Practice

Tilting the three factor model

Many advisors who use Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) often struggle in explaining how DFA products differ from various other products investors might choose. One might say DFA’s approach is essentially passive but does not use conventional cap-weighted indexes like Barclay’s or Vanguard.

By John De Goey |August 19, 2011

4 min read

Industry

Avoid exempt market risks

Anyone in this space knows that as of September 28, 2010, the sale of exempt products in Canada, with a few notable exceptions, requires registration as a dealer and for individuals, as a dealing representative.

By Stephanie A. McManus |August 19, 2011

4 min read

Industry

Advising a laid off client

Just when it looked like the trend towards layoffs had slowed, Waterloo-based Research In Motion recently announced plans to lay off 2000 employees. Some of those who received pink slips likely called their advisors to discuss finances and possibly even for a pep talk.

By Al Emid |August 16, 2011

4 min read

Planning and Advice

Kiss that fax machine goodbye

In this modern age of digital communication, VOIP, texting, smart phones and Skype, most of us in the financial industrial still have one big foot still planted blatantly in the 1960s. And no, it is not the shiny suits still worn by some insurance agents. It is the fax, first known as the facsimile transmission system (1900), telephotography (1907), the Belinograph (1925) and eventually the Magnafax Telecopier (1966)

By Kevin Cork |August 15, 2011

3 min read

Prospect for clients online

Any doubts about the power of Internet marketing have been eliminated with the recent popular uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa — dubbed the social media revolution due to its role in organizing the protests. However, before financial advisors leap into social media marketing campaigns, it is important to start with the basics.

6 min read

What should companies disclose?

It is rare that the Supreme Court of Canada gets an opportunity to comment on the securities laws of Canada, let alone offer guidance. In the case of Sharbern Holding Inc. v. Vancouver Airport Center Ltd, it has though in a big way. The concept at issue in Sharbern is "materiality" – determining what information should be disclosed to investors by issuers in offering documents. The Supreme Court’s decision clarified the test for what is "material", borrowing a test from American securities law and ultimately siding with the issuer.

4 min read

Regulators are underfunded

Nobody ever tells investors that financial industry regulation is a business, too. Unfortunately, that’s the reality many wronged investors come to realize after they get burned by lax securities enforcement or weak accounting and auditing rules. Advisors only need to follow the money to understand why there isn’t greater protection for their clients’ investments.

August 10, 2011

6 min read

It’s Your Business

Effective handling of client accounts may require outsourcing your more complex day-to-day tasks to a wide range of area experts. Many in the industry have concluded that the days of the all-in-one financial planner are numbered. This month we delve into the outsourcing-based model, and provide advice on how to develop a reliable network of […]

August 8, 2011

2 min read

Practice

Tilting the three factor model

Avoid exempt market risks

Advising a laid off client

Kiss that fax machine goodbye

Financial personality test

Be ready for the regulator

Prospect for clients online

What should companies disclose?

Regulators are underfunded

It’s Your Business