June 2011

Comment & Insight

The departure of the former Bloc leader and the rise of the NDP is likely to create some difficult situations for the premier, who cannot…

Environmentalists don’t like it, but proponents say that carbon capture is ultimately the best way to reduce greenhouse gases and conserve oil stocks over the…

We are slaves to our grass — the short, green kind — yet it has very few advantages. Weeds are free, colourful and don’t require…

Given the centre-left positions of Layton’s federal NDP, the Orange Crush potentially could spread beyond Quebec

Many Nova Scotia residents say that the province’s private electricity system is not working, with shareholders scoring big while users suffer through repeated outages

Shareholders are taking increasing interest in the management of companies, and many are prepared to back their demands for change through proxy battles

Investment research

Provincial bonds provide an inexpensive way to get an inflation hedge — and a shot at making substantial profits if interest rates fall

The stocks that have shown the least amount of volatility have gained the most over the past decade

EGI and Intact, which cater to different segments of the P&C market, have “buy” recommendations

What makes this approach worth looking at is the certainty of time-value erosion. As the option approaches expiry, time value decreases

Focus on Products

Look at individual circumstances — not a rule of thumb

These products have low correlation with bond and stock markets

Rising consumption and increasing capital expenditures will boost GDP growth in 2012

News

New pitch for TMX Group aims to create a trading and clearing powerhouse

An insurance company has been ordered to pay death benefits in spite of unpaid premiums at the time of death

Separate fund facts documents must be filed for each fund class or series

Canadian workers earning the average wage can expect to see only 57.3% of that replaced by public pensions in retirement

Dundee Corp.’s Ned Goodman seeks hard assets to cope with the inflation and currency devaluation that he sees on the horizon

Terry Campbell, now leading the Canadian Bankers Association, says the banking sector is well positioned to deal with the many challenges it faces, both at…

IAP calls for creation of a statutory fiduciary duty for advisors

Agent supervision is a key area of concern

Simplified documents must be online and available to clients

Building Your Business

Dividing clients according to criteria such as age, gender, life-cycle stage and profession can help you develop a book of high-value clients. The key is…

More clients are asking advisors to be specific about what clients get for the fees they pay. Addressing the issue can be an opportunity to…

Book review: Creating value through effective relationships

Success can often mask the first signs that a business is likely to decline if changes aren’t made. The best way to manage the inevitable…

Every year, 70,000 women become widowed in Canada, but many advisors stumble when it comes to helping them deal with their new responsibilities as heirs.…

Tom and Alice want to know if they can turn their layoffs into early retirement. Despite modest incomes, they own a mortgage-free house and have…

Getting new business through existing clients and centres of influence has become an art. The process requires trusting relationships and the skill to spread the…

Setting up a client advisory board requires a commitment from you and a select group of clients. Meetings can be as simple as an hour-long…

Dealers’ Report Card

Dissatisfaction reigned in last year’s Dealers’ Report Card, but the results for the 2011 survey reveal a sector and a financial advisory force that is…

The latest phase of the economic recovery has been a lucrative one for Canada’s mutual fund dealers and their financial advisors. In fact, for an…

The three firms that saw their ratings swing significantly year-over-year cite the importance of communication and visibility of their managers

Although advisors are receiving greater pay, they say non-monetary recognition is equally important in a compensation package (includes chart)

The dealer firms that provide the best ongoing training platforms, advisors say, are those that have put a significant effort into live sessions and conferences…

Advisors need the comfort of knowing they can run their businesses as usual

Advertising campaigns and marketing support that cater to specific regions receive advisors’ praise

Advisors say they are happier with the support services offered by their firms; still, some advisors are not sure what services their firms offer, while…

Advisors are most pleased with the firms that provide technology tools to do business on the go

Client account statements, back office and technology are the areas that leave advisors wanting most