July 2008

Report Card on Banks & CUs

And firms with antiquated systems and inefficient back offices drew the ire of advisors

Some banks are stepping up efforts to provide services; others are not

But a gap still exists between how important advisors say compensation is and their banks’ performance

Developing an integrated approach involving various divisions of a bank or credit union is the key to servicing affluent clients

Advisors cite new products, freedom to choose and overall product quality as reasons for their happiness

And not just from advisors at those banks; clients seem to like them as well, which brings in business

Account managers rated the Big Six banks and one credit union higher in a variety of categories in this year’s survey

Building Your Business

Peter Pomponio has built an impressive book by working with accountants

ScotiaMcLeod Inc.’s Michael Mountford has built his business based on his convictions. He offers these tips on how to develop a roster of clients who…

Tim Morton, first vice president with CIBC Wood Gundy in Toronto, has 30 high and ultra-high net-worth clients.He keeps in regular contact with each of…

Bill Bell of Bell Financial Inc. in Aurora, Ont., never asks for referrals, yet they are a major source of growth for his business. Here’s…

Joanne Goodrich, an advisor with RBC Dominion Securities Inc. in Burlington, Ont., and her business partner, Rick Livingstone, say their 50/50 sharing model sets their…

Kathryn Del Greco, senior investment advisor with TD Waterhouse Private Client Group, values the personal touch. She strives to find ways to show appreciation and…

These two DS advisors have complementary skills but share one investment philosophy

A financial plan maps out how to attain those goals

Top advisor looks for clients who think like him

An industry directory led Michael Dorfman to a then-underserved market that now forms the core of his $270-million book

Tim Morton has steadily reduced his client roster to fit his lifestyle

Kathryn Del Greco owes much of her success to keeping clients informed

Michael Dorfman, an investment advisor with BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. in Toronto, has developed a successful practice by catering to members of the entertainment industry.…

Wayne Baxter, a senior associate with Investment Planning Counsel in Mississauga, Ont., maintains that having a process is important, but so is having a team…

Be prepared, know your audience and tell stories

Peter Pomponio, vice president of Assante Capital Management Ltd. in Montreal, has built his business through referral relationships with chartered accountants. His biggest challenge in…

Dodee Frost Crockett is known for her desire to go the extra mile for her clients.“You want to get into the mindset of ‘What does…

Henry Wells’s practice had reached a plateau. When Henry had felt this way previously, he had been on the cusp of change in his practice.…

Dodee Frost Crockett of Dallas cultivates an impressive network of contacts

Being able to count on team members is key to growing your practice

Learning great business-building strategies is one thing; putting them into action is another

Time-blocking helps you get control of your schedule

Henry had a “dream” business: loyal clients, assets, income and reputation. But something was missing

Focusing on affluent clients requires the right tools to be effective

Comment & Insight

If there’s one lesson that everyone who toils in Canada’s financial services industry eventually must learn, it’s to never underestimate the banks. It may take…

The Tory leader can’t seem to gain ground, despite the Liberals’ weakness

Why other Canadians should care about Alberta’s Heritage Fund

Along the southern shore of the Avalon Peninsula, flamboyantly named towns such as Bay Bulls, Tors Cove and Ferryland offer a stunning panorama, especially during…

TFSAs will boost savings modestly, but do little to create much-needed risk capital

Old disputes may be the reason a Montrealer was passed over to head the new TMX

Purslane and low pigweed are free for the creeping, but buying in bulk has its drawbacks

Investment research

Natural gas has had a lower profile than oil with its recent wild ride, but natural gas is now on a roll of its own

But investing in these issues depends on what direction the economy is likely to take in the coming months

There is a case for buying options despite the many questionable statistics stacked up against options buyers

Focus on Products

It would help investors assess the merits of PPNs and other products

Emerging economies are driving demand, they say, and we could be in a period of sustained high prices

The AIM is to help clients faced with retirement-income challenges

New registration category would result in firms bypassing industry SRO

Middlefield; Acuity; Standard Life; Manulife & Mawer; Richardson & Credit Suisse

Mawer Investment Management’s Martin Ferguson seeks out companies that are trading below their intrinsic value

News

Crisis occurred after many market players ignored some pretty obvious warnings

But some are baffled as to just what the regulators are trying to accomplish

Financial services firms, both in Canada and globally, are expecting a huge growth in assets under management over the next several years as wealth is…

The troubled firm's provisional administrator is encouraging others who suffered losses to come forward

As the average AUM declines, account managers report a sharp increase in smaller accounts

Financial services quarterly profit survey

Reform gets hung up in provincial differences

It appears that inflation has replaced the credit crunch as the financial markets’ biggest worry. Although the markets’ collective attention may have waned, that doesn’t…