Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - November 5, 1989, Winnipeg, Manitoba 14 Winnipeg free november computer will help but it int by David Flaum Scripps Howard news service e very investor looks for an Edge that will help his portfolio Blossom fas a computer can provide that Edge in helping a person simplify manag ing investments and choosing new but computerized investing is not cheap and investors should not expect computers to provide a magic formula for experts what the computer can do is limited Only by your imagination in crunching said Sheldon an investment adviser and financial planner with Merrill Lynch in who assembled his computerized investing package Over the past five but its just a said Mur its not going to be something you can punch a Button and it will give you the holy the computer is an appliance just like the pocket said Phil a fort Lauder Money manager and National Vic president of the com Puter group of the National association of investors an in vestment club organization in Royal the com Puter int going to make the Deci Sions for you it int going to give you the a computer will help an investor sift through More information More quickly than he could do otherwise and help him narrow his invest ment said because computer investing sys tems can be the size and complexity of an investors portfolio and the Hobby value should figure into any decision to get into computerized especially for a person starting from the experts to make an investment in com Puter hardware and software an investor should have a portfolio of at least to said John Assis Tant editor of computerized in a bimonthly publication of the american association of individual Murray put the at about if you Only consider size of port it would Knock most people said who saw 000 to As a minimum figure if based Only on truly economic he the Hobby element plays a part in the so the Cost May be justified for investors with smaller portfolios who enjoy managing and picking their own investments As a form of entertain it wont give investor the answer a computer also May be Worth while for an investor with a smaller portfolio but with a Large number of investments to keep track said what is that Cost at least for the least sophisticated com floppy disk drive and Printer along with Basic programs soft Ware said others put the total Cost at to on top of investors could spend several Hundred dollars a year to tap into database services to get even said to get Access to those of requires a which would add to to system he investors who think they can afford to go ahead should Start by picking out the software they want to the Cardinal sin of computers is buying the hardware before you know what your application said Bruce director of computer operations for software Falls into three general categories portfolio monitoring and fundamental analysis and technical portfolio packages have the Grea test value because they allow an investor to compare his holdings to other see what representation each Industry has in his portfolio More organize and control the portfolio More effectively to meet your of said Keating portfolio management programs also help investors with record keeping and tax accounting he another set of programs can help investors screen some programs allow investors to sort through stocks based on Funda mental criteria such As earnings per profit growth and Price earnings said Baj those programs Are designed to run numbers and come up with a fair Market valuation for stocks based on estimates of future for an investor can ask the computer to search out stocks with an average profit growth of 15 per cent yearly for the last five a projected earnings growth of 15 per cent or More and a dividend yield of five per cent or said Many programs those sold by value line and Standard for example put the information needed to do such screens on the computer disks and Send the sub Scriber periodic an investor can get More information by subscribing to an online data he Keating believes the average in Vestor does not need to Hook into at least not at after a year or it May be Worth taking a look he for people who already have databases and com Puter bulletin boards Are Good places to look for investment soft Ware ideas and even free pro Murray some database services have forums in which computer users can talk to each other and Trade critiques on investment databases May also help users of technical screening programs that help with investment selection based on Stock trading patterns and Market indicators such As the ratio of rising stocks to falling the 200day moving average of Stock and bullish or bearish sen investor should have a portfolio of at least before buying that Type of program can also be used for analysing commodities or Bond said Baj computer magazines can give an investor ideas about available soft Ware and the systems that Are Best for running those said before buying software or hard an investor should get a demonstration disk from the software seller to try said not Only does that give the investor an idea of whether the program will do what he wants it but it also will help him pick Bajkowski the investor should go to Sellers of hardware in which they Are interested and ask to use the computers to run the Murray said most eager to make a will agree to such a Bajkowski said the investor should make sure the software comes with a Mone Yback Guaran tee and he should Check the support services offered by the program Many software packages come from Small he you want someone if there is a will be around next said com Puter technology is a fast moving so the investor wants to buy from a solid company that will update the software they put out if he for the experts lean toward ism or in compatible systems because More programs Are written for such machines than for other Keating said ism and compatibles have 70 per cent of the Apple ii and macintosh have 20 per cent and including have the the investor should look for a dealer who has been in business for at least two or three years and has a Good reputation for Keating you dont need the High powered latest Model for value based fundamental he successful after comes Down to using sound Princi Ples and experience to Best Adan Keating make sure you get the right Home insurance policy if you Are going to have any insurance on your Home Andor you might As Well have the right too often we Dis cover we we rent covered for some thing Only when we make a claim and then Are angry and frustrated when we cant so spend a few minutes now re viewing your Home insurance and if the Small print baffles Call your agent to ask about any of the following Points that apply to you might even find you qualify for a discount you Arent All companies offer a senior Citi zen and some companies even offer a mature citizen Dis count at age 50 or said Brenda personal lines manager for Oakridge insurance agencies some companies offer a discount if you have a new one company has a discount for Block watch cheapest int always you certainly want a policy with a competitive but you also want a company in a sound financial and one which takes a Mike Grenby reasonable attitude when a claim is made perhaps even allowing the agent to Settle claims up to a certain so when you ask your agent to shop around for the Best ask about service As Well As once you find a Good plan to stay with it As Long As rates and service remain you can expect better service from a company if you have been a customer for a while than if you have a history of never staying with one company for More than a year or you should make sure the coverage you carry would indeed replace Home and possessions at today replacement most companies now include a guaranteed replacement Cost in Borri but there could be for perhaps you must advise your agent if you make improvements exceed ing so if you have finished part or All of a previously unfinished added a turned a Carport into a garage or spare room and so Check with your Borri said All policies contain limitations and which vary from company to she warned you could jeopardize a claim if you Haven advised your agent that you d rented out a room or d installed a satellite d installed a Woodbu Ming stove or fireplace d operate a daycare or other Busi Ness As a sideline in your All policies contain limits on items like coins and stamp Borri some policies have limits on silverware and computer hardware and find out whether the values of those possessions fall within the if coverage is not ask what it would Cost to increase the sometimes its Worth pay ing the extra sometimes you might decide its but at least make that a conscious Deci also decide whether you should have earthquake coverage and coverage for backup of sewer and once you get a dont put it away and never Check it said its Only prudent to review your coverage and options retirement annuities and Grifs As of annuities and Grifs Are available from certain life insurance Trust companies and Banks licensed in availability is subject to Federal legislation and individual corporate policies among those offering such the following table illustrates the monthly income that of registered funds will provide at certain Trif Deposit rates Are also certain minimums May apply and All rates Are subject to change without age at Purchase 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 single life an Naify guaranteed 10year minimum male current Ruff Deposit 1 year female 2 year joint Ufa annuity guaranteed 10year minimum male female 3 year 4 year term certain to age 90 male or female 5 year Trif to age 90 first year income Only minimum formula term to 90 based on Purchase at age 71 note All monthly income shown commences one month after Purchase As rates Are affected by interest rate the rates Are subject to change at any rates represent the highest yielding plans at the time of source pics financial group inc Winnipeg free press current resp Trust Aetna 1 1 Canada 1 Trust 1 Central guaranty 1 i ferns 1 guaranty co operators 1 1 1 confederation Coronet 1 1 counsel 1 1 1 1 1 first City 1 1 first line 1 1 City 1 1 Lous hold t 1 line 1 1 Inland 1 1 1 1 1 1 investors croup 1 1 1 1 1 metropolitan 1 group 1 Montreal 1 Mutual 1 1 1 National 1 1 1 1 North 1 1 Iaci Lic Western 1 West 1 peace Hills 1 Western Peoples Hills 1 Presnor 1 1 Hoyal 1 Saskatchewan 1 1 Standard 1 1 Vanguard t 1 1 Wellington 1 1 Wellington 1 Bank of Canadian Western 1 of 1 1 Western 1 1 Long Kornj 1 1 National 1 1 Loyal Lank of 1 Scotia 1 Bank of Toronto Dominion 1 Dominion 1 life companies companies american i Canada l Crown 1 1 great weal 1 1 West 1 Manulat tires 1 maritime metropolitan in 1 1 North american american Hoyal Seaboard i Standard 1 Sun l 1 1 Iran America 1 1 other Assiniboine credit 1 credit 1 Caisse de 1 de Security Home 1 1 1 Natl 1 1 certain Man mums May apply to both Hasps and 1 rates subject to change without rates Tor Home 1 1 Are compound annual interest and May include special 1 1 on resp deposits and interest on Are term certain Man mums May Days 79 Days the majority Are compound not annual and will Days Days or prior to maturity with a Market value not All 19 Days Days 1 1 Anies Otler both registered and non estered quoted As of november source group ;