This is a good one!
WestJet.com Seat Sale Today Only!

Travel on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday until December 15, 2007.

WestJet is holding a one-day 50% off sale for travel on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday in selected cities.

Book today on westjet.com. Fares are limited, and are only available for travel until December 15th.

Sample fares from:
Edmonton – Kelowna $79
Saint John – Calgary $189
Kitchener – Vancouver $179
Vancouver – Calgary $80
Winnipeg – Edmonton $99

I far prefer my self-directed RRSP but for reasons to boring to explain, I contribute a bit each month via a financial planner towards a couple mutual funds. Last week I had my first annual meeting. I wanted to know 2 things:

1. How much money did I make?

2. What specifically am I invested in?

In answer to #1, my planner said, “this portfolio grew by 10%” in the last year.

Ok, but how much did my investment grow? By 10%, said the f.planner, pointing out the market value of my portfolio.

“How much of that market value is just my own monthly contributions?” I asked, insisting that we find out the total of my contributions.

Get this:  The market value was LESS than my total contributions made over the year! So much for the nice chart showing 10% growth. Turns out I actually lost money this year. (in contrast, my own stock picks have averaged over 15%).

Second, I wanted to know what I held. I have funds managed by Inhance, one of the socially responsible investment firms. I have a Balanced fund (part bonds, part equities) and a Global Leaders Fund.

“Well, they’re wrap funds,” said the financial planner, implying, End of Story.

fyi – wrap funds = funds that hold other funds inside.

“But I want to know, what do I hold?” I insisted again. So we did the legwork and I found out the major companies I hold – no real surprises, but at least I knew. The financial planner told me out of 2200 clients, I am the only one who ever asked him what companies are in my mutual funds.

Gentle readers: do you know what companies are in your mutual funds? Does it matter to you? Why, or why not?  Also:  do you feel comfortable having detailed discussions with your financial planner?  Do you feel like you get  complete, understandable responses to your questions?