April 2013

Building Your Business

The strategy became more difficult in 1999, when the federal government brought in the “kiddie tax” rule, which, along with other attribution rules, made the…

When it comes to discussing your compensation model, focus on the value clients get for their money

Success on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter is largely a matter of timing. Monitor responses to your activities to find your optimal posting schedule

The paleolithic diet, which mimics the presumed meal plans of our hunter-gatherer ancestors, is popular among some health buffs

A new book for salespeople and cold-callers shows you how to drill down past the usual web search engines to find and use in-depth information…

Samsung's new Galaxy Note II "phablet" device is a very smart - and very functional - device

Brian and Sally, a couple in Winnipeg, plan to retire in five years but want to make sure they'll have the necessary assets to make…

Working with celebrity clients has its own set of challenges, from the necessity for great discretion to dealing with highly paid professionals who often can't…

The strategy, which is applicable only in Ontario, uses a primary will that must go through the court system, where estate administration taxes will be…

Offering a variety of products to your clients can increase client loyalty and profitability. Make sure your clients are aware of the full range of…

Why spend time and money courting prospects when your existing client roster is brimming with potential business?

The only people who should be in your prospecting system are those who meet or come close to meeting your ideal client profile and with…

The fundamental focus on value for money is neither new nor limited to financial services. Successful retailers provide value, not from their point of view…

Focus on Products

Where assets are held also is important

One way to beat the market is by using momentum stocks

Valuations have become "incredibly compelling, based on historical measures in the past 20 years," according to one portfolio manager

Toronto-based Brandes Investment Partners & Co., together with New York-based Lazard Asset Management LLC, has launched two new funds: Lazard Global Equity Income Fund and…

Montreal-based Desjardins Investments Inc., manager of Desjardins funds, has changed the risk-tolerance level associated with investing in Desjardins Global Real Estate Fund. The fund’s risk-tolerance…

Toronto-based Horizons Exchange Traded Funds Inc. will terminate two exchange-traded funds (ETFs) at the close of business on May 31: Horizons BetaPro US Dollar Bull…

Montreal-based National Bank Securities Inc. has closed two funds: Omega Global Opportunities Fund and National Bank Canadian Opportunities Fund. These funds were closed for new…

Comment & Insight

Alberta says it's cutting back. But the numbers tell a different story

Under pressure to raise more money from parking, Montreal considers variable parking rates

Maybe it’s stressed public cof- fers. Maybe it’s lame, self-involved leadership with no clue about civic values. Or maybe it’s just frustration. Whatever it is,…

Spending a lot of time riding in ambulances and being poked by doctors can give you interesting insights into the future of medicine

Consistency and efficiency are the new priorities in securities regulation

This year's budget says little about where the country is going, actual expenditures or whether forecasts are realistic

News

David Taylor, formerly a star fund manager for Dynamic Funds, is out on his own and already has some major clients. Starting from scratch, Taylor…

New data from the IIAC point out that operating costs are hurting smaller firms much more acutely than larger ones

Survey finds that insurance executives know they have work to do to catch up to evolving technology and client expectations

In only a few months, investment-counselling firm Coerente Capital Management has amassed an impressive $525 million in AUA

The move will allow the parent firm to invest in real estate while the bank subsidiary can meet new capital requirements

The investment industry and investor advocates are on the same side, for once, as both oppose an OSC proposal

John MacNaughton, who spent 31 years with brokerage firm Fry and Co. and its successors, died at his home in Toronto on Feb. 15. He…

Edmonton-based Canadian Western Bank – the largest publicly traded Canadian bank headquartered in Western Canada – has appointed Chris Fowler as its president and CEO.…

The Bank of Canada has announced that Lawrence L. Schembri will be its new deputy governor. He will replace Jean Boivin. Canada’s central bank had…

New principles intend to ensure that investors trust both their advisors and the industry, as that trust is sorely lacking

Toronto-based Manulife Financial Corp. has announced that Susan Dabarno has been appointed to its board of directors. The move was effective March 1. Dabarno joins…

When the external fee-for-service charge is taken into account, U.S. fund fees are roughly equal to those of Canadian funds

Major rebounds for Manulife, Sun Life and Fairfax distort a decent, but not particularly strong quarter

Front Page

Many investors don't understand standards of care

End of 10/8s could lead to legal issues for financial advisors

Ottawa to eliminate "character conversion transactions"

Investment research

But issuers paying third-party agencies for credit ratings can't stop, some say, until there is a better model for rating bond issues

Replacing bonds with straddles no longer exposes portfolios to the vagaries of higher interest rates but still provides a hedge should the market decline again

Inventories for aluminum, copper, nickel and zinc are relatively high, but are expected to drop in a few years

Regulators’ Report Card

There has been a big change in the firms' views of the SROs, with the ratings for the MFDA now surpassing IIROC's. Includes main chart:…

Those surveyed say regulators have much work to do

The financial services industry has many concerns about giving OBSI more power and its campaign to "name and shame" firms

Canada's regulators have to keep up with global regulatory developments, but in a way that is suitable for the domestic market

Three of the four regulators in the Report Card have seen their ratings drop, and those surveyed are unafraid to say why

IE expanded the list of survey respondents in order to get a more proper perspective of the provincial regulators

Compliance officers and the executives surveyed see much improvement with the MFDA and cause for concern with IIROC

Being better informed, having access to a regulator's staff and receiving prompt responses were the key reasons for success