Home Newspaper February 2012

February 2012

Comment & Insight

The common cold is a full body experience, from the runny nose to the hacking cough. Why doesn’t it get more sympathy?

The new Fund Facts document is a major step forward; it should be tested and reviewed before further changes are made

Nova Scotia’s enormous debt load has attracted the attention

Voting patterns that shift almost overnight mean there’s no predicting who will be Quebec’s next leader

It’s the ultimate bit of Canadiana — a Tim Hortons’ doughnut adorned with the Jets’ new logo

With change on many fronts, it’s unclear which level of government should be responsible for what

Investment research

Real estate investment trust bonds issued by property developers maintain yields in the mid-single digits that are only memories in much of the rest of…

Cash flow will be king in a lower-volatility environment, and banks should begin to turn around. This has implications for options traders

Despite the continuous grim reports on the economy, Canadian businesses have strengthened their balance sheets

This emerging market economy suffered in 2009, but it has since roared back in a big way. Continued growth is expected

Focus on Products

Franklin Templeton launches balanced fund

You should rethink equities weightings in client portfolios

Explaining fees to cost-sensitive clients

Europe’s sovereign-debt crisis and improvements in the U.S. send mixed signals to bond market

In a lousy year for mutual funds in general, those that followed unexciting investment strategies tended to perform well

Building Your Business

Faced with a job opportunity in Houston, Tom and his wife, Sarah, should examine the implications that a move to the U.S. would have in…

“Sandwich generation” clients are caught between caring for their children and their aging parents. You can help by accommodating their busy schedules and showing empathy

If February’s chill is zapping your energy and motivation, these tips from coaches and trainers can help. Exercise and laughter, they say, can do wonders…

Software giant has taken a radical new approach with an operating system that combines tablet and Ultrabook features. It has increased data security and a…

Not all clients absorb information in the same way. Young people respond well to emails and blogs, while many baby boomers are turned off by…

Should we park our emotions at the door when making investment decisions? Definitely not, this author argues. They should be treated as any other pieces…

Will I get a BlackBerry? Will you cover the cost of my cellphone?”

As a significant cohort of aging advisors prepares to retire, what steps are firms and advisors taking to fill the impending void?

If you want to be a successful buyer in a seller’s market, you must stand out against all the other advisors who might also want…

Use a client-opportunity template to summarize each client’s background, identify opportunities and set out specific actions to ensure that the client’s needs are met

Special Feature

Continued sluggishness in the U.S. and European economies

With forestry still listing and call centres suffering, N.B. continues to struggle

The Rock has seen substantial growth in the past few years, but it must now deal with a declining fisheries industry

Manitoba is keeping its head above water despite a devastating flood and overburdened consumers

Despite mill closures and high debt, forecasters are expecting better days for Nova Scotia

Continued exploration for precious and base metals, as well as energy, will ensure that the North remains on a steady path

Continued resources boom means that the Prairie province will remain among the top performers in 2012 and beyond

Quebec is grappling with a slack economy but forecasters say that 2013 is looking much brighter

After a tough 2009-10, during which the province was hit hard by the recession, Alberta is surging on rising global oil prices

Although the level of exports to Asian economies has surpassed those to the U.S., the province still has many challenges

News

The gap between retirement and end of life is growing, and many clients want products that will ensure they never run out of money

After years of delay and international consultations, the CSA has released its first major policy response to the credit crisis

The Canadian Foundation for Advancement of Investor Rights was launched in 2008

Only about 50% of sanctions ever collected

Front Page

“Quality over quantity” is the mantra of smaller insurers these days

Like many other provinces, Ontario faces slow economic growth this year

Feds looking for a way to comply with SCC decision