Briefly:

(September 4, 2008) AGF Funds has launched a new online program designed to assist advisors in managing risk for their clients. The company has teamed up with Stephen Gresham to develop Changing Risk.

The website is the latest part of AGF’s Sound Choices Program, and provides advisors with articles, tools and templates, focusing on day-to-day business practices, building and maintaining client portfolios.

“There seems to be an unspoken understanding among financial advisors that the industry will enter a golden age as boomer retirees turn to them for assistance,” says Gresham. “But these individuals have special financial needs that are very different from the ones you may have been providing to younger clients. If you aren’t ready to fill these new needs, don’t expect to reap the rewards of the giant baby boomer wealth transfer. In fact, rather than win new business, you may actually lose old clients.”

American CEO confidence rises

(September 4, 2008) There’s a ray of hope on the horizon in the U.S., as chief executives expressed improved confidence in the future, according to Chief Executive magazine.

The August survey found CEO confidence rose 10% among the 292 executives polled, pegging the index at 92.6. That’s still not ideal, but it’s the highest sentiment reading since May of this year.

CEO confidence increased the most in two categories: investment and future confidence, which both rose by about 12 points. Just over half (52%) said they expected capital spending at their company to stay the same.

“This is the lowest level of bearish CEOs we’ve seen over the past six months,” said Edward M. Kopko, CEO and publisher of Chief Executivemagazine. “However, while the index numbers are encouraging, the market remains soft and CEOs remain pessimistic about what the future holds.”

(09/04/08)

Staff

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