Practice

Financial planning not investment advice wins clients

I’m willing to go out on a limb and say the clients I’ve met value a financial plan showing them step-by-step how to achieve their goals more than just investment advice. Here are two recent success stories illustrating how focusing on planning met the needs of the clients and resulted in new business.

By Mathieu Paradis |April 14, 2011

3 min read

Industry

Advisors need to be emotional shock absorbers

Contrary to popular belief, making money is not the goal of investment. Money is a currency that buys emotional gifts. These gifts could be safety, security, freedom or self esteem; unique reasons why people invest money. It is imperative, therefore, that financial advisors address and mitigate clients’ behavioral biases, says Frank Murtha, managing director, Market […]

By Vikram Barhat |April 14, 2011

3 min read

Planning and Advice

Regulation fight an uphill battle for Feds

Whatever you think about the proposal for national securities regulation, the persistence of the Federal Government is admirable. Despite opposition from Alberta and Quebec, waffling support in British Columbia and doubt about the legality of the policy itself, Ottawa has unveiled draft laws, put together a “Transition Office” to manage the process, and done their best to ensure that everyone expects that some form of national regulation is on its way.

By Brandon Barnes |April 13, 2011

5 min read

Planning and Advice

FPSC drafts changes to Code of Ethics, Practice Standards

The Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC) has issued a draft for changes to the CFP Code of Ethics and CFP Financial Planning Practice Standards and is seeking feedback from the industry and the public. Among the proposed changes is the addition of a Client First principle to the Code of Ethics. The FPSC says this […]

By Staff |April 12, 2011

1 min read

Mentoring builds better businesses, advisors

A year into her job at Rogers Group Financial, Cecilia Tsang wrote a test that would have a profound impact on her career. But it wasn’t tied to any designations or certifications. The result would help her gain entry to the group’s articling program, a lengthy mentorship opportunity.

By Terri Goveia |April 11, 2011

10 min read

Kagan leaves Macquarie

Macquarie Private Wealth has announced the departure of CEO Bruce Kagan, following “a great run” at Macquarie and its predecessor firm, Blackmont. The firm says Kagan was satisfied with the integration of Blackmont into Macquarie, and with that process completed, was moving on. Kagan has been succeeded by Earl Evans, who until now has been […]

By Staff |April 11, 2011

1 min read

Debt: Why drown to learn how to swim?

Sometimes we all need to reassess ourselves. Sometimes we all need to step back and examine where it is we are going and where we have been. In writing this column for Advisor.ca, it is probably time that I reevaluate my stance.

6 min read

Focus on money management means better advice

David LePoidevin, VP and portfolio manager at National Bank Financial in Vancouver started his career in Toronto and moved to Vancouver as his book of business began to swell. He built his business the old fashioned way: through cold calling. Being in his 20s at the time helped. Being young wasn’t a problem because he […]

9 min read

Mounting opposition to MERs

Over the years, many journalists (and only a few advisors) have lamented the comparatively high MERs charged by Canadian mutual fund companies. To date, the real alternatives for ordinary Canadians involved either “sucking it up” and doing nothing or moving toward a higher allocation in individual securities, exchange traded funds (ETFs) and / or index funds.

3 min read