Ontario’s new insurance regulator will raise the standards of transparency and conduct not only in the province, but nationally
Taking this approach can help arrest erosion in operating margins in the wealth-management business and be of benefit to clients
Many independent firms may restructure or retool their wealth-management operations to mitigate the negative impacts of the client-focused reforms
Adopting a strategy focused on technology would give a firm’s advisors greater potential to grow their businesses
Recent developments reveal that having a trusted financial advisor is critically important for those seeking wealth-management providers
Electronic wealth-management platforms could improve the prospects of small and mid-sized investment dealers
More attention needs to be paid to enhancing market efficiency by lowering costs and lightening the regulatory burden for registrants
As a new survey reveals that investors have trust their advisors, proper steps need to be taken to ensure advisors are allowed to thrive
Whether Canadian securities dealers can establish a global model of payment for research will depend on U.S. regulatory accommodation to MiFID II
Regulators need to introduce systemic changes that will control the growth of regulation, improve regulatory efficiency and reduce the regulatory burden
Existing research shows that providing investors with clear and timely information, in a format that’s proven to be effective, can only lead to better outcomes
Having both products as investment options enhances the ability of advisors to create portfolios that best meet their clients’ needs
The aging of Canada’s population raises challenging legal, regulatory and ethical questions
Ignoring the financial risks related to climate change no longer is a viable option for investment professionals
Responsible investing now accounts for a majority of assets under management in Canada
A growing body of evidence shows that responsible investments perform just as well, if not better than traditional investments
The immense impact of animal farming presents environmental, social and governance risks — as well as opportunities
Professional financial planners are uniquely positioned to help clients stay on track during periods of market volatility
The financial services sector needs to take steps to ensure the financial planning needs of the mass market consumer are served
Trust between financial planners and their clients is essential — and professional standards provide the foundation for that trust
Financial planners need to communicate the tangible impact financial planning can have on Canadians’ lives
A connection between advisors and their clients through clear communication will ensure advisors survive and succeed
Advisors should ensure they communicate consistently with their clients while clients need to keep their expectations in check
Advisors and their clients need the tools and resources to close the dangerous communication gap that exists between them
Overloading investors with information can be counterproductive
With the annual dollar limit increasing in January, there’s no reason why your clients shouldn’t take advantage of this tax-free savings and investment vehicle
Make sure to discuss tax-loss selling, tax-gain donating and RRSP strategies with clients to whom these strategies apply
Next time a client has a desire to play games with his TFSA, point out this harsh — but legally valid — punitive tax
The instalment system can be complicated, so clients need help figuring out which one of the three methods to pay their taxes makes the most…
Ontario’s new insurance regulator will raise the standards of transparency and conduct not only in the province, but nationally
Taking this approach can help arrest erosion in operating margins in the wealth-management business and be of benefit to clients
Many independent firms may restructure or retool their wealth-management operations to mitigate the negative impacts of the client-focused reforms
Adopting a strategy focused on technology would give a firm’s advisors greater potential to grow their businesses
Advisors could begin to use technology now to stay onside of the CSA’s proposed client-focused reforms when they take effect
Not only does adopting digital tools lead to happier clients, it also results in greater profitability and success for advisors
Compliance disclosure can be confusing to all parties, but there is an opportunity for advisors to provide “pain relief” and stand above their peers
By removing friction, adding convenience and changing the value proposition, you can protect your practice from the growing influence of robo-advisors
Financial planners and financial advisors need to re-evaluate retirement planning processes to ensure they resonate with their clients
Financial planners and financial advisors need to understand these individuals’ retirement challenges to gain them as clients
Investing in elite businesses that pay steady and rising dividends has proven to be a strategy that works
Financial planners and financial advisors need to understand the benefits and drawbacks of this new digital asset class
Advisors should use the proposed client-focused reforms as an opportunity to strengthen relationships with clients
Behavioural economics provides a framework for advisors to help direct clients to make decisions consistent with their long-term goals
There are key steps advisors can take now to be ahead of the game and deliver better outcomes for clients
There are various steps advisors can take to ensure a positive client experience while still being compliant
One advisor shares her journey on making the switch to a fee-based practice focused on providing client portfolios of ETFs
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