Home Newspaper December 2010

December 2010

Comment & Insight

B.C. will be dealing with the agenda of exiting premier Gordon Campbell long after he departs in February — and that means uncertainty

Montreal is hoping many more religious pilgrims will visit after the canonization of Brother André and the makeover of his basilica

The former head of the Montreal Exchange fails to offer “inescapable” evidence on the efficacy of the current securities regulation system

Long overshadowed by Calgary, Edmonton’s northern location close to the oilsands may be positioning it for a new era in the sun

The thrill of the hunt is usually greater than that of the find. But if you find a light blue vase with silver stars, let…

With ministers jumping ship and silence on major issues such as the deficit, can an election be far behind?

Investment research

The rising loonie continues to plague the bottom line for many Canadian companies; take note of how this affects your clients

The success of this absolute-return hedge fund strategy rests with how tightly the basket of stocks tracks a broad-based equities index

Recent market action suggests that these stocks have more upside potential than other sectors in Canada

Analysts are quite enthusiastic about the prospects for two of Canada’s alternative mortgage providers

The assumption is yes, as bonds — with their guaranteed return of principal — represent controlled risk

Focus on Products

Gold shares do have a role in a diversified investment portfolio, but they are secondary to gold bullion

These fixed-income mutual funds use complex derivative strategies to “recharacterize” income

Counsel creates an income product

“Looking at the market in general, we don’t think valuations are stretched,” says one small- and mid-cap fund manager

Advisors need to check out the fine print on synthetic bond funds to judge their suitability

Building Your Business

A couple who live on a hobby farm near Edmonton are seeking advice on how to handle the husband’s impending death from terminal cancer as…

Persuading a client that independent life insurance is a better deal

The key to getting more referrals begins by abandoning some misconceptions — such as the belief that you must mention introductions frequently and ask only…

Financial planner Paul Sawtell serves his clients in Queensland from his home in northern Alberta

The good new is you no longer have to lug around a heavy, overpowered computer; the not so good news is that choosing a new,…

Industry icons Bill Bachrach and Norman Levine give guidance for recruiting and training top advisors

SIACharts uses technical analysis to compare sectors; daily comparative reports rank relative strength of various asset classes; charts can be used to help advisors make…

A touch of humour can help you build stronger relationships with your clients. But it must be tasteful, or the joke will be on you

Getting to know your client's financial, family and business situations is essential in successful estate planning

A financial advisor who struggled in delivering a presentation to attendees asks what went wrong. He finds out about some of the common problems advisors…

As little as 15 minutes of exercise per day can ward off the negative impact of remaining sedentary

Reach a bigger audience of clients and prospects with a professional-sounding audio program; it’s simple and inexpensive — and you probably already own most of…

News

The RBC fund has outshone other precious metals funds

Although total funds raised has increased, startups are still in need of money — and they are targeting high net-worth investors

RRSPs, RESPs, RDSPs and TFSAs are all things your clients should be aware of before Dec. 31 rolls around

Prospecting service Accretive Advisor matches advisors with clients

Metrics such as spending habits of empty nesters and the gaps in longevity among income levels need to be taken into account

Will fund managers who value Dynamic’s independent and aggressive nature find themselves at home at Scotiabank?

"Dark trading" and other structural issues

A new report suggests that shareholder democracy in Canada is in poor shape. Will a national regulator fix the problem?

TD, Scotiabank and RBC have launched social media websites to foster internal communication

A new report proposes rules for “dark” trading, attempting to strike a balance between its advantages and its disadvantages

The Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada is pushing ahead with proposed rule changes to improve the disclosure of transaction costs for clients despite some…

Quebec-based financial services giant Desjardins Group is aiming to grow outside its home province

Proposed rules on executive compensation would bring Canada more in line with new laws in the U.S.

New rules might be viewed as a “piling on” of complex tax legislation that would be difficult to navigate

Thinking of investing in a potential hostile takeover target? Take note that poison pills may or may not “work,” depending on where the target company…

Changes to the CPP and reduced savings as a result of the recession mean that tough discussions lie ahead, BMO report says

Canadian M&A activity is expected to rise, driven by companies with cash and the lower costs of borrowing and advice

Discount brokerages and their full-service counterparts have seen increased demand for access to global investments

Insurers take steps to recruit and train the next generation of independent advisors

One of Canada’s largest retail fund companies is changing course, adding ETFs and institutional money management

Clients may need special guidance when using the Homebuyers’ Plan to make several staged deposits for unbuilt homes

Known for serving Canadian university alumni, the firm is negotiating with groups representing other demographics

Moody’s will bring a rich content library to the Canadian company. CSI will boost Moody’s online training capacity

Appointed last year after a complex, three-way merger, Servus CEO Garth Warner is guiding Alberta’s largest credit union into the future

Scotiabank has upped the ante with its acquisition of DundeeWealth but aims to keep the two sales forces separate