4- The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday December 19, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Smith lived life his own way By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF INVESTING FOR THE FUTURE Everyone has goals and of them. Some are short Some are longer-term, su saving for a comfortable r work towards your goals finances, but it can be ea have tools that you can lev where you are financially, get there. Here are 6 inv consider before investing: 1. Know yourself. To b investor, consider your risk investment objectives, gro worth and investment tim 2. Get an early start. T "compounding" is one of the best ways to make your money work for you. Compounding is money multiplying itself by earning a return on the return 3. Invest regularly. It's generally much easier to come up with a smaller amount to invest on a monthly or weekly basis than to make a large, lump-sum contribution. Look into options like lines of credit and loans when you need extra funds for investment purposes a practice most commonly followed during RRSP season. 4. Build a diversified portfolio. Spreading your assets across a wide range of investments is an effective way to reduce risk and increase potential returns over the long term. Holding a mixture of different types of investments will help cushion your portfolio from downturns, as the value of some investments may go up while the value of others may go down. 5. Monitor your portfolio. Monitor your portfolio so that it continues to meet your needs. Market conditions, life events (marriage, children and retirement) and changing goals are cues to review your portfolio. 6. Align your investments with your time horizons. The type of investments you choose will depend on whether you're saving for long-term or short-term goals. For your long-term goals, you may want to consider long-term, growth-oriented investments. Your short-term goals call for investments that are more conservative, and more accessible. For example, if you're investing to save for a downpayment on a home, you'll want quick and easy access to your funds. - News Canada His time on earth may have been short, but those who knew Mark Lynton Smith said the 29-year-old got more out of life than most people ever will. Smith and university friend John Nyenhuis, 29, were killed on Saturday, Dec. 8 when they were caught in an avalanche while backcountry skiing in Kananaskis Park, Alberta. Smith's sister Rachel, who saw her brother only a week before his death when he attended her wedding, called him a free spirit who was not afraid to pursue his passions. "He was a guy who did what he loved, more than the rest of us do in life," she said. "He was a warm and loving guy." A graduate of Oakville Trafalgar High School, Smith's journey through this life can be described as anything but boring with a two-year stint in a mechanical engineering program at the University of Waterloo giving way to a move to France. It was during this three-year European odyssey, where Smith worked as a night porter and street juggler, that he became acquainted with his first love, the outdoors. "He skied and he snowboarded and mountain climbed and he rock climbed. In the winter he would ice climb," said Rachel. "He came back home to Canada to do a mountain guiding program in B.C. because he fell so in love with the mountains while he was out in Mark Lynton Smith France." Rachel said her brother would go on to complete that two-year course in Mountain Guiding and Adventure Tourism, at the University College of the Caribou, and was in the process of getting his certification to be a guide. In the winters, Smith's desire to remain in the outdoors led him to become a ski instructor in Fernie, B.C. where he also worked with the ski patrol and in the field of avalanche detection. When the snow melted, Smith's outdoor enthusiasm continued and he often worked as a camp counsellor at Algonquin Park in the summers. It was here Smith discovered that he enjoyed working with youths and got a job recently as a teacher/counsellor at a locked-down school for troubled kids. "He'd only been there for six weeks and they all put together a book for him," said Rachel. KROWN FORMULA - Canada's biggest breakthrough in rust protection now enables you to get ahead of rust... virtually eliminating it as a destructive force! NON-TOXIC, SOLVENT FREE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY KROWN FORMULA creeps through seams & p g crevices for complete protection. IT'S NOT TOO LATE! Peace of Mind ... ... the most Valuable Service we Provide MID-WINTER SPECIAL Krown... $ · · · · · · · Penetrates Water Penetrates Dirt REGULAR PRICE Neutralizes Salt EXPIRES JAN 31, 2008 Repels Moisture Controls Existing Rust New and Used Vehicle Warranties Recommended by CAA and APA "Kids from six years old to teenagers, had only known him for a short amount of time, but were obviously really affected by what they knew of him because they had some amazing things to say." The effect Smith had on people was seen in the turnout to his funeral, held Monday at St. Jude's Anglican Church. "There were over 200 people from all walks of life. We had people fly in from Calgary and British Columbia. People drove in from all over Ontario who'd known him in high school and elementary school and who'd played hockey with him when he'd played for the Rangers here in Oakville. People came who he hadn't seen for 10 years, but who wanted to come and pay their respects," said Rachel. "He was the kind of guy who touched everyone's life." Rachel said community support for her family has been amazing in the wake of this terrible tragedy with a steady stream of well-wishers bringing food, flowers and condolences. "We have such a network for friends here. Our street is where Mark used to play road hockey with all the kids and we're still very, very close friends with all of our neighbours," she said. "The funeral was at St. Jude's Church where my mother and brother, Adam, sing in the choir and the church community was just overwhelmingly supportive." For Rachel and many who knew Smith the meaning of life has been placed in a new perspective. "We graduate, get our jobs, buy our houses, have our mortgages, raise our kids and then maybe we realize we missed out on all that life has to offer because we followed someone else's path," said Rachel. "Mark rejected that really early and knew how important it was to do what you love and be who you should be instead of who everyone else wants you to be. That meant he pursued a very passionate life, but it also meant unfortunately that his life was going to be short," said Rachel. "He really was an amazing guy and he's really going to be missed," she said. 10 00 THE REGULAR PRICE OF ANY VEHICLE OFF 95 ANY CAR $ Anton Tucker CFP, FMA, FCSI 905.901.3429 anton@tridelta.ca www.tridelta.ca OAKVILLE NORTH YORK MISSISSAUGA THORNHILL 9 109 + TAXES YOUR TICKET BEYOND THE MOVIE GOING EXPERIENCE Tim Trian, CFA - Portfolio Manager Laura Trian, CA, CFP, CIM - Associate Portfolio Manager Vi i h // i d d lh SPEERS RD. N WALLACE RD. 1490 Speers Rd. Unit #5, Oakville e BEYOND MOVIES 200-2908 South Sheridan Way, Oakville 3RD LINE 905-827-787 78 NOW OPEN cineplex.com 3531 Wyecroft Rd, RIOCAN CENTRE BURLOAK ® Cineplex Entertainment LP or used under license. Tel: 905-829-0600