Laurie Rafter started her career when she was all of 19—an administrative assistant to the very first female licensed broker in Canada. By 24, she was a full-fledged broker, defying convention not only by being among the very few women who stepped onto the investment turf back in the early ’80s, but also one of […]
The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), an independent securities regulator in the U.S., announced a formal co-operation agreement aimed at greater exchange of information and cross-border assistance. In addition to information sharing on compliance and enforcement-related matters, IIROC and FINRA also plan to work together on […]
Canadians remain guarded about their financial wellbeing, despite a steady stream of positive news bolstering the market, according to the latest Russell Financial Health Index (RFHI) — an online calculator that gauges the overall financial health of investors on a quarterly basis. The index fell to 48.50 points from April to June 2009, down from […]
While the Bank of Canada’s Monetary Policy Report confirms the outlook for growth in 2009 and 2010 will remain broadly unchanged from its April Report, it has considerably toned down the risk of a sustained economic decline. At the time of the April Report, the Bank had projected the recession in Canada would deepen further […]
Just about everyone’s pulling their purse strings a little tighter — even the ultra-rich, many of whom are toying with abandoning the exclusivity of single family offices for the cost efficiency of the multi-family model. John Benevides, president of the U.S.-based Family Office Exchange (FOX), which serves as an independent advisor to families of exceptional […]
Heartened by a gradual summer thaw in the markets, Canadian investors emerged from their shells in June and gingerly abandoned the safety of money market funds, according to recent statistics released by the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC). Money market funds recorded net redemptions totalling $2.8 billion in June, up from $992.9 million in […]
Canadian investors remain cynical despite a steady thaw in the economy, mostly because they are still unaware of the green shoots. A Franklin Templeton survey reveals that 50% don’t even know the Toronto Stock Exchange performed well over the past five months — a period that has seen a 31% increase in the S&P/TSX Composite […]
While individual pension plans can be a sound solution for some entrepreneurs and executives, when it comes to retirement planning, one size never fits all. Mike Lynch, corporate specialist with Lynchpin Wealth and Transition Management, says IPPs tend to be somewhat oversold, but notes they aren’t optimal for a majority of Canadian small businesses that […]
If your clients are business owners, senior executives or incorporated professionals constantly disgruntled with having to shell out hefty tax dollars year after year, now’s the time to talk to them about Individual Pension Plans (IPPs). And since doctors, lawyers and other professionals could not incorporate in Ontario until about three years ago, in all […]
Providing outsourced asset management services may soon become a less lucrative proposition, according to a report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Sweeping losses to client portfolios are already resulting in equally expansive profit declines for asset managers. Average operating margins fell to 34% of net revenues at the end of 2008 — the lowest level […]