies will follow PH&N’s example and rethink their marketing strategy, and MER cost structure.

I couldn’t express my feelings on this any better than Mark Evans. Mark has been writing about the telecom industry for years. He lays out very nicely talkiing points that mirror my sentiments of this proposal.

But one thing is certain, in the age-old market system of buyers and sellers, both groups are always hoping to outmaneuver each other. To put it plainly, a buyer buys in hopes of profiting, so why would a seller sell if there are such expectations? Optimally, a seller sells because there are no foreseeable upside on the further horizon, so why would a buyer take this risk? It becomes a game of who is the sucker.

Why Buy And Sell Then?
I am definitely omitting some of the more intricate details that help determine a buy or sell decision. Does one party know something that the other doesn’t? Do they have a different goal than the other party? Sometimes, it boils down to a matter of convenience. Here’s an example: if your family needs to move out of the city, the biggest priority may not be about how much you can profit from selling your house, but how quick / smooth the process will be.

My concern is the reaction of the investing crowd to this “announcement”. I wish more people would be cynical enough to question why the board does not believe its own company enough to keep running it. What is their selling motivation? It goes without saying that they wish to divest their ownership at the highest price possible. Sure they need to publicize a deal of this magnitude. But why are you helping their hype machine?

I can understand if existing shareholders are excited. I would too if somebody is working on my behalf to help me sell out at a comfortable price point. I’m just wondering why new buyers would be excited as well to justify the supply / demand imbalance? What has changed fundamentally with the BCE business? What hope do you have that any new management will do a better job than the existing management? Why do you like the business now at this high price that you did not like at its low price?

I often irk at the investor reaction to buyout announcements. Actually, I irk at market maker reactions to these announcements and I chastise investors for blindly following the jacked-up bid / ask prices. I guess that’s why I’m naturally an investing contrarian.

Advertisement: Mortgage in Spain Spanish Mortgages

But why is it a “season”? Why worry about it only this time of the year? Shouldn’t we treat it with an around-the-year preparation attitude? I guess one person simply can’t change the mass hysteria around this topic. But one man is doing his best to help you out — Stephen Colbert. He has the funniest solution to all your tax deduction needs. If you find yourself contemplating the implementation Stephen’s 401K idea, check yourself into the looney bin. Tax avoidance should never be the deciding factor on whether to have kids, and it is probably the least effective solution. The video is right after the jump.

On a side note… where have I been for the past month? It certainly feels good not to be pressured into blogging. Ranting and raving about investment media should, and is still a passion / hobby rather than a day job. I know my quality would be diluted should I ever haphazardly contrive opinions about things I have no opinion about. And that is what will happen if I force myself to blog more frequently. What I’m trying to say is that, I’m thanking my loyal readers for their patience and promising to deliver only the straight goods and unfeathered opinions on issues I truly feel compelled to open my big mouth.

Advertisement: Mortgage in Spain Spanish Mortgages

And while most people just got over the excitement of the Academy Awards, I’m staying excited to recommend another movie for you! The movie isn’t even out yet, but the theme and inspiration for the movie will certainly add another dimension to the debate of money vs. happiness. I do not believe that money begets happiness, and feel it’s always important to prioritize what’s truly important, even as we choose to accumulate wealth. On March 9th, you may feel the same as me after watching “The Ultimate Gift“. What’s so good about the film’s message?

The Message
To understand the message is to understand how the movement came about.

A few years back, a little book started something very big. A message that has already prompted people to give to others, connect with friends and family, and help those in need like never before. Every one of us has powerful gifts to share, now we all have the added inspiration, resources and opportunities of a full-fledged movement. Each day, the momentum grows and the impact widens, as The Ultimate Gift continues to inspire thousands, if not millions, of others to share the gift and change the world.

The Story
The inspired movie will make for a good family movie night. Couples who are searching for the answer to what they would like to find in their lives, in each other. Even if you are single, a young adult or even just a kid, this can be life changing event that helps in your search for the significance of your being.

When his wealthy grandfather dies, trust fund baby Jason Stevens anticipates a big inheritance. Instead, his grandfather has devised a crash course on life with twelve tasks – or “gifts” – designed to challenge Jason in improbable ways, sending him on a journey of self-discovery and forcing him to determine what is most important in life: money or happiness.

Sometimes, we got to stop and smell the roses, it cannot be about dollars and values all the time. There are things in this world which no one can put a dollar value on, could analyze or take for granted.

The Trailer
Thanks to YouTube, you can check out the official movie trailer right here on Investorial.com!

Honestly, do you like these movie recommendations? It’s definitely not the usual topics that we tackle here on Investorial, but I believe that before we get into the nitty gritty of investment and finance, we should be honest about why we are pursuing such knowledge. There is a reason, and that reason ultimately resides in how we want to interact and be remembered by the people we love.

Advertisement: Mortgage in Spain Spanish Mortgages

But it’s not just profit-hungry creeps who exploit this. Even venerable bloggers such as Free Money Finance (update: or Ramit Sethi) can stoop to an eye-grabbing headline once in a while. For argument’s sake, we’ll follow with the shallowest definition of being rich and poor - money! I assert that knowledge is not the obstacle that you have to overcome, but 3 simple human qualities you should be striving for.

Knowledge Is Not The Key!
The biggest obstacle gapping the rich and the poor is not knowledge! I can think of a few other qualities that come to mind first. Yet, my experience as well as those of others keep telling me that knowledge is a constant commodity of wealth — bought, sold and dispensed everywhere like a “secret formula”. You can ask a wall street broker for a stock tip, or pay a fund manager who’ll tell you to stay invested in the market for the long term. But tell that to the grandmother who did nothing but save diligently, hoarded her assets in certificate deposits (or GICs for Canadians) and leaving hunderds of thousands to charities or cats. Was she market savvy? Did she possess knowledge over those who aren’t as rich?

1. Sense Of Responsibility For One’s Own Situation
We live in an entitlement society, where hardly anybody is willing to take ownership for their own situation. That’s why I really admire bloggers who blog and follow through about reducing their debt situation. They’re displaying a sense of responsibility for their own situation. And with that sense comes along a motivation to acquire the necessities to reach your goal. It might be knowledge, it might be some other quality… but it’s the very first step!

Too often do people accept the handout of social welfare. Too rarely do people blame nobody but themselves for their financial predicament. Too often does bankruptcy seem a short step away from discarding undesirable responsibilities. Too rarely do people beaten up, down and out fight their way back like champions. Too often, everything out there is there to “get you”, from governments, to wall street, to banks, to creditors, to your employers. When are we taking responsibility for our actions and inactions? Isn’t it time to realize that nobody but ourselves have the most vested interest in our future well-beings? And that ultimately, a dim future was because WE dropped the ball when it comes to making it work!

2. Taking Action
Here’s my little joke for you: “If you can do and have knowledge, yours is the world and everything in it. If you can do but have no knowledge, you’ll hits lots of bumps but you’ll get there eventually. If you cannot do, but have knowledge, don’t worry you can become a teacher / professor somewhere”. This is not a shot at the noble teaching profession, but ever wonder why people say it’s “noble”?

When I look at all the CFAs, CAs, CPAs and all the other designations out there, I wonder is it really just an exam? I wonder why some of the bloggers I’ve known have more sense than some so called professional experts. I’ve talked circles about tax laws with accountants who don’t have a clue about simple taxation issues, saw through the advice given by so-called financial advisers as those that their trainers taught them to say. But I’ve never gotten formal education about it. I learnt the old-fashion way, by making mistakes.

Now you’re right, learning from other’s mistakes, other’s knowledge sure beats having to swallow your own pride. But I’m not talking about that. I’m referring to the people who keep accumulating knowledge but never turning it into action. What’s the use? The bottom line is that by taking action, you will gain knowledge sooner or later. It sure beats getting all that knowledge and never taking action! What are you waiting for? More knowledge? Guess what, it’ll never be enough!

3. Discipline
There’s a reason why many lottery winners don’t keep their wealth beyond 5, 10 years. For those who dream about winning, they’ll always think that a big amount of money is life-changing and something that can ripple throughout the generations. Yet when they’ve won, their life doesn’t change that much.The next generation seldom see a penny. Why?

Truly, discipline is doing the thing that’s hard to do. But that’s why the contrarian in me is telling me that I should do it! I’m not telling you to be an uptight anal retentive person. I’m talking about having the guts to follow through on a course of action that you’ve decided is right to take. If you won the lottery and want to make it last, what’s stopping you? If your goal is to save a portion of your paycheck per month, what’s going to shake you off course? If you want to reduce your debt, how much hardship will you endure? If you are following a system for investing, will you be rattled by surprises and fall off the wagon? When your startup business is going through tough times, where will you turn and run to?

Nobody’s perfect, even the rich take their lumps and have their bad days along the way. But the difference is evident in this quote: “The measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” It doesn’t take much to stay in your comfort zone, but it takes courage and discipline to get out and stay out of it.

Look Within Yourself!
Not everyone of us can be He-man, but we all have the power! Don’t you think while striving to achieve those 3 simple human qualities, that whatever knowledge you felt was lacking would fulfill itself? Start by acknowledging that you have all that it takes to get there. You’re not rich or poor because of what you know. Your sense of responsibility, willingness to take action and discipline to persevere will dictate where you are going to be. The question is, “Do you believe it now?”

Update: Ever since this article was mentioned in The Feb 28^th Carnival Of Investing, I’ve been eating humble pie because of my grammatically incorrect title. Thanks for the lesson!