Reluctant to make recommendations to prospects for fear your suggestions will be used as "free advice"? You can have fruitful introductory meetings without revealing too…
You don't have to have a transition date chiselled in stone, but you should have an approximate target for your departure from your business. Then,…
Justin McDonough has built his Halifax-based business in small increments and with a long-term focus. The financial advisory firm he co-founded in 2001 now has…
Helping clients fulfil their life goals goes beyond traditional financial planning, requiring a more rigorous discovery process. But the reward is satisfied, loyal clients
A couple in Edmonton who are both 55 years old and have just sold off their business for a sizable amount will have no problems…
Focusing your insurance practice on a narrow target market makes you the go-to person for members of your niche. Specializing can improve the quality of…
Geodemographics, the new category of software tool that can identify the financial habits of residents within a given neighbourhood, can help you build your business.…
Peter Merrick compiles a huge amount of information for advisors who are helping older clients. Don’t be daunted by the heft of this volume, which…
Email is an incredible tool. Learn how to use it effectively
It can be exciting to get caught up in the holiday hustle and bustle of shopping, events, parties and family obligations. But it’s not unusual…
Since the feds created legislation allowing small and medium-sized businesses to create pooled registered pension plans, few provinces — and firms — have moved to…
Defined-benefit pension plans were once viewed as ironclad. But with such certainties on the wane, clients need their financial advisors to provide updated advice on…
Buying an annuity provides a way to turn assets into an income stream for your client. With workplace pension plans falling in stature, annuities are…
The nature of retirement is changing drastically, and many people are calling on the federal government to make critical changes to the Canada Pension Plan…
While investment-grade bonds won’t appreciate in an economic climate in which interest rates are expected to rise, correctly chosen bonds can help your clients build…
Exchange-traded funds allow you to make use of geographical, industry/sector and specialty diversification, as well as a balance of equities and fixed-income, when building retirement…
For some clients, an RRSP loan strategy can be an efficient retirement-saving plan. It is key, however, that clients reinvest tax refunds and repay their…
Making an efficient shift from accumulation to income calls for astute planning, especially for clients whose retirement income may threaten their OAS eligibility. For these…
As life expectancies lengthen, the need for long-term care insurance increases. But the clients who need it most may have difficulty paying the premiums —…
Insurers either have ceased providing GMWBs or have made significant adjustments to product structures, features or sales and distribution restrictions. But there are some unique…
Ecuador, Panama and Malaysia top the list of foreign retirement destinations based on research by a U.S. firm. Retirees can live cheaply while enjoying amenities…
Longer, healthier lives are leading to more late-life marriages. But the financial implications can devastate families
Get ready for a whole new world of advising. With life expectancies now commonly stretching well into the 90s, financial advisors need to update their…
Many boomers are reluctant to stop working. Increasingly, fewer have to
More and more boomer clients are vowing to avoid the traditional decision to downsize out of their longtime home