Home Newspaper November 2013

November 2013

Focus on Products

Dynamic Funds, managed by Toronto-based GCIC Ltd., has added a new fund to its family: Dynamic U.S. Value Balanced Fund. Cecilia Mo, vice president and…

Some fund portfolio managers say stocks are reasonably priced

Toronto-based Purpose Investments Inc. has introduced Purpose High Interest Savings ETF, one of the first high- interest savings exchanged-traded funds (ETFs) in Canada. The ETF…

The potential for higher interest rates leads fund portfolio managers to make a few changes

Toronto-based Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. and its affiliate, AlphaPro Management Inc., have expanded their product shelf with the addition of Horizons Active Floating Rate…

Hardly. They provide vital diversification

U.S. study shows a portfolio of bonds and stocks may trump annuities

Toronto-based BlackRock Asset Management Canada Ltd., an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of U.S.-based BlackRock Inc., has launched a suite of seven balanced mutual funds –…

Investment research

Although there have been more gainers than losers among volatile stocks this year, two stand above the rest

Will stock markets ever get beyond political headlines and other self-inflicted emergencies? Without conviction, we will continue to see directionless markets propelled by emotion. So…

Investing in real estate carries risks, but reports suggest this asset class has performed admirably vs stocks and bonds

There's no consensus on when the Fed will end its quantitative easing, which will cause interest rates and bond yields to rise

The U.K., much like its European counterparts, struggled through a tough recession. It's bouncing back

Building Your Business

RECENTLY, THE U.K. AND AUStralia essentially banned commissions as a method of compensation for financial advisors. Whether you agree that such a change should or…

A methodical, step-by-step investigation of the many factors involved in retiring from your business can help you to make this difficult decision. There are several…

Canadians who use medicinal marijuana for a whole range of medical-related issues will have to get used to a new set of rules in time…

A large portion of client complaints stem from suitability issues. Making sure your advice fits your clients' needs is a matter of asking questions and…

Advising companies on employee benefits can provide you with steady revenue and cross-selling opportunities. But entering this market requires a long-term commitment to learn the…

Most advisors have experienced the gap between the risk a client says can be tolerated and what happens when market conditions deliver unpleasant surprises. Thorough…

Estimates on how much it costs to raise a child vary widely. What's important is that you help your clients to prepare for these expenses,…

Susan, a 72-year-old widow, has concerns about her financial future, given that her pension is going to be reduced by 25% next year. Three financial…

Fred Ryall, once a promising football player, has built a solid insurance practice that specializes in helping families who have children with special needs. Ryall’s…

Those clients who think they know more about financial markets than you do can be a source of headaches, says George Hartman, managing partner with…

There have been many recent instances of security breaches and lost sensitive information. Here are some steps you can take to ensure the critical data…

When clients in their 40s and older decide to get married, their financial planning matters are significantly more important than for their younger counterparts. Issues…

Making a good first impression on the web is more and more important. But many financial advisors seem unaware of the best ways to ensure…

News

The growth in high net-worth individuals across North America has Canada's banks looking abroad more than ever

The name changes are the first step toward creating a single legal entity for the bank's wealth-management businesses

New exchanges are popping up that ban HFT, but a new report suggests it enhances market quality and benefits other traders

A new report from the BCSC suggests that junior miners need a change in market conditions, not new regulations

Financial advisors soon will be able to develop greater expertise in two areas. The Canadian Institute of Certified Executor Advisors (CICEA), based in Brampton, Ont.,…

Many firms offer internal services for succession planning. But there are various reasons advisors are stepping outside

But while Canada's ETF sector is growing, there are challenges for new entrants

The national independent brokerage has hired an executive with deep connections to Quebec in order to ramp up its business

Court: The insured who tried to bar his brother from inheriting the insured's estate should have used more precise language

Canada's economy and competitiveness are adversely affected by its taxes compared with other countries, says a new study

Newsmaker: Joe Dierker has watched the credit union sector burgeon from local co-operatives for rural residents into national contenders

Financial checkup: A year abroad, a cottage and more

The mutual fund sector adds billions to the Canadian economy directly it also makes sizable waves indirectly

Comment & Insight

The throne speech signals the beginning of the 2015 federal election campaign- even the recycled parts

Tourism will get a boost from the restoration of the Yarmouth ferry. But both its shipboard gamblers and Nova Scotia are likely to lose money

Regulators should be cautious, placing more emphasis on efficiency in the regulation of capital markets to calm nervous investors

It turns out that messiness is conducive to creative thinking. Sometimes, though, it's hard to see the results among the chaos

Christy Clark says new gas plants will be golden for B.C. But taxes and global competition could be spoilers

Front Page

Regulators have uncovered problems in how fund firms rate risk

Firms are shelling out a pretty penny to get top financial advisors

High household debt, weak economy also affecting insurance sales