(June 27, 2005) The latest task force assembled to tackle issues surrounding securities regulation has a $7 million budget and a blue-ribbon panel of securities lawyers, academics and industry professionals. At the IDA conference in Banff, Alberta on Monday morning, president and CEO Joe Oliver took the opportunity in addressing conference delegates to announce the […]
(June 23, 2005) Your next meeting would probably be a very good time to start making information security a “talking point” with clients. Security breaches and attacks are on the rise at financial institutions — both in Canada and abroad — and human error is expected to be the number one cause of problems in […]
(June 17, 2005) The future looks bright for life insurance companies in Canada, but several smaller players could be facing another wave of consolidation in the coming years, says Standard & Poor’s. In a presentation to analysts and managers in Toronto on Thursday, S&P directors discussed their outlook for the Canadian life insurance and banking […]
(June 13, 2005) Insurance company sales processes are notoriously behind the times relative to developments in the mutual fund industry. Where mutual fund companies regularly process transactions electronically, many insurance producers routinely file paper-based applications for their clients. Although this part of the industry can be highly resistant to change, managing general agencies (MGAs) are […]
(June 10, 2005) Managing general agencies, by their own admission, are an incredibly splintered group. To the outside observer, the business model MGAs have created for themselves appears competitive to the point of dysfunction. Cost downloading and increased pricing pressures from the insurance carriers however could be the catalyst needed to create unity and cooperation […]
(June 6, 2005) The last-minute cramming is over for those taking CFA exams. More than 77,000 people around the world challenged one of the three different levels of the Chartered Financial Analyst program this past weekend. The six-hour exam tests four major topic areas including ethical and professional standards, tools and inputs for investment valuation […]
(June 2005) Most advisors now are aware, at least, that privacy and the way they collect and protect personal client information is covered by legislation like the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). Those who understand the rules however say there are still quite a few inconsistencies and “holes you could drive a […]
(June 1, 2005) Most advisors now are aware, at least, that privacy and the way they collect and protect personal client information is covered by legislation like the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). Those who understand the rules however say there are still quite a few inconsistencies and “holes you could drive […]
(May 30, 2005) Although investing in gold is a highly-profitable endeavor for some, it remains a complete mystery to many investors. Adding to the confusion for would-be gold bugs is the way gold company shares behave. The sector isn’t delivering much in the way of performance, despite the fact bullion prices appear to be holding […]
(May 24, 2005) A new drug company survey reveals a number of interesting attitudes and opinions Canadians have about their public and private healthcare plans. The report will likely be most interesting to plan administrators who are trying to strike a fine balance of costs and coverage, but advisors could also benefit from some of […]