May 2014

ETF Guide 2014

An increasingly varied ETF universe calls for a highly specialized strategist

Once a passive, index-tracking product, ETFs now make up a diverse array of investment strategies

Comment & Insight

Halifax’s once thriving downtown still struggles to attract businesses and customers. But several elements are converging to help the largest city on the East Coast…

North America is approaching self-sufficiency in oil and gas, a status with long-term economic and political implications

Plans to rejuvenate the decaying Sainte-Catherine Street West may finally be gaining some traction

Embedded commissions have outlived their usefulness. The issue now is fairness.

News

Guidance notes from IIROC and IIAC flag concerns about designations claiming special expertise with elderly clients

Exit controls will soon be in full force at the Canada-U.S. border, creating a range of tax and immigration issues for snowbirds

The CSA says it is considering further reforms as part of consultations on mutual fund fees it launched in 2012

Canada's Financial Literacy Leader is tasked with improving the financial knowledge of people across the country

Front Page

Voluntary guidelines are a good start

mutual fundsRegulators are seeking independent research to assist in their decision, expected next year, on banning trailer fees

Proposal would create an ETF pipeline

Building Your Business

As your clients get older, end-of-life issues become more real to them. A pre-retirement review presents the opportunity to revisit their estate plans and go…

Like anything in the tech world, not all web browsers are created equal. Choosing one depends on the devices and platforms you use and your…

Two advisors tell how they built a US$1.6-billion practice in 20 years

Veteran insurance advisor Lawrence Geller learned a valuable lesson as a rookie in the 1970s. Now, he is an "information junkie" who is more than…

Ten Thousand Coffees enables experienced professionals and rookies to exchange ideas and learn from each other. Whether participants meet in person, by phone or online,…

Insurance companies hold valuable information about your clients and your in-force policies. Harnessing that and other information can help you anticipate your clients' needs and…

A wealthy family looks for advice about how to reduce taxes on future capital gains, including transferring the anticipated increase in the appreciation in the…

In order to appreciate the full worth that a client brings to your business, consider 10 years' worth of revenue, then add the lifetime value…

When talking to prospective clients in a first meeting, restrict your initial discussion about your background to three minutes. Your story should fit on one…

Investment research

Although there are some long-standing structural issues in Italy's economy, there are also interesting opportunities

There's suspicion about the stock market's valuation of businesses, as their profitability has not yet recovered

Focus on Products

Lévis, Que.-based Mouvement des caisses Desjardins has launched eight new corporate-class funds for investors who are looking for a tax-smart way to save and invest…

Toronto-based AGF Investments Inc. has announced a series of changes designed to simplify its product lineup. The following mergers will take place on or about…

Toronto-based Marquest Asset Management Inc., portfolio manager of the Marquest group of funds, has appointed Toronto-based Cassels Investment Management Inc. as portfolio subadvisor of Marquest…

Vancouver-based OceanRock Investments Inc. has made several changes to its investment fund lineup that took effect on April 15. Toronto-based Barrantagh Investment Management Inc. replaces…

Higher fees mean lower returns - and increased risk

China’s economy is undergoing massive reform, but will recover

Brokerage Report Card

As advisors get older, they're paying more attention than ever to their exit strategies. And firms that received the highest performance ratings in this category…

As a glut of baby boomers enters retirement age, the support services advisors receive to help these clients deal with their unique issues in retirement…

Year after year, advisors say their firms fail to live up to expectations when it comes to their back-office departments - and this year is…

Advisors and their executives are on the same page when they say the pace of regulatory reform has been overwhelming. But only those firms that…

Bank-owned investment dealers rule the roost when it comes to size and scope, but independent brokerages are praised for their ability to establish and maintain…

Substantial growth in advisors' books of business in this year's Report Card has not translated into bigger paycheques. The percentage of advisors earning more than…

How advisors rated their firms

Advisors are demanding more from their firms regarding mobile technology - and firms are taking various approaches

Investment dealers and their advisors have embraced discretionary portfolio management en masse

Assets under management are at an all-time high, and productivity has increased as well. But there are some concerns about the sustainability of these results…

Despite the different business models, growth in assets under management and smaller advisor paycheques, firms continue to please their advisors in the areas that matter…