Home Inside Track

Top Stories in Inside Track

Parliament buildings on a sunny day

Budget 2021 was a disappointment to the investment industry

Without a detailed fiscal plan, program spending and budget deficits may exceed the current projections

world map, emerging markets and international global businesses
Shilpa Tiwari

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

Worried Young Couple Lying On Carpet Calculating Their savings, planning future, retirement fund

Relief for the repayment of Covid benefits

The federal budget has rectified a potentially harsh tax treatment of benefit recipients

confused man
Ian Russell

How to integrate the CIPF into a consolidated SRO

A clear delineation of responsibilities would allow for an effective relationship

Lady overwhelmed by debt, tax, tax forms
Ellen Bessner

You can’t be a walking rulebook

A step-by-step guide to navigating the mountain of rules you must follow to protect your licence, reputation and livelihood 

business woman esg
Paul Bourque

A historic period of regulatory reform

New regulations will permanently reshape the advisor-client relationship

advisor and client meeting
David Reeve

Get ready to show your work under the client-focused reforms

Regulators will expect an advisor’s analysis to be documented and sufficiently thorough

usinessman holding binoculars with tie and shirt on cityscape
Ian Russell

Positive surprises during the pandemic

The changes ushered in by Covid-19 will have a long-term impact

advisor client meeting
Cary List

The future has never looked brighter

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

  • By: Cary List
  • March 26, 2021 March 26, 2021
  • 15:00
client meeting

How enhanced KYC requirements are changing client conversations

You can build stronger relationships with clients by implementing new requirements now

advisor and client meeting
Jamie Golombek

Worried about a possible increase to the capital gains inclusion rate?

Options for your clients to consider if they’re concerned about the inclusion rate increasing

The Canadian Derivatives Institute

Integrating ESG factors into portfolio management

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

businesswoman thinking
Jamie Golombek

Why clients should contribute to RRSPs before the deadline

Some clients may be reluctant to maximize their RRSPs for fear of missing out on other tax advantages

Technology will drive harmonization, regulators say

The insurance industry is taking a page from the mutual fund industry, leveraging technology to address mounting disclosure regulations

AI is not just another fad

AI is slowly making its way into the wealth-management industry and will ultimately transform financial advisors’ role

Is financial services the next music industry?

Blockchain technology may transform financial services just as peer-to-peer file-sharing technology changed the music industry almost 20 years ago

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

  • By: Cary List
  • January 29, 2021 January 29, 2021
  • 15:00

Toward a grand renewal

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

  • By: Cary List
  • 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

  • By: Cary List
  • October 2, 2020 October 2, 2020
  • 17:57

The need for sustainable business supply chains is growing

Advisors and their clients stand to benefit when corporate leaders focus on building socially and environmentally responsible enterprises

  • By: Deb Abbey
  • February 21, 2017 November 17, 2019
  • 06:00

Opportunity knocks for investors who want to make an impact

A growing base of investors are looking for investments that contribute measurably to environmental and social sustainability

  • By: Deb Abbey
  • October 20, 2016 November 17, 2019
  • 05:00

Diversity makes dollars and sense

Corporate boards and executive teams that lack gender and cultural diversity risk missing out on opportunities to generate long-term value

  • By: Deb Abbey
  • August 18, 2016 November 17, 2019
  • 05:00

Six sustainable finance trends to watch in 2021

Environmental and social issues are expected to dominate proxy season, and ESG disclosure standards are on the way

The acute impact of Covid-19 on digital wealth transformation

The pandemic has made digital transformation a top priority

  • By: David Reeve
  • October 30, 2020 October 30, 2020
  • 15:00

Why diversity and inclusion are important for investment analysis

Four concrete reasons why D&I is important from an investment management perspective

  • By: Dustyn Lanz
  • October 19, 2020 October 20, 2020
  • 16:50

Don’t let client preferences come before your legal obligations

Clients may prefer communicating by text, but texting clients comes with risks

Video: Think small to feel better

Ellen Bessner returns with one last Positive Note for 2020

Should you be penalized for being prudent with clients’ portfolios?

Sometimes it’s suitable for your clients’ investments to be less risky than their maximum risk tolerance

The CSA must act on critical reforms

Two key issues — the best-interests standard and reform of mutual fund fees — require timely and effective action

Treat shareholders fairly when venture issuers raise capital

FAIR Canada supports exemptions that have the key features of rights offerings or private placements in compliance with the TSXV’s private placement rules

Reform of accredited investor exemption is needed

Current regulations assume that an investor’s wealth is a proxy for sophistication. This has to change

Dealers pursue strategic partnerships to offer alternative investments to clients

A number of smaller investment dealers have made acquisitions to improve the depth of their product shelves

  • By: Ian Russell
  • February 3, 2021 February 3, 2021
  • 15:00

Helping different generations meet their retirement goals

Continued transformation and innovation is needed to meet the demands of baby boomers and millennials

  • By: Ian Russell
  • November 18, 2020 November 18, 2020
  • 16:51

The coming battleground for retail distribution

The recent uptick in small advisory firms reflects several factors affecting the Canadian wealth business

How should clients claim home office expenses this tax season?

Help your clients choose between the detailed method and a temporary flat-rate method 

Help clients plan for tax-efficient charitable giving

Three topics to discuss with your clients before the end of the year

Which home-office expenses can be reimbursed tax-free?

The CRA has provided more details on the types of home-office expenditures employees can be reimbursed for without incurring a taxable benefit

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

Listening is key to conversation

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

Vulnerable clients need special care and due diligence

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

Be bold, regulators

Those still timorous and uncertain about introducing a best interest duty have a duty, themselves, to become decisive

  • By: Neil Gross
  • October 31, 2016 November 10, 2019
  • 05:00

Non-GAAP metrics: investors’ little helpers or harmful nonsense?

Every company can calculate non-GAAP metrics however they want, so there’s real risk of investors and markets being misled

  • By: Neil Gross
  • October 3, 2016 November 10, 2019
  • 05:00

Class dismissed

Overcautious courts are erecting barriers to securities class actions, even though these lawsuits are essential for maintaining the integrity and fairness of our capital markets

  • By: Neil Gross
  • September 6, 2016 November 10, 2019
  • 09:00

Managing the risks related to social media

Read and follow your firm’s guidelines on social media use and take the necessary steps to protect yourself

  • By: Yan Huard
  • September 20, 2017 November 17, 2019
  • 16:20

Why security professionals fell short on ransomware attacks

Although it’s costly to upgrade key IT systems, the costs of not doing so could be much greater

  • By: Yan Huard
  • July 27, 2017 November 17, 2019
  • 05:00

Cyberthreats extend beyond money

Hacktivism, ideological insiders and intelligence gathering are key sources of cyberattacks threating financial services firms

  • By: Yan Huard
  • May 25, 2017 November 17, 2019
  • 09:30

Full disclosure: How to turn compliance into a competitive advantage

Frictionless, relevant disclosure is critical to building trust with clients

  • By: David Reeve
  • February 12, 2021 February 12, 2021
  • 15:15

Let technology do what no human is capable of

Advisors may have to consider 1 million data points per day when the CFRs come into force

  • By: David Reeve
  • September 4, 2020 September 8, 2020
  • 15:56

A compliance ROI model for client-focused reforms

Effective compliance measures mean you’re less likely to lose clients

Canadian investors continue to grow wealth through investment funds

Canadian investment fund sales and AUM saw a full rebound in 2020

Why Canada needs a single SRO

Consolidating the MFDA and IIROC would ultimately benefit investors, writes Paul Bourque

How are investors responding to enhanced disclosure?

Surveys show that the introduction of Fund Facts and CRM2 reports is achieving policy objectives

How to talk to clients about the client-focused reforms

Educate and empower clients with information that matters to them

Value for fees: What investors now expect from their advisors

Changing investor expectations create new opportunities for advisors

  • By: Susan Silma
  • November 4, 2020 November 4, 2020
  • 15:58

From crisis to opportunity

How you can provide value for clients in a changing world

  • By: Susan Silma
  • September 9, 2020 September 9, 2020
  • 20:16

How my investment strategy has fared during the crisis

A financial advisor talks about how her ETF portfolios have held up under market stress

The next decade for ETFs

Opinions on where the ETF industry will be in 2030

When and why to use factor investing

Part 2 of a series on multi-factor ETFs

Are ETFs riskier than mutual funds?

It’s the underlying holdings that are important — not the structure of the investment

Eight tips for trading ETFs

Make sure you’re getting the most out of your trades

Myth: ETFs can “become” the market

Dispelling a misconception that has developed over time

Why don’t women of colour have a seat at the boardroom table?

Black, Indigenous and women of colour have been “leaning in” most of their lives