July 2014

Focus on Products

Montreal-based Standard Life Mutual Funds is terminating two equity funds while launching two emerging-markets funds. Standard Life Canadian Equity Focus Fund and Standard Life U.S.…

Toronto-based NexGen Financial Ltd. Partnership has completed the merger of four funds: NexGen North American Growth Registered Fund has merged with NexGen U.S. Growth Registered…

Toronto-based Fidelity Investments Canada ULC has expanded its product offering with the launch of Fidelity NorthStar Balanced Fund and Fidelity Tactical High Income Fund. Fidelity…

Toronto-based CIBC Asset Management Inc. has added three subadvisors to its fund family. Kansas City, Mo.-based American Century Investment Management Inc. has been appointed as…

Study shows increasing equity investments reduces retirement income risk

"Less is more" strategy will energize your practice

One positive factor might be rising living standards in emerging markets

Building Your Business

As demographic trends drive increased demand for financial advice, exceptional advisors will do well. Your challenge will be to position yourself to provide that assistance

Sharing your experience and wisdom with new advisors can help to ensure the future of your practice - and of the industry

Harley Lockhart, an independent advisor based in Kelowna, B.C., says his focus is not entirely on money, but is also on improving his clients' quality…

New novel about a law firm involved in a bank/insurance company merger features a cast of loathsome characters and trains an acerbic eye on the…

Business-owner clients rarely regard the value of their companies as part of their investment portfolios. They (wrongly) differentiate between investment in a privately owned company…

Investment research

The TSX and S&P have introduced 15 indices since 2010, but only three have beat the benchmark S&P/TSX composite index

A five-decade bond implies that inflation no longer is a concern. Rather, it's liquidity that matters most in long bonds now

The companies providing the microprocessors that run servers, PCs and mobile devices are taking very different paths

Report Card on Banks & CUs

Advisors at all the banks and credit unions in the survey are happier. Many firms garnered major ratings increases

Many advisors say their branch managers fulfil a critical role in providing leadership, mentorship and ongoing support

Flexible work hours, collegial work environments and support for charity-related initiatives please advisors

All firms saw their ratings in this category rise after most increased their digital offerings

How advisors rated their firms

Advisors ramp up client rosters to stem their losses in AUM

Having a diverse list of products available - including a steady stream of carefully selected new ones - is a big help to advisors

For a variety of reasons, most advisors say their firms' marketing support efforts have fallen flat

Advisors want to be recognized and appreciated for their work, but it must be balanced with strong, competitive pay

News

Banking industry executives surveyed for a biennial report say new global regulatory initiatives have led to much uncertainty

Acquisitions and increases in many quarterly dividends reveals that the sector is in growth mode once again

Advisors in the brokerage and mutual fund channels have been slower to adopt the new technologies

The Ontario Securities Commission's IAP and FAIR Canada say that it's been a bad year for investor protection in Ontario

Comment & Insight

one might find the cure for sleep- lessness by repeating the words “unfunded pension liability” over and over before bedtime. Unfortunately, unfunded pension liabilities may…

The new Quebec finance minister says he wants to create hope. But the coming deficit-reduction measures are going to hurt

While environmentalists target the oilsands, demand for oil rises. Reviewing all the energy options is the best remedy for climate change

Many Canadians are already saving enough, IIAC head says. Voluntary, not forced, savings are best

Front Page

Survey says handheld devices make advisors more effective

Revamped qualifications could discourage candidates