Industry

Decorative pattern

Small business owners satisfied, survey reveals

Despite long hours and high stress, the majority of Canada’s small business owners are content with their decision to go it alone. A survey conducted for American Express reveals that 62% of small business owners aren’t bothered by the hard work, and 84% say they wouldn’t think twice about doing it all over again. The […]

By Doug Watt |December 20, 2005

3 min read

Decorative pattern

IA seen merging Clarington funds

The Industrial Alliance takeover of Clarington Funds is set to close after Christmas, giving shareholders some extra cash to pay down their holiday spending. But what lies in store for some Clarington sub-advisors may not be quite so pleasant, according to one industry observer. “We can expect to see fund mergers, terminations and manager changes […]

By Steven Lamb |December 20, 2005

3 min read

Decorative pattern

The fee debate: an advisor’s point-of-view

(December 2005) I recently sent out an e-mail requesting commission-based financial planner/advisors to respond to a very short survey. I was trying to devise a fair revenue comparison model to further my research into the transition from a commission-based practice to a fee-based one. Since I haven’t been commission-based in 10 years, I needed a […]

By Marc Lamontagne |December 19, 2005

7 min read

Decorative pattern

Briefly:

(December 23, 2005) Thirteen financial services companies made the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business magazine and La Presse annual “50 Best Employers in Canada” ranking, including five companies that cracked the list for the first time. Edward Jones was named the third best place to work in the large firm category. The investment dealer’s […]

By Staff |December 19, 2005

14 min read

Decorative pattern

More clarity needed on soft dollars

Industry participants say more transparency and greater disclosure are required on soft dollar arrangements. Securities regulators recently released a brief report on comments received in response to a best execution and soft dollar concept paper, first published in February. The comment period for the paper ended in May and 28 submissions were received. The five […]

By Doug Watt |December 19, 2005

3 min read

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Accounting firms falling short

Canada’s four largest accounting firms still have some work to do to improve audit quality and achieve consistent adherence to internal and professional standards, according to the Canadian Public Accountability Board (CPAB). “While a number of recommendations have been made to each firm, they have all made progress since we first inspected them in 2004, […]

By Steven Lamb |December 19, 2005

2 min read

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Canadians less generous than Americans, survey suggests

‘Tis the season of tax deadlines and good cheer. Charitable contributions need to be made before the end of the year if clients want to apply the credit to the income they earned in 2004. Although charitable giving tax strategies are now more commonplace than ever before — boomers are wealthier, aging and thinking about […]

By Kate McCaffery |December 16, 2005

2 min read

Decorative pattern

Markets unaffected by

With a federal election about five weeks away, investors may be trying to shield their portfolios from the effects political uncertainty can have on the financial markets. The trouble is, elections don’t seem to affect the Canadian markets, according to a study by the BMO Financial economics department. BMO economists studied historical data from the […]

By Steven Lamb |December 16, 2005

2 min read

Decorative pattern

Strong markets boost IDA firms’ earnings

The third quarter of 2005 was particularly kind to the securities industry, with profits surging across most lines of business, according to the IDA’s quarterly Securities Industry Performance report. Operating profits hit $1.1 billion for the industry as a whole, up 26% from the second quarter and a massive 74% increase from Q3 a year […]

By Steven Lamb |December 15, 2005

3 min read

Decorative pattern

Hockin calls for end to GST on fund fees

IFIC president Tom Hockin has issued a letter to his colleagues in the mutual fund industry asking for help in the campaign to scrap the GST on fund management fees. Hockin, who is retiring from IFIC next month, says the issue affects the interests of all Canadians who invest in mutual funds, and should be […]

By Doug Watt |December 15, 2005

2 min read

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