Deb Abbey is formerly the CEO of the Responsible Investment Association (RIA). She is a pioneer in the responsible investment (RI) industry in Canada, creating the first investment-management firm to focus exclusively on RI.
Deb Abbey is formerly the CEO of the Responsible Investment Association (RIA). She is a pioneer in the responsible investment (RI) industry in Canada, creating the first investment-management firm to focus exclusively on RI.
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
You can play an active role in ensuring company executives and directors are working in the best interests of their shareholders
Canada’s younger generation is placing an emphasis on responsible investments that make a difference and produce long-term value
Market forces strengthening international policy commitments toward a renewable, low-carbon future
Opportunity continues to grow for responsible investors as companies strive to improve their ESG performance and advocate for effective climate change policies
Collaborative shareholder engagement that RI firms have initiated continues to fuel initiatives to mitigate climate change and provide opportunities for investors
As the need for food is only going to increase, there are plenty of investment opportunities for long-term investors concerned about food security
New study reveals you can help clients achieve competitive returns, reduce downside risk and make a difference through RI mutual funds
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
Vincent Beaulieu of Fiera Capital discusses his firm’s approach to ESG analysis
Firms that deliver on digital documentation and disclosure will reduce audit risk
Tech helps preserve product choice
Why segmenting product shelves into peer groups can help meet regulatory challenges
Reducing product offerings for the sake of KYP is unlikely to serve the investor’s best interest
Don’t fall for clients’ demands for unsuitable investments
Understand how a settlement can unexpectedly affect you
Three questions to ask to protect yourself and your business
Regulators measure their success based in part on how many enforcement matters they open and prosecute
Considerations include a potential hike to the capital gains inclusion rate
Without a strategy, clients with large plans could be heavily taxed on payments
Consultation ends on Sept. 30
Get ready for an OAS index adjustment, a one-time payment for “older” seniors and an extra 10% for seniors over 75
RIA CEO reflects on developments and urges advisors to start conversations
How three factors are contributing to rising concerns about greenwashing in the investment industry
How stewardship, impact measurement and net zero are shaping the RI space
Environmental and social issues are expected to dominate proxy season, and ESG disclosure standards are on the way
The CFRs are really about formalizing and documenting processes to prove they’re followed
The advent of the ETF option offers investors a liquid and safer way to get exposure
It’s the underlying holdings that are important — not the structure of the investment
Make sure you’re getting the most out of your trades
Help clients name a trusted contact person
Transparency helps clients better understand the advisory relationship
Advisors must “put the client’s interest first” when making a recommendation
New KYP requirements put the spotlight on firm and advisor product knowledge
Help clients identify companies with meaningful purpose
The increase in ESG reporting hasn’t been accompanied by improvements to society and the environment
The communities most affected by changing climatic conditions are the least likely to be invited to participate in discussions
Black, Indigenous and women of colour have been “leaning in” most of their lives
A portfolio manager must have the discipline to stick to a process over time, especially during a crisis or a bear market
Columnist Mary Hagerman shares one of her top holdings and explains how she’s used it to donate to charity
ETFs have made geographic diversification much easier for portfolio managers
Clients with short time horizons may feel that indexed investing isn’t for them — but it can still work under the right conditions
Research points to continued commitment to saving
The industry supports legislative changes made by the provinces, but there is still work to be done
Improving the CSA makes more sense than trying to create another national regulator
New regulations will permanently reshape the advisor-client relationship
Financial planning is changing amid digitization
We need to focus on ensuring all Canadians have access to sound financial advice
Financial planners must embrace the opportunity to think beyond the current communities they serve
Advisors can offer a personalized experience through deeper client engagement
The CSA is expected to propose new cost reporting for investors
Extensive oversight is needed for integrated EMD and IC/PM business models
Without a detailed fiscal plan, program spending and budget deficits may exceed the current projections
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
A new regulatory framework, years in the making, is an opportunity for Ontario to be a model for other provinces
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
Financial planners and advisors should be aware that the act may go beyond title protection
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
Far from replacing interaction with real people, technology strengthens the financial advisor’s client service
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
Now is the time to adopt a concerted cloud migration strategy because the security challenges associated with this technology will be on our radar screens…
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
You can play an active role in ensuring company executives and directors are working in the best interests of their shareholders
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
Data show that investors routinely receive, or are at risk of receiving, seriously bad disclosure from reporting issuers more than a quarter of the time
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
Paying fees for financial advice separately from those of financial products would result in price competition and better advice