The volatility that rocked the markets from late July through the end of August could well be the start of a longer-term trend. When there is no rising tide, clients need to rely on experienced security selection teams to raise their fortunes.
A little volatility can be a good thing if you’re an active manager. Q2 saw 68% of active managers beat the index, according to the Russell Active Manager report. That’s a massive improvement from just 39% in Q1. The bar was set pretty low, as the S&P/TSX Composite Index declined 5.2% in Q2, dragged lower […]
When volatility spikes, even your best clients are bound to get a little nervous. But that’s why they engaged your services in the first place, not to mention those of the professional money managers you deal with. Over the past decade, managed solutions, or wraps, have proven popular with financial advisors because they allow a […]
Is the sky falling? Or is it just an acorn hitting investors on the head? I have been revisiting children’s fairy tales in recent months – I am blessed with four grandchildren and they are avid listeners at bedtime. Chicken Little is a favorite. You may remember the story. A young chick believes that the […]
AGF Investments has announced the addition of seven investment management teams to its Harmony program. AGF Investments North American Equity Team, C.S. McKee, and Eagle Boston Investment Management have been added to the Harmony U.S. Equity Pool, replacing Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Rainier Investment Management, and Turner Investment Partners. INTECH Investment Management and Systematic Financial […]
The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) has published guidance for the preparation, review and use of marketing materials by portfolio managers. Staff Notice 31-325 is based on a compliance review of the marketing practices employed by 50 portfolio managers. Common deficiencies included exaggerated or unsubstantiated claims, improper use of benchmarks, and the preparation and use of […]
Earlier this year, the CFA Institute’s annual conference in Edinburgh, Scotland featured two speakers addressing two very different, but ultimately related types of risk. Unrewarding risks The most critical component of portfolio risk management is identifying and eliminating unrewarding risk, according to Guy Stern, investment director and head of multi-asset fund management at Standard Life […]
Mary Jane McQuillen has been described as a rock star in the world of socially responsible investing. The New York City-based fund manager heads up the ESG (environmental, social and governance) division of Clearbridge Advisors, which was recently appointed to sub-advise the Meritas U.S. Equity Fund. McQuillen was in Victoria this week, speaking at the […]
In a world where volatility is the new normal, getting the right asset mix and sector-rotation can make the difference between capital gain and loss. “You have got to be an active manager,” said John Zechner, chair and CEO of J. Zechner Associates Inc., speaking at the CIFPs 9th Annual National Conference-2011, in Ottawa. “Markets […]
Socially responsible assets in Canada dropped roughly 8%, to $531 billion as of June 30, 2010, compared with $579 billion in 2008, according to the biennial SRI review, released today by the Social Investment Organization. However, SRI still represents about one-fifth of total Canadian assets under management, about the same level as 2008. “SRI has […]