Advisor at Risk

Ellen Bessner

Ellen Bessner is a well known, leading litigator with commercial litigation firm Babin Bessner Spry LLP. Her more than 20 years of experience includes defending investment and insurance industry participants, including dealers and individuals at all levels of courts.

5 dos and don’ts to help your clients and protect your licence

  • March 26, 2025 March 25, 2025
  • 05:24

Protect your business and reputation by managing these 5 risks

  • February 10, 2025 February 10, 2025
  • 16:00

Three steps to reduce the risk and pain of advisor partnership breakups

  • November 22, 2024 November 22, 2024
  • 16:00

Risks when partnering with other financial advisors

  • November 11, 2024 November 24, 2024
  • 16:22

Use these three steps to deal with clients who insist on unsuitable investments

  • September 30, 2024 September 30, 2024
  • 16:00

The rules are in code. Here’s how to crack the code

  • July 26, 2024 July 26, 2024
  • 16:00

Why clients need to name different people as PoA and TCP

  • May 17, 2024 May 17, 2024
  • 14:25

Here are three steps to prove suitability

  • April 8, 2024 April 8, 2024
  • 15:35

Mitigate your risk amid potential enforcement delays, CFR audits

  • November 20, 2023 November 20, 2023
  • 15:00

Protect your business, reputation and clients by knowing your rights and obligations

  • July 19, 2023 July 19, 2023
  • 15:00

More columnists

Compliance CX

Susan Silma

The power of proactive communication to reassure clients 

In turbulent times, people need to hear from their advisors

  • March 31, 2025 March 31, 2025
  • 08:59

8 ways to wow your clients in 2025

Exceed their expectations with high-quality meetings, proactive communication and more

  • February 4, 2025 February 4, 2025
  • 09:06

In the advice industry, it’s all about technology

Make the most of tech with these tips for advisors, firms and providers

  • December 10, 2024 December 10, 2024
  • 16:00

The new retirement requires a new approach

It’s time to think differently about retired clients

  • October 16, 2024 October 16, 2024
  • 16:09
Advisor at Risk

Ellen Bessner

Don’t waste economic and political uncertainty to show clients how you can shine

5 dos and don’ts to help your clients and protect your licence

  • March 26, 2025 March 25, 2025
  • 05:24

Advisors are at risk

Protect your business and reputation by managing these 5 risks

  • February 10, 2025 February 10, 2025
  • 16:00

Breaking up doesn’t have to be hard to do

Three steps to reduce the risk and pain of advisor partnership breakups

  • November 22, 2024 November 22, 2024
  • 16:00

Breaking up is hard to do, Part 1

Risks when partnering with other financial advisors

  • November 11, 2024 November 24, 2024
  • 16:22
Securities Law

Matthew Taylor

Ontario Court of Appeal allows crypto class action

Losses have been claimed for cryptocurrency derivatives traded without a prospectus

  • March 24, 2025 March 24, 2025
  • 14:48
Investments

Steve Locke

Advisors can help investors navigate U.S. economic uncertainty

President Trump’s America First policies represent a ground shift, but it’s never a good idea to chase headlines

  • March 10, 2025 March 10, 2025
  • 14:21

After volatility in Q3, investors must tread carefully

Market uncertainty calls for neutral portfolio positioning, rebalancing

  • September 11, 2024 September 11, 2024
  • 15:30

Central banks walking a tightrope

Bank of Canada and the Fed strive to keep inflation at bay without tipping the economy into recession

  • March 28, 2024 March 28, 2024
  • 15:00

Rate hikes may soon end, but caution still warranted

Balanced portfolios favouring bonds will help investors ride out economic uncertainty

  • August 21, 2023 August 21, 2023
  • 15:00
Investments

Robert Wilson

The total portfolio

Correlated markets demand a new best practice in portfolio construction: 40/30/30

  • March 5, 2025 March 5, 2025
  • 15:46

Unlocking tax alpha in client portfolios

These five strategies enhance tax efficiency in non-registered accounts

  • March 20, 2024 March 20, 2024
  • 15:00

Make more for your client by losing less

Defensively constructed portfolios can outperform in the long run

  • December 13, 2023 December 12, 2023
  • 10:00

What if stock and bond correlations are here to stay?

Column: Reconsider the assumption that government bonds outperform during equity sell-offs

  • July 5, 2023 October 7, 2024
  • 15:00

Non-resident beneficiaries holding inherited property in Canada

Both tax and administrative considerations need to be managed

  • February 18, 2025 February 19, 2025
  • 14:45

Help your client sell their beneficial interest in an estate

Here’s your helpful guide to advising clients on a complex estate sales process

  • November 18, 2024 November 18, 2024
  • 16:00

In both estate administration and angling, it pays to prepare for the unexpected

Financial advisors can address property challenges, encourage clarity in wills

  • August 20, 2024 August 15, 2024
  • 16:00

Understand these less familiar estate-related tax returns

Optional returns may reduce or eliminate your client’s taxes

  • June 12, 2024 June 12, 2024
  • 11:44
Technology

David Reeve

Supercharge your practice with growthtech

Client-facing technology plays a vital role in achieving organic growth 

  • February 17, 2025 February 14, 2025
  • 05:49

Intergenerational wealth transfer can be captured with tech

Engage younger investors on their terms

  • November 27, 2024 November 22, 2024
  • 16:00

Addressing internal challenges to wealth firms’ growth

Advisor time constraints, attrition are controllable factors

  • October 2, 2024 October 2, 2024
  • 15:04

Capturing the mass affluent wealth segment

This growth opportunity requires freeing advisors from time constraints and meeting demand for hybrid advice

  • July 29, 2024 July 29, 2024
  • 16:00
Investment Funds

Andy Mitchell

Older Canadians need flexibility to prosper in retirement

Government policies must align with economic realities and demographic trends

  • February 14, 2025 February 14, 2025
  • 09:11

Global perspectives and trends shaping the investment funds industry

IFIC panel discusses ESG disclosures, fund sales and international collaboration

  • December 2, 2024 December 2, 2024
  • 16:00

Investment funds industry bucks Canada’s low-productivity trend

Conference Board of Canada report details industry’s economic impact

  • October 7, 2024 October 7, 2024
  • 20:39

Financial literacy is a shared responsibility. Let’s get it right

Opinion: Education should be widely accessible and relevant to today’s youth

  • August 12, 2024 August 12, 2024
  • 16:48
Focus on Financial Planning

Tashia Batstone

Professional standards matter more than ever

We must continue to ensure the integrity of the profession, and strengthen Canadians’ trust in it

  • February 11, 2025 February 10, 2025
  • 06:59

Breaking down barriers to financial planning access

Professional planners have a vital role to play in helping underserved Canadians

  • December 9, 2024 December 9, 2024
  • 16:00

A time of transition for the financial planning profession

Financial planners continue to adapt to a whirlwind of new developments in recent years

  • October 11, 2024 October 11, 2024
  • 16:27

To deliver value, financial planners must move beyond tech assumptions

It’s time to dig deeper to understand how Canadians want to receive financial planning advice

  • August 19, 2024 August 16, 2024
  • 16:00

Alternative investments offer diversification and more

They’re not right for all clients though, and not all advisors either

  • January 31, 2025 January 31, 2025
  • 08:12

ETF outlook for 2025 and beyond

Continued growth and innovation are expected

  • December 10, 2024 December 10, 2024
  • 13:00

Celebrating 10 years of ETF-based portfolio returns

Why one portfolio manager believes ETFs have revolutionized the investment landscape

  • September 10, 2024 September 16, 2024
  • 13:00

Why holding index funds within a life insurance policy can be tax-efficient

Permanent insurance also has a host of other tax benefits

  • June 11, 2024 June 6, 2024
  • 13:00

My secret weapon for better portfolio management

Primarily using ETFs has helped one advisor to make better investment decisions, but she attributes some success to a powerful non-financial practice

  • March 12, 2024 March 13, 2024
  • 13:00
Tax Matters

Jamie Golombek

CRA confirms its approach to interest deductibility

Agency provides examples of when income-earning purpose is met

  • November 6, 2024 November 6, 2024
  • 16:00

Another reminder to help clients understand their TFSA room

Taxpayer penalized for overcontribution after relying on My Account information

  • July 25, 2024 July 25, 2024
  • 16:00

Considering capital gains post–June 25

Advisors should speak to clients annually about crystallization

  • June 25, 2024 June 25, 2024
  • 16:00

Ensure your client reports all RRSP contributions

In one case, failure to report resulted in an overcontribution penalty

  • April 10, 2024 April 10, 2024
  • 16:05
Responsible Investing

Dustyn Lanz

Investor stewardship and proxy voting: A new era of transparency

Public database of proxy voting records aims to better align asset managers and owners

  • July 22, 2024 February 19, 2025
  • 16:00

5 actions for fund managers to overcome ESG pain points

Evolving expectations leave some managers struggling

  • October 16, 2023 October 16, 2023
  • 15:00

Will Canada import America’s anti-ESG campaign?

Opinion: The backlash has limited prospects for four reasons

  • July 26, 2023 July 26, 2023
  • 15:00

Understanding Canada’s proposed climate finance taxonomy

The goal is to create a common language for the issuance of financial instruments

  • April 19, 2023 April 19, 2023
  • 16:10
Industry Perspectives

Ian Russell

Opinion: Tax reform needed to lift gloom in corporate sector

Federal budget did little to invigorate sluggish investment spending

  • April 4, 2023 April 4, 2023
  • 15:00

Does growth in self-managed accounts defy need for advice?

Tech, profound shocks have changed investor behaviour

  • January 16, 2023 January 16, 2023
  • 15:00

Creating policy to improve business spending, productivity

A new approach is needed to replace failed government programs

  • November 21, 2022 November 21, 2022
  • 15:00

For fair and balanced regulation, displace expert committees

Regulators require internal compliance expertise

  • September 26, 2022 September 26, 2022
  • 15:00
Investment Funds

Paul Bourque

Reducing regulatory burden: An ongoing priority

Regulatory efficiency saves costs and ultimately benefits investors

  • January 25, 2023 January 25, 2023
  • 15:00

Financial advice and the resilient investor

Advisors play an important role in enhancing resiliency

  • November 23, 2022 November 23, 2022
  • 15:00

Investment funds and the move to T+1

The best solution to the complex transition may be flexibility

  • September 12, 2022 September 12, 2022
  • 15:00

Successful rule implementation requires industry collaboration

The delivery of policy shouldn’t be a last step

  • July 18, 2022 July 18, 2022
  • 15:00

5 things to know about leveraged and inverse-leveraged ETFs

Get the inside scoop, from fund features to volatility and risk

  • September 13, 2022 August 31, 2022
  • 13:00

How ETFs can help you navigate volatility

Volatility is stressful but not novel, and ETFs can work in a jarring investing climate

  • July 12, 2022 June 28, 2022
  • 13:00

Better and more integrated ESG investing standards are progressing

An enhanced Canadian ESG identification framework is advancing on a foundation of international and domestic norms

  • April 14, 2022 April 13, 2022
  • 13:00

Validate your processes and think “win-win” when it comes to applying CFRs

The CFRs are really about formalizing and documenting processes to prove they’re followed

  • November 9, 2021 November 3, 2021
  • 13:00
ESG and DEI

Shilpa Tiwari

Sustainability or ESG?

Identify companies that understand the difference

  • June 29, 2022 June 28, 2022
  • 13:00

Social purpose: A business imperative

Help clients identify companies with meaningful purpose

  • October 26, 2021 October 26, 2021
  • 15:00

ESG reporting: A means to progress…or a means to an end?

The increase in ESG reporting hasn’t been accompanied by improvements to society and the environment

  • July 27, 2021 July 27, 2021
  • 16:00

Does the climate change movement have a diversity, equity and inclusion problem?

The communities most affected by changing climatic conditions are the least likely to be invited to participate in discussions

  • April 27, 2021 April 27, 2021
  • 14:09

Fund administrator: Understanding this essential support role

Services include addressing investor requirements and mitigating compliance risk

  • December 3, 2021 December 3, 2021
  • 15:00

Hedging against climate risks using weather derivatives

Alain Brisebois of CWP Energy discusses these often-misunderstood products

  • September 10, 2021 September 10, 2021
  • 16:27

The future of ETFs

Erika Toth of BMO Global Asset Management shares her thoughts on the ETF landscape

  • June 4, 2021 June 8, 2021
  • 15:30

Integrating ESG factors into portfolio management

Vincent Beaulieu of Fiera Capital discusses his firm’s approach to ESG analysis

  • March 5, 2021 March 5, 2021
  • 13:52
Focus on Financial Planning

Cary List

The future has never looked brighter

In his final column, Cary List shares his thoughts on the future of financial planning

  • March 26, 2021 March 26, 2021
  • 15:00

Financial literacy: taking the long view

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s renewed national strategy for financial literacy can help Canadians focus on the future

  • January 29, 2021 January 29, 2021
  • 15:00

Toward a grand renewal

Financial planners can play a key role in rebuilding Canadians’ confidence

  • November 27, 2020 November 26, 2020
  • 15:00

On the cusp of momentous change in Ontario

A new regulatory framework, years in the making, is an opportunity for Ontario to be a model for other provinces

  • October 2, 2020 October 2, 2020
  • 17:57
Focus on Financial Planning

Keith Costello

Millennials see retirement and financial planning differently than other generations

Financial planners and financial advisors need to understand millennials’ preferences to gain their trust and business

  • November 15, 2019 November 16, 2019
  • 15:31

Listening is key to conversation

Financial advisors can build deeper connections with clients by using active listening skills

  • September 20, 2019 November 16, 2019
  • 10:50

Vulnerable clients need special care and due diligence

Financial advisors should be aware of how to identify and engage effectively with vulnerable clients

  • August 7, 2019 November 16, 2019
  • 17:02

Deciphering Ontario’s Financial Professionals Title Protection Act

Financial planners and advisors should be aware that the act may go beyond title protection

  • May 31, 2019 November 16, 2019
  • 15:54