June 2009

Comment & Insight

Saskatchewan

Transcontinental Media, the owner of Investment Executive, has recently undergone a reorganization of some of its activities. Unfortunately, this change has resulted in the departure…

The days of the infamous “Newfie” joke could be numbered

Struggling with economic decline, Ontario jostles for a place on the international stage

Market dominance and the currency needs of clients make it attractive, UBS says

Investment research

It’s the single most important indicator of a stock’s investment quality

Firms will benefit greatly from the increased workload once the $4 billion in federal money comes down the pipeline

Focus on Products

Perhaps not great portfolio diversifiers, but they offer solid performance

New index funds at Manulife

U.S. equity fund manager says economy is “responding in a meaningful way to signs of stabilization”

News

Unethical behaviour can be curtailed by something as simple as a code of conduct, say Harvard researchers

Firms aim at “rightsizing” in light of crisis

Worldwide, synchronized nature of the meltdown has exposed the myth of local issues

Class-action lawsuit involving defunct fund has been settled

New regulations are aimed at fairness for retail investors, but could be impractical

How unscrupulous advisors use a regulatory loophole to skim money from client accounts

Brent Barrie says the company is positioned to recover from recent tumult, within and without

Industry groups question timing of proposed corporate governance overhaul

Dealers’ Report Card

Some firms are trying to restrict their advisors’ insurance business

The tumultuous year has had little impact on ratings, as what advisors value most has not changed (Include main chart) (IE:TV)

Having someone to listen to concerns and offer guidance on dealing with clients is a recipe for success

Advisors report that clients have moved toward high-interest savings accounts and segregated funds (includes chart)

Some advisors are happy with what they pay, but others say the technology they buy is not sufficient

Firms that emphasize financial planning attract advisors who do the same

Most firms are falling short of advisors’ expectations, but many are in the process of making up ground (includes chart)

Questions about leadership and ownership caused uncertainty and ratings to drop at two dealer firms

Although advisors were not thrilled with the changes, they understand that it’s all a result of the recession (includes chart)

Although books of business and productivity have declined, the move toward fee- and asset-based sources of revenue continues (includes chart)

Building Your Business

Optimism is a defining characteristic of successful people and it can be learned, according to American psychologist Martin Seligman. One way to help keep you…

Paul Habert took a chance last year when he became a mortgage broker

New requirement for passports effective this month; trend toward electronic tracking will tighten control over length of stay

Simple procedures can be performed in a few minutes, but they are not covered by provincial health plans

Paul Habert, an independent mortgage broker who works closely with Dundee Mortgage Services, spent many years in a marketing role at that firm’s sister company,…

From business valuations to estate freezes, you can help entrepreneurs juggle estate-planning options

Realistic income goals and careful investing can mean a secure future for single woman who also wants to help her family

Optimism isn’t just something we are born with; we can learn to keep positive