August 2008

Comment & Insight

While politicians point fingers, Canadians look for action on pressing issues

The Griffintown redevelopment is huge — and so is the noise from critics

What should have been a celebratory occasion for the RCMP integrated market enforcement team in Vancouver has become a growing embarrassment.On June 9, B.C. Crown…

You can justify keeping that SUV by driving it less

The new independent review committees need more safeguards from liability

Even potato-sniffing beagles aren’t much help in the new government war on fat

Investment research

Most investors are best served by trend-free, balanced portfolios

The chart format often reveals key information that is frequently overlooked

Players large and small are expanding capacity, but that won’t affect markets until the next decade

Making the right moves will be tough, as governments steer between stimulating the economy and high inflation

Focus on Products

Study advocates a phased-income approach to withdrawals in retirement

Borrowing to buy return of capital investments may not pay off

“Your spreadsheet may have looked good six months ago, but it’s not looking so clever today,” says one fund manager

New ETFs for BetaPro

Performance of Acuity Clean Environment Equity fund has been good, but some analysts question fees, turnover

Insurance Advisors’ Report Card

Advisors who rate their firms’ compensation structures highly cite different reasons for their satisfaction

Ability to offer practical training for insurance agents at various levels is the main reason for advisor satisfaction

And sales of living-benefits policies rise as clients become more aware of their availability

Although carriers have yet to standardize application systems, some firms are stepping up their internal processes

The aging population’s planning needs have led firms to improve the support services advisors offer clients

And despite dedicated sales agents’ happiness with their companies’ brand names, their sentiments were more mixed

The firms that provide full-fledged, structured succession programs or solid support earn the praise of their advisors

The past year has been a tumultuous one for financial markets and, as a result, it has been a tough time for most players in…

Building Your Business

Can they retire on $100,000 a year and leave $2 million to the kids? Three planners have their say

As middle-aged clients re-examine their religious and ethical beliefs, their attitudes toward finances may change

Malicious software can attack your mobile device’s computing power; prevalent in the East, viruses are headed this way

Most successful advisors have one; a business plan is easy to write, can be as brief as two pages and keeps your team on track

Hire a professional designer and choose a style that appeals to your market

The evolution of the market, thanks to 100 individuals who made a difference — for better or worse

Experts offer delicious alternatives to all that’s wrong with those barbecued burgers and steaks

While much of the financial services industry is geared toward retirement planning, some of its major players have no intention of packing it in

Henry was aware that his successful practice had stopped growing. He knew it was time to make a fundamental change to his business, but didn’t…

Top-end clients are driven by concerns ranging from confidentiality to taxes

Henry knew it was time to make a change, but didn’t know where to begin

News

CIBC Wood Gundy’s revolving door

Emerging middle class needs banking and insurance services; a culture of saving lends itself to investing and planning

And after a three-year investigation of investment fund, the RCMP says no arrests are warranted

The acquisition of E*Trade Canada doubles the bank’s presence in the online brokerage sweepstakes

New report proposes revamping — and cutting — both personal and corporate taxes

But mortgage experts say the new rules are not likely to affect the market significantly

Regulators will soon start to look at this recommendation — and others — concerning incidental sales of insurance

A proposal to reform the SEC’s “foreign broker” rule is a good first step

The case of a CV Technologies executive highlights various problems with the settlement process

Toronto-based asset manager’s multi-boutique structure allows it to address different markets

But U.S. residents living in Canada may derive a small benefit from tax-free savings accounts

Yale professors say borrowing to invest early on in life is the key to long-term outperformance