The outlook for the industry in 2019 is one of cautious optimism, with solid underlying economic prospects but growing downside risks. Regulatory pressure on the industry appears modest, but internal competition and the demand for innovation are ramping up relentlessly.
January 20, 2019Escalation of the U.S./China trade war is the biggest risk
The financial services industry faces many challenges this year, including slowing growth, rising interest rates and changes to the regulatory framework
The Ontario government, elected last June, has a policy of deregulation in general, but also is willing to interfere with policy-making directly
As ETFs' explosive growth in AUM continues, expect more actively managed ETFs and lower fees. While mutual funds' massive AUM dominates - for now - both types of investments have a place in client portfolios
Squeezed by rising operations costs, heavier compliance burdens, shifting client expectations and tougher competition, independent asset-management firms increasingly are open to fielding attractive offers of sale or merger
A flat yield curve — or, worse, an inverted one — will make business for banks, life insurance companies and utilities more difficult. Either curvature also is a sign of poor business conditions ahead
Tax specialists anticipate narrowly targeted changes, as opposed to broad-based tax cuts, in the upcoming federal budget as the Liberals prepare for an election
New class of mutual funds gives investors access to defensive strategies such as short selling, leveraging and use of derivatives
As retiring baby boomers need help with their increasingly complex finances, planning becomes more critical
Helping clients identify how emotion affects their decision-making process regarding investing will become even more important if stock markets or the economy take a turn for the worse this year
The 2025 ETF Guide provides a snapshot of how these products are evolving, from industry-wide trends to regulatory changes, along with some of this year’s…
Everything financial advisors need to know about this year’s federal budget
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