Briefly:

(August 14, 2006) Seneca College has officially launched its training centre for financial advisors, teaming up with several insurance and mutual fund companies.

Like the general population, the advisory industry is graying, but the number of young people entering the profession has been lagging, especially on the insurance side.

“Demand from the insurance and mutual fund industries created this program,” says Sam Albanese, insurance industry director for Seneca’s Centre for Financial Services. “They told us they need employees who are well-trained in all aspects of selling and marketing their products. We have Canada’s leading insurance and mutual fund providers partnering with us to design the curriculum.”

The program will teach students the fundamentals of insurance, savings and investment, retirement planning, and personal, business and estate planning. Students will also be trained in practice management, with a focus on communications and marketing skills.

Among its partners, Seneca College will draw on support from Advocis, AIG Life of Canada, Desjardins Financial Security, Empire Life, Equitable Life of Canada, Manulife Financial, Standard Life and Transamerica Life Canada.

Investors Group launches new China fund, class

(August 14, 2006) Investors Group has announced the launch of a new fund focused on the exploding Chinese economy. The Greater China Fund has received regulatory approval and is also available in a corporate class version.

The fund will invest in companies listed on the Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Chinese stock exchanges, with Tim Leung as lead manager.

Based out of Hong Kong, Leung is already the lead manager of the Investors Pacific International Fund and Investors Pan Asian Growth Fund.

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(08/14/06)

Staff

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