Home Newspaper November 2008

November 2008

Comment & Insight

Forget financial chaos — let’s redesign the hospital gown

An overly complex system creates undeserved headaches for issuers

Toronto could make good use of the coming downturn by reviewing its development practices

Montreal’s surprise loss of the F1 Grand Prix to Abu Dhabi will cost the city millions

Investment research

The unwinding of credit pyramids is engendering massive losses in the value of equities, making government bonds attractive

Some analysts have concerns, but Canada’s banks are among the most solid bets in the global financial services sector

Despite the ever-tumbling markets, there are some tech stocks that are worth a look

Evidence suggests that financials, consumer staples, telecom and health-care stocks are showing relative strength

Despite professing a tolerance for risk during good times, the market downturn reveals that clients need a balanced portfolio

Focus on Products

Sentry adds to fund lineup

TDFs shift to more conservative asset mixes, but risk and “glide paths” vary

Fund manager Bill Kanko takes on the task of rebuilding Hartford Global Leaders Fund

Many solid European firms have been hurt by the downturn and are now ripe for the picking

Balanced funds and other diversified products help clients weather volatility

The market crash puts a shine on funds that offer target-date investing with high-water mark guarantees

AGF Global Value fund has had a miserable time; less value-conscious Mackenzie Ivy Foreign Equity has done relatively well

New plan from EnerVest Diversifed Income Trust is designed to help existing unitholders

The market meltdown has hit preferred shares, but yields are relatively high and the sector is more attractive than usual

Building Your Business

Building an effective team is a matter of choosing people with complementary strengths and skills, says Louis Paquet, vice president with National Bank Financial Ltd.…

Good habits can increase your chances of having messages returned

The couple want to ensure there is money to cover education costs and still leave enough for a comfortable retirement

Louis Paquet’s practice targets dentists, doctors and pharmacists

Often the husband wants to keep the pension, while the wife wants the house — but you can’t eat the house

Organization helps advisors in various professions learn to advise farmers on financial and other issues

A calm voice of reason and reminders that we’ve been through this before can allay fears and keep clients invested

Not all vitamins are good for all people, say experts, so you should check with a health professional before taking supplements

In an implausible but informative tale, class reunion becomes a discussion of charitable strategies

Once you’ve generated leads, you have to decide who goes into your sales pipeline, and how long they stay there

Henry has developed an effective marketing plan. His next step is to devise a system for managing the prospects that will come his way as…

Policies can be used to replace income or to fund shareholders’ agreements, depending on the business

Be prepared to work through discomfort if you want to reach the top

Making your practice a magnet for the employees you want

Whether server-based or online, a number of CRM programs strengthen communication with clients

Motivate clients, manage time and expect to make house calls

Getting a qualified candidate in for an interview is only half the battle. Here are some questions the experts pose to ensure they’re hiring the…

News

The firm has taken several significant steps since formally merging with Berkshire this past summer

Plunging stock markets mean some sponsors may have to make big cash contributions to pension funds in 2009

New account will allow registered savings for disabled persons

Comments recommend the creation of a financial planning rule that’s applicable to the entire financial services industry

Although the Joint Forum has apparently removed a controversial item in the proposal, the official word has yet to arrive

The increased margins on such loans are leading small lenders and originators to develop a new line of business

The IQPF is taking its case to the province’s justice minister in its efforts to create a body that will oversee 5,200 financial planners

Best-guess estimates put financial system bailouts as high as US$6 trillion

The threat of rising wages and prices has receded in the short term but is likely to re-emerge

Buying spree unlikely, say analysts

How can a client be declined for insurance coverage by one company and yet acquire standard coverage at another company?The answer lies in the completeness…

With no relief in sight for woeful financial markets, many jittery Canadians have been cashing out — even liquidating money market mutual funds, once seen…

The goal is to maintain investor confidence in the integrity of the markets

Regulators are getting tougher about the misuse of confidential information

Quebec regulators are aggressively delving into the wreckage of the once lauded fund

Temporary change will ease valuations for assets in markets with little liquidity

Jason Abbott has been training hard for the third version of the Brawl on Bay Street

IIROC reports says investment dealers that sold ABCP to retail clients put little effort into vetting the products

Although it’s not yet clear what impact the recent ban on short-selling has had, regulators are considering making changes

Four credit unions in southern Manitoba will join forces

Hedge funds can still be useful, but must be deployed carefully

Finding skilled workers is about to become a real problem as one-third of brokers and adjusters retire within 10 years

As banks’ lending requirements tighten, small and medium-sized business borrowers are beginning to feel the pinch

It depends. Departing brokers can compete, but not by using unfair methods