5 Investment Apps Every Canadian Should Have on Their Smartphone

Why your smartphone is telling you to invest in BCE Inc. (TSX:BCE)(NYSE:BCE) and Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX:RCI.B)(NYSE:RCI), and not for the reasons you’d expect.

Nelson Smith

Nelson is a dividend value investor who insists on buying great dividend-paying companies when they are reasonably priced. He has been investing for more than 15 years and is now primarily focused on helping other investors build up a dependable stream of passive income. When he's not studying the markets, Nelson can be found relaxing with his wife and cat or watching the Toronto Blue Jays.

Published January 6, 2015 8:14 am EST

Chances are most folks reading this own a smartphone, and do at least a portion of their research on their mobile device.

Here are the five apps on my smartphone that get the most action. If you haven’t already downloaded them, I’d recommend you do so. And as a bonus, they’re all free.

Motley Fool

You might be thinking that I’m obligated to mention our own app, but I can honestly say that I’ve used it on an almost daily basis for a long time now.

Although it currently only covers American stocks, it’s still important for Canadian investors. I’ve gotten several terrific ideas from my Foolish comrades in the U.S., and the podcasts are great to listen to while I’m on the go or working. It’s also easy to scroll through the list of most recent articles.

BNN

If you’re looking for an investment theme from my top apps list, the conclusion is simple — invest in BCE Inc (TSX:BCE)(NYSE:BCE). It developed a full 40% of the apps I’ve listed here, and between its subsidiaries is easily the best traditional media business reporter.

The best part about the BNN app is the ability to watch a segment you might have missed from the channel. Full episodes of fan favorites like Market Call and Market Call Tonight are also easily accessible through the app, although it only has access to the last five episodes of each.

Apple’s Stocks app

I’ll admit it. I spent weeks trying other apps to use as a watch list. All I wanted was the ability to quickly see how a predetermined list of stocks were doing. It turns out the solution was already preloaded on my phone.

Like a lot of other things made by Apple, the Stocks app is deceptively simple. It’s easy to add and subtract stocks from your watch list, and getting more info on a company is as simple as clicking on the name of the company to bring up a whole new screen with charts, headlines, and basic financial information. For the simple stuff, the Stocks app is really good.

Globe and Mail

An important part of investing is knowing what’s going on in the world. General economic trends will affect the stocks you own.

Current business related stories on the app include a bearish piece on the Canadian real estate market, commentary on oil’s latest decline to under $50/barrel, stories about the latest in Greece, and a fascinating story on the future of geothermal power.

You don’t need to be a news junkie to realize these issues are important to your portfolio. And when it comes to news in Canada, the Globe is the best.

Next Issue

Next Issue, which is the product of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX:RCI.B)(NYSE:RCI) is perhaps the best $15 I spend each month. It gives you access to over 100 different magazines, which you read using the app on either your smartphone or tablet.

There are at least half a dozen magazines of interest to investors. Canadian magazines included are MoneySense and Canadian Business, and U.S. magazines include Bloomberg Businessweek, Fortune, Money, and Inc, with Forbes potentially showing up in 2015. Even news magazines such as McLean’s and Time are filled with interesting stuff.

Reading is just one part of the equation. You also must take action. And we think we have the perfect stock for you to buy in 2015.