Home Newspaper October 2007

October 2007

Building Your Business

Jill Snider thought client segmentation was a way of discriminating against small clients. By answering a few questions, Jill learned that she is already giving…

Suppliers are developing tools to help you find files on your computer and on your network

Similar to FundSERV, the new system promises to centralize data exchange

The CRA’s “reasonable expectation of profit” rule allows taxpayers to write off interest on loans used to generate business income

Advisor Terry Colton, 63, has been practising retirement. “I firmly believe if you’re going to be good at something, you really need to practise it,”…

Boomers should have regular medical checkups and be screened for various cancers, heart disease and diabetes

Avoiding isolation is an important element of a successful practice, says Teresa Black Hughes, a partner in Vancouver-based Solguard Financial Ltd. and the new chairwoman…

If you’re planning on using a newsletter to communicate with clients, consider these tips provided by Joanne Ferguson of Advisor Pathways Inc.:> Do a client…

Advisor Teresa Black Hughes of Vancouver is passionate about what Advocis can do for financial advisors

Advisors can provide reasoned analyses of financial issues that will enable clients to make informed decisions

The professional from any discipline best qualified to be a client’s “trusted advisor” should get that role

Advisors recommend a diversified portfolio to help meet their retirement needs and their estate planning goal

Encourage your older clients to pursue health and fitness, not costly skin treatments and wrinkle creams

Proper client segmentation means your D clients become A clients to whomever is assigned to serve them

Price competition will force advisors either to eliminate costs or focus on value

Monthly or quarterly, e-mailed or in hard copy, consistency is key to a successful program

Comment & Insight

Full disclosure of relevant information is important, but different investors have different needs

It’s awards season, and the big winner may be Nova Scotia’s ability to attract television and film productions to the province. Indeed, the government intends…

Life is a twisty road, each curve full of surprises. Some of the turns bring a feeling of delight; others — well, they just make…

As silly as it was to be ashamed of a weak loonie, it’s just as absurd to take pride in the Canadian dollar’s recent strength.…

Re: “Current commission structure hurts professionalism” (IE, August 2007).I was surprised at the inaccurate and simplistic portrayal of the manufacturer/advisor/client relationship in this editorial. There…

A federal/provincial agreement won’t happen overnight, but a deal will eventually be made

Despite Flaherty’s willingness to proceed, politicians and securities commissions will dig in their heels

But some people just aren’t ready for full-service or diversification at banks and grocery stores

Investment research

This analysis is not commonly used, but it’s useful because every company reports assets and common equity

Although these companies — and their strategies — differ greatly, all are worthy investment considerations

The firm is hoping to increase its AUM by adding a “family office” business as well as more specialty funds

Within a portfolio, look beyond returns. Equally important is the incremental effect a new holding can have on risk

But while prices will remain historically high, the peaks reached earlier this year will not be seen again, analysts say

In the face of the subprime mortgage-fuelled U.S. liquidity crisis, T-bills are getting more respect

As a result, banks and financial services firms are likely to face some difficult choices

Focus on Products

Criterion launches “clean energy” fundToronto-based Criterion Investments Ltd. has introduced Criterion Global Clean Energy Fund, Canada’s first global “clean energy” fund. By investing in companies…

Manager Marc-André Robitaille forges his fund’s track record with research and a personal approach to company management

But research shows this may be the result of a lack of opportunity to access low-cost funds

Regulators should create a more efficient, streamlined system

Replace the current prospectus and annual forms with one document

AIM Canadian Balanced beats RBC Balanced in recent performance, but sports a slightly higher

Bond fund managers see opportunities in the volatility, but some fear a long-term economic slowdown

New Zealand-based company enters the fray, but many advisors are cool to the product

News

As discount brokerage business grew dramatically over the past decade, the full-service side has held its ground

Debra Hewson plans to continue enhancing financial services for Odlum Brown’s clients

The AMF says the hike is necessary to replenish the compensation fund after a big payout to Norbourg Group investors

But older white-collar workers have more possibilities of extending their careers than older rank-and-file workers

In spite of its foiled attempts to acquire Crocus’s assets, GrowthWorks has put the last piece of its national puzzle in place

The Winnipeg-based managing general agency also has plans to expand across the country

It is a win/win: Dundee no longer has to support a bank under pressure and Scotia increases exposure to wealth management

The deal gives Ethical Funds’ products exposure to the broker/dealer and Desjardins’ products exposure to the credit unions

Now that the loonie has reached parity with the U.S. dollar, a significant number of Canadians are planning more and longer vacations as well as…

Although the feds are moving in the right direction, corporate tax rates need to be cut further for the economy to operate efficiently

There are concerns that the professional association of B.C. geologists is unwilling or unable to regulate its members

TD Bank Financial Group has partnered with the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education at Ryerson University in Toronto to develop a program aimed…

Fraternal benefit society’s purchase of Unity Life of Canada will increase the former’s sales capabilities tenfold

Brian Gore wants to keep abreast of industry needs by contacting a broad range of executives and operational individuals

A big question is whether the TSX and the MX will get together — or will they actually slug it out?

The regulatory framework, enabling financial institutions to issue GICs, spared some firms from being burned in the credit crisis

Financial services companies continued to perform well in the second quarter, but that was before financial turmoil struck in August. Although most companies are not…

Fund manager holds on to hammered holdings after markets “overreaction” to subprime debacle

Some clients have connections to Canadian firms; its books and records may be located in Toronto, where its trading also took place

New infrastructure will require US$30 trillion to be spent by 2030

Efficient advisors have bigger books that generate more revenue

Apparently, securities regulators have recovered sufficiently from their first experience in meeting a large room full of disgruntled investors that they are ready to do…

But some contend private/public partnerships cost more than traditional financing and reduce flexibility

Existing members are ideal clients for credit unions’ wealth-management services because they tend to be great savers