Briefly:

B2B Trust is ramping up efforts to support advisors in the run up to the March 1 deadline for RRSP contributions. The lender is offering 1- and 2-year RRSP loans, both at a rate of 2.75%.

“Many advisors I’ve spoken with are convinced that RRSP investing is an important component in their clients’ overall financial plans,” says François Desjardins, president and CEO of B2B Trust. “RRSP loans, in particular, are a good way to kick-start portfolios; B2B Trust’s suite of products is designed to respond to customers’ needs, with our very competitive rates, our efficient processes, and our commitment to supporting advisors and their clients.”

To streamline the RRSP loan process, B2B has enhanced its online RRSP loan application, which provides a credit status within seconds of the application being submitted. The lender also offers an online RRSP Resource Centre where advisors can access RRSP-related product information, rates and marketing materials.

“In everything we do we aim at making the advisor’s job easier,” says Desjardins, “Our RRSP Resource Centre is just one example. The less time it takes them to find the critical information necessary to do their job, the more time they can spend helping their clients plan their financial futures.”

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AlphaPro rolls out three new active ETFs

AlphaPro Management has launched three new actively managed ETF, with mandates that take direct aim at the traditional mutual fund trust industry.

The Horizons AlphaPro Dividend ETF, Horizons AlphaPro North American Value ETF and Horizons AlphaPro North American Growth ETF all began trading today on the TSX.

The Dividend ETF is by Leon Frazer & Associates, with CEO Lyle Stein overseeing the portfolio selection process. The North American Value ETF is managed by Vito Maida of Patient Capital Management, while the North American Growth ETF is run by Stephen Rogers, vice-president and portfolio manager with JovInvestment Management.

“ETFs have a lot more to offer than indexing,” says Ken McCord, president of AlphaPro. “Lyle, Vito and Steve all have brilliant track records as stock selectors. We’re taking their unique investment styles and wrapping them up in an ETF structure that allows investors to get exposure to active management with low management fees.”

(02/10/10)

Staff

The staff of Advisor.ca have been covering news for financial advisors since 1998.