Industry

Social investors left waiting for fundamental reforms

Sustainable and social investment advocates may be feeling short-changed by last week’s G20 summit in London, despite a pledge by world leaders to set aside more than $1 trillion US in an effort to overhaul the financial system and keep the global economy from slipping into a depression. For the first time ever, six regional […]

By Doug Watt |April 7, 2009

3 min read

Whole life on the comeback trail

This downturn has proven that insurance companies are not immune to market conditions, but some of the old standby insurance products — most notably whole life — are seeing a resurgence in sales. Advisors who offer comprehensive financial plans need to find ways to generate revenue, and by many accounts, investments are not fitting the […]

By Mark Noble |April 7, 2009

5 min read

Briefly:

National Bank Securities has announced plans for a massive overhaul of its mutual fund lineup, which would result in the merger of 29 National Bank and Altamira Funds with similar investment objectives. The plan calls for the modification of three funds’ investment objectives, and includes renaming 15 funds to better reflect their investment objectives and […]

By Staff |April 6, 2009

2 min read

Clients to carry cost of harmonized tax

Ontario’s harmonized sales tax proposal seems to have created a disconnect between advisors and their investment fund providers. Ontario-based fund firms see their operating costs skyrocketing. Many advisors, however, get a tax break. But it’s the investors who’ll end up paying more. The mutual fund industry has been very vocal about adding the provincial sales […]

By Mark Noble |April 3, 2009

4 min read