Partners in Planning Financial Services Ltd. has announced a strategic partnership with Qtrade Investor, an independent online brokerage, as well as the purchase of Equinox Investor Services Inc. from Equinox Financial Group Inc. in Toronto.

Equinox is a mutual fund dealer with over 400 advisors registered in all ten provinces and assets under administration of $900 million. Michael Wolfond, CEO of Partners in Planning reports that this acquisition will make Partners in Planning the largest nationally registered independent mutual fund dealer in Canada.

Partners in Planning boasts over $2 billion in assets under administration and partners with 275 advisors in 83 offices across Western Canada. The acquisition of EIS expands the PIP operation to include 700 advisors and over $3 billion in assets under administration.

Bob Ferguson, former president and CEO of CMG World Source has joined Partners in Planning as the managing director in charge of marketing, recruitment and business development unit.

Also, Qtrade Investor will provide its state-of-the-art online brokerage platform on a co-branded basis to PIP financial advisors and their clients. Additionally, as part of the arrangement and due to Qtrade Investor’s and Partners in Planning’s existing strategic relationship with Canadian Western Trust, PIP advisors and clients have access to an integrated Qtrade Investor/CWT platform for their self-directed registered accounts.

Partners in Planning also announced that the board of directors of the Mutual Fund Dealers Association has approved its membership in the MFDA.