Low commodities prices, rising interest rates and political instability will hamper emerging markets outside Asia. But fund portfolio managers see upside in some industries
As we head into 2016, the U.S. dollar is likely to remain around current levels against most currencies. But that does not preclude some ups…
Health care, consumer discretionary and telecommunications services stand out as favourites on Wall Street for 2016. Information technology, financial services, industrials and consumer staples also…
Corporate sector has benefited from "Abenomics," while quantitative easing has pushed down the yen vs the US$, making exports more profitable
As China's government faces several challenges, the world's second-largest economy is expected to grow by more than 6% this year. Investment opportunities are shifting from…
You can video conference and share slides with several parties from your laptop, your tablet or even your smartphone, thanks to virtual meeting technology. Here…
The technology platforms that have automated asset allocation also are affecting the way insurance is sold. And the best way to meet this new challenge…
Advisors who did everything right in succession planning - starting early and grooming a successor — can be side-swiped by unpreventable events. The best advice…
Susan and her team were doing all the right things regarding client contact and appreciation, but they were getting an unsatisfactory response. Part of the…
Although the strategy behind client segmentation is unlikely to change, technology undoubtedly will affect the way clients are served. Improving service to those clients in…
As changes in technology affect the ways we organize and communicate with our clients, the objectives of segmentation — efficiency and productivity — remain the…
Bernie Geiss bases his approach to financial advice on mindfulness and meditation, and 350 wealthy business and professional families rely upon his insurance-based continuity planning…
The best way to help clients who are going through this difficult process is to provide calm, logical advice. You can help your clients organize…
Some elderly clients might think creating a joint bank account with an adult child is an easy way to ensure the senior's bills will be…
The quest for insight into what makes some advisors succeed when others fail is global. While there is no single answer, we know that top-performing…
The effectiveness of client appreciation gifts is rarely commensurate with cost. What is important is that the gift be personal and unique and resonate with…
In anticipation of CRM2, many advisors are making the shift from commissions to a fee-based model
Ryan Colwell, an advisor in Georgetown, Ont., thought he was headed for a career in the arts when he took a job at a financial…
Families in which one spouse has no or little independent income may find that using a spousal RRSP remains a helpful way to split income.…
As a financial advisor, you are not permitted to act as executor for your clients. You can, however, offer valuable advice in helping your client…
Selling the family home and renting in retirement can be an appealing idea: running a household becomes more convenient and bank accounts benefit from the…
Older clients who remarry should tread carefully, especially if they are bringing significant assets into the relationship. In many cases, a marriage contract or pre-nuptial…
As average lifespans continue to set new records, some financial planners are routinely planning on the basis that clients will live to 100 years old.…
The number of clients who are retiring with mortgages and large credit card bills is increasing. The solution lies in planning and client/advisor communication
Without employment income to steady volatile markets, retirees often look to insurance-related products, such as seg funds and other investment vehicles offering guaranteed returns, to…