8 ways to wow your clients in 2025
Exceed their expectations with high-quality meetings, proactive communication and more
- By: Susan Silma
- February 4, 2025 February 4, 2025
- 09:06
Exceed their expectations with high-quality meetings, proactive communication and more
They’re not right for all clients though, and not all advisors either
Make the most of tech with these tips for advisors, firms and providers
Continued growth and innovation are expected
Professional planners have a vital role to play in helping underserved Canadians
IFIC panel discusses ESG disclosures, fund sales and international collaboration
Engage younger investors on their terms
Three steps to reduce the risk and pain of advisor partnership breakups
Risks when partnering with other financial advisors
Agency provides examples of when income-earning purpose is met
It’s time to think differently about retired clients
Financial planners continue to adapt to a whirlwind of new developments in recent years
Conference Board of Canada report details industry’s economic impact
Two key issues — the best-interests standard and reform of mutual fund fees — require timely and effective action
FAIR Canada supports exemptions that have the key features of rights offerings or private placements in compliance with the TSXV’s private placement rules
Current regulations assume that an investor’s wealth is a proxy for sophistication. This has to change
Services include addressing investor requirements and mitigating compliance risk
Alain Brisebois of CWP Energy discusses these often-misunderstood products
Erika Toth of BMO Global Asset Management shares her thoughts on the ETF landscape
Four takeaways from a fireside chat with Ken Bentsen and Urban Funered
SIMA’s three-step plan tackles RRIF rules, investment management fee taxation and more
Government policies must align with economic realities and demographic trends
Client-facing technology plays a vital role in achieving organic growth
Advisor time constraints, attrition are controllable factors
This growth opportunity requires freeing advisors from time constraints and meeting demand for hybrid advice
Expect low- to mid-single-digit returns long term, and there are storm clouds on the horizon
The differences between evergreen and traditional private investment funds, and the importance of due diligence
Regulatory efficiency saves costs and ultimately benefits investors
Advisors play an important role in enhancing resiliency
The best solution to the complex transition may be flexibility
As financial fraud grows more sophisticated and pervasive, the role of professional financial planners has never been more critical
30 years after the launch of what would become FP Canada, the modern profession has learned 5 important lessons
We need to show young talent how rewarding the profession can be
The insurance industry is taking a page from the mutual fund industry, leveraging technology to address mounting disclosure regulations
AI is slowly making its way into the wealth-management industry and will ultimately transform financial advisors’ role
Blockchain technology may transform financial services just as peer-to-peer file-sharing technology changed the music industry almost 20 years ago
How firms should prepare for the next phase of fee transparency
To win, make sure every member of your team is dedicated to delivering an exceptional experience to all clients
Focus on the end-to-end advisor experience with tools and implement change management best practices
Why one portfolio manager believes ETFs have revolutionized the investment landscape
Permanent insurance also has a host of other tax benefits
Primarily using ETFs has helped one advisor to make better investment decisions, but she attributes some success to a powerful non-financial practice
Federal budget did little to invigorate sluggish investment spending
Tech, profound shocks have changed investor behaviour
A new approach is needed to replace failed government programs
In his final column, Cary List shares his thoughts on the future of financial planning
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s renewed national strategy for financial literacy can help Canadians focus on the future
Financial planners can play a key role in rebuilding Canadians’ confidence
Read and follow your firm’s guidelines on social media use and take the necessary steps to protect yourself
Although it’s costly to upgrade key IT systems, the costs of not doing so could be much greater
Hacktivism, ideological insiders and intelligence gathering are key sources of cyberattacks threating financial services firms
Five messages that turn transparency into a competitive advantage
How to construct and reallocate portfolios through a risk-first lens
Correlated markets demand a new best practice in portfolio construction: 40/30/30
If oil supply hasn’t returned to normal by mid-year, higher inflation and slowing global growth could become the dominant themes of 2026
Recession is unlikely, but valuations are high — a neutral equity-bond asset mix and increased diversification are recommended
President Trump’s America First policies represent a ground shift, but it’s never a good idea to chase headlines
Taxpayer penalized for overcontribution after relying on My Account information
Advisors should speak to clients annually about crystallization
In one case, failure to report resulted in an overcontribution penalty
Canada's banks were told to stop calling their internal complaint office an ombudsman — they changed the sign but kept the office
Goeasy held a $5.51-billion loan portfolio at the end of 2025 — entirely outside the federal consumer protection framework that governs chartered banks
Ontario has one of North America’s great financial centres — its new budget puts that foundation at risk
Financial planners and financial advisors need to understand millennials’ preferences to gain their trust and business
Financial advisors can build deeper connections with clients by using active listening skills
Financial advisors should be aware of how to identify and engage effectively with vulnerable clients
Capital markets are increasingly global — so are Canadian securities class actions
OSC document request set aside for being “unreasonable” and contrary to Charter of Rights and Freedoms
The ASC has sanctioned James Domenic Floreani, its first full proceeding against a finfluencer
Advisors and their clients stand to benefit when corporate leaders focus on building socially and environmentally responsible enterprises
A growing base of investors are looking for investments that contribute measurably to environmental and social sustainability
Corporate boards and executive teams that lack gender and cultural diversity risk missing out on opportunities to generate long-term value
Those still timorous and uncertain about introducing a best interest duty have a duty, themselves, to become decisive
Every company can calculate non-GAAP metrics however they want, so there’s real risk of investors and markets being misled
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
A year after Liberation Day, global trade has proven resilient as the U.S. keeps on importing
The association is lobbying for a financial planning tax credit — it needs more QAFPs to deliver
The number of ETFs available in Canada has grown twice as fast as the mutual fund industry — faster than advisors can keep up
Public database of proxy voting records aims to better align asset managers and owners
Evolving expectations leave some managers struggling
Opinion: The backlash has limited prospects for four reasons
Get the inside scoop, from fund features to volatility and risk
Volatility is stressful but not novel, and ETFs can work in a jarring investing climate
An enhanced Canadian ESG identification framework is advancing on a foundation of international and domestic norms
Identify companies that understand the difference
Help clients identify companies with meaningful purpose
The increase in ESG reporting hasn’t been accompanied by improvements to society and the environment
The CLHIA got the principles right nearly 30 years ago. The main thing got lost — the diversified portfolio approach is how we get it…
Here is what it costs consumers — and what a practice standard could look like
Thinking about life insurance as a portfolio of products, and three client service best practices
Privacy, enterprise solutions and the danger of automatic transcripts
6 conversation-starters that will resonate with Millennials and Gen Z
How to know if a client relationship poses a potential conflict and what to do about it
Beware of shiny objects — with market froth waning, fundamental strength will overtake momentum next year
Markets cling to optimism as geopolitical and economic uncertainty test the limits of investor faith