Steven Lamb

Whoops! Beware DIY account transfer costs

An advisor gained a client with a small online brokerage account. As a friendly gesture, that advisor agreed to cover the costs of bringing over the assets. This situation is probably fairly familiar to any advisor who has migrated a frustrated DIY investor into their book. In this case, there were the remnants of dot-com […]

By Steven Lamb |November 15, 2012

2 min read

Economic Indicators

Quake impact will be severe, but short-lived

Reader Alert: What do you think is the overall impact of the crisis in Japan? Vote in our poll here. The earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on Friday, March 4 have shaken global equity markets, as uncontrolled nuclear reactors sent indices lower on Tuesday. Investors are now struggling to determine what the long-term impact […]

By Steven Lamb |March 15, 2011

3 min read

Estate Planning

Business owners need succession help

Small and medium-sized business owners can make great clients. Their net worth is usually higher than average and their complex needs allow the advisor to demonstrate their expertise in tax and estate planning. If there is one area that needs special attention, however, it is succession planning. Nearly half of Canadian family business owners have […]

By Steven Lamb |March 14, 2011

3 min read

Market Insights

Long-term benefits seen in Mid-East unrest

Civil unrest continues to roll across the Middle East and North Africa, shaking investor confidence both for the impact on the Arab world and the global energy markets. The Gulf Cooperation Council has unveiled what has been dubbed “the Arab Marshall Plan” which will deliver $20 billion over ten years to Oman and Bahrain, two […]

By Steven Lamb |March 11, 2011

3 min read

Industry

Awareness helps fraud-proof your client

If you believe the mainstream press, the financial services industry is rife with fraud. While the industry may have a few bad apples, a more plausible explanation for this misconception is that fraudsters see the industry as perfect cover for their underhanded schemes. Pretending to be a financial advisor, a thief can clean out multiple […]

By Steven Lamb |March 10, 2011

2 min read

Industry

TMX deal needs closer scrutiny: Alpha

One of the leading competitors to the TMX Group says the proposed merger of the exchange with the London Stock Exchange comes as no surprise and even welcomes the news, so long as the deal is stripped of certain strategic assets. Mergers among traditional exchanges are not surprising, according to Jos Schmitt, CEO of Alpha […]

By Steven Lamb |March 8, 2011

2 min read

Industry

Bank profits to drive 2011 expansion

Coming out of the recession, Canada’s banking sector looks better than many of its global peers. Tough regulation ensured that the banks steered clear of the leverage minefield that sank some foreign competitors and 2010 profits have topped records set in 2007. This presents the sector with unprecedented opportunities for growth and expansion, according to […]

By Steven Lamb |March 7, 2011

1 min read

Economic Indicators

Best borrowers or just euro backers?

Congratulations, we’re all winners! Canada has been recognized by EuroWeek as carrying out the bond deal of the year in 2010. Who knew we were in the running? Who knew countries could win accolades for their borrowing finesse? But it’s not our overall bond-issuing prowess that has impressed the judges but specifically the placement of […]

By Steven Lamb |March 4, 2011

2 min read

Economic Indicators

It’s official: March 22 is budget day

Federal Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty has confirmed that he will table the federal budget on March 22, but he warns it won’t contain any radical spending plans. “As we transition to the next phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, measures in this budget will focus on the Harper Government’s key priority of the economy,” […]

By Steven Lamb |March 2, 2011

1 min read