Comments on: RBC Buys Phillips, Hager & North (CRIES) http://www.squawkfox.com/2008/02/21/rbc-buys-phillips-hager-north-cries/ Where personal finance & frugal living are sexy, delicious, and fun. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:39:00 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Fox http://www.squawkfox.com/2008/02/21/rbc-buys-phillips-hager-north-cries/comment-page-1/#comment-1210 Fox Sat, 31 May 2008 22:23:49 +0000 http://www.squawkfox.com/2008/02/21/rbc-buys-phillips-hager-north-cries/#comment-1210 @Wil Robins I'm keeping my ear to the ground on this as well. I haven't heard anything newsworthy as of yet. I too fear increases in MERs and Fees. I think RBC is quite aware that PH&N clients are likely to be well educated in how fees impact returns.I have a hunch they won't want to upset the apple cart any time soon. We'll see. @Derek I too have looked into Bradley's Steadyhand funds. I also follow his blog. I think if I move from PH&N it will be to invest in more ETFs. Steadyhand's MERs are (generally) higher than PH&N. @Wil Robins I’m keeping my ear to the ground on this as well. I haven’t heard anything newsworthy as of yet. I too fear increases in MERs and Fees. I think RBC is quite aware that PH&N clients are likely to be well educated in how fees impact returns.I have a hunch they won’t want to upset the apple cart any time soon. We’ll see.

@Derek I too have looked into Bradley’s Steadyhand funds. I also follow his blog. I think if I move from PH&N it will be to invest in more ETFs. Steadyhand’s MERs are (generally) higher than PH&N.

]]> By: Derek http://www.squawkfox.com/2008/02/21/rbc-buys-phillips-hager-north-cries/comment-page-1/#comment-1193 Derek Fri, 30 May 2008 20:13:52 +0000 http://www.squawkfox.com/2008/02/21/rbc-buys-phillips-hager-north-cries/#comment-1193 I was thinking of pulling out of PHN anyways. All the great investors that PHN name stands for are all but gone. The funds are so large that they look almost like ETF's anyways except with higher fee's. To be honest i am likely to buy into Steadyhand funds. I have lower cost funds (MERs under 1%) via work pension plan and Steadyhand offers funds like the small cap fund which focus on longer term growth areas. Plus Bradley is a former PHN boss so what more can you ask for? I doubt PHN will change much (Risk losing too many customers and RBC isn't that stupid...), but perhaps this is just telling us that it was already changing. DH I was thinking of pulling out of PHN anyways. All the great investors that PHN name stands for are all but gone. The funds are so large that they look almost like ETF’s anyways except with higher fee’s.

To be honest i am likely to buy into Steadyhand funds. I have lower cost funds (MERs under 1%) via work pension plan and Steadyhand offers funds like the small cap fund which focus on longer term growth areas. Plus Bradley is a former PHN boss so what more can you ask for?

I doubt PHN will change much (Risk losing too many customers and RBC isn’t that stupid…), but perhaps this is just telling us that it was already changing.

DH

]]> By: Pat Jane http://www.squawkfox.com/2008/02/21/rbc-buys-phillips-hager-north-cries/comment-page-1/#comment-853 Pat Jane Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:59:09 +0000 http://www.squawkfox.com/2008/02/21/rbc-buys-phillips-hager-north-cries/#comment-853 Heard through the grapevine that PH&N staff have to stay for six years after the merger otherwise they lose their PH and N investments. Heard through the grapevine that PH&N staff have to stay for six years after the merger otherwise they lose their PH and N investments.

]]> By: Will Robins http://www.squawkfox.com/2008/02/21/rbc-buys-phillips-hager-north-cries/comment-page-1/#comment-765 Will Robins Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:41:31 +0000 http://www.squawkfox.com/2008/02/21/rbc-buys-phillips-hager-north-cries/#comment-765 Today I recieved my first quarter report and made me think again about checking out the web chatter on this topic. When i first heard it did cause me GREAT concern. It still does. I am keeping a watchful eye. Stumbled on your blog in that search. MERs and fees connected with funds are my primary concern. Watching any 'consolidation' of funds is something I am watching for as well. One item I am seeking out is what PH&N staff changes are occuring post this aquistion by RBC. If i find evidence of large percentage of former staff leaving the new company with their feet - then that will be a marker for me. Saw a wisper of that in a National Post article from Feb but i chalked it up to rumour. Have you found any evidence of that. Today I recieved my first quarter report and made me think again about checking out the web chatter on this topic. When i first heard it did cause me GREAT concern. It still does. I am keeping a watchful eye. Stumbled on your blog in that search.

MERs and fees connected with funds are my primary concern. Watching any ‘consolidation’ of funds is something I am watching for as well.

One item I am seeking out is what PH&N staff changes are occuring post this aquistion by RBC. If i find evidence of large percentage of former staff leaving the new company with their feet – then that will be a marker for me.

Saw a wisper of that in a National Post article from Feb but i chalked it up to rumour.

Have you found any evidence of that.

]]> By: fox http://www.squawkfox.com/2008/02/21/rbc-buys-phillips-hager-north-cries/comment-page-1/#comment-149 fox Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:07:29 +0000 http://www.squawkfox.com/2008/02/21/rbc-buys-phillips-hager-north-cries/#comment-149 Hi Annie! It's good to know I'm not the only one out there dismayed with this news. My RRSP is diversified right now with PH&N and Index Funds. One method I am considering is taking future dividends from PH&N and move them to an index/ETF approach rather than reinvest them back into PH&N. Sigh. I really loved PH&N. :) Hi Annie! It’s good to know I’m not the only one out there dismayed with this news. My RRSP is diversified right now with PH&N and Index Funds. One method I am considering is taking future dividends from PH&N and move them to an index/ETF approach rather than reinvest them back into PH&N. Sigh. I really loved PH&N. :)

]]> By: Annie http://www.squawkfox.com/2008/02/21/rbc-buys-phillips-hager-north-cries/comment-page-1/#comment-148 Annie Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:01:10 +0000 http://www.squawkfox.com/2008/02/21/rbc-buys-phillips-hager-north-cries/#comment-148 Yup, it's stressing me out too. Might be time to start looking at those EFTs you keep talking about ;-) Yup, it’s stressing me out too. Might be time to start looking at those EFTs you keep talking about ;-)

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