Practice

Health care insurance policies review: A checklist

(August 2006) Need some help evaluating your clients’ health care insurance? Use this checklist from the Financial Planning Practitioner’s Guide — created by the Canadian Institute of Financial Planners — to review the adequacy of existing extended health, critical illness and long-term care insurance policies, or to identify factors that should be considered when choosing […]

By Financial Planning Practitioner's Guide |August 1, 2006

3 min read

Planning and Advice

Platform predicament

(July 2006) For the better part of 20 years, Don Proteau, a Vancouver-based advisor, has been successfully building a select high-networth client base. But recently he’s failed to attract a few top prospects due to his inability to take custody of their stock and bond assets. He’s not IDA-registered, and that’s become a problem because […]

By Michael Berton |July 27, 2006

6 min read

Planning and Advice

Six reasons a prospect will choose you

(July 2006) What exactly is it that makes a prospect want to work with you? When I ask advisors this simple question, they provide me with a wide variety of answers. Many people talk about their specialized investment knowledge. Quite a few mention their years of experience. Some focus on the strength of their team […]

By Jeff Thorsteinson |July 24, 2006

5 min read

Planning and Advice

Timely template letter: Turbulent times and client statements

(July 2006) The recent turbulence in the markets will no doubt have clients concerned about their portfolios. With statement time quickly approaching this is an excellent opportunity to remind clients that short-term volatility is no reason to abandon their long-term goals. Use this template letter to touch base and help give them some perspective. Dear […]

By Staff |July 14, 2006

2 min read

Protect yourself and your business: Sound business practices for keeping accurate records

Keeping accurate records about your clients is of the utmost importance in an advisor’s practice. Client complaints are on the rise, so having proper records and documentation is the best defence if there are ever any questions about your actions. Maintaining detailed notes about your client can be of great value. If you have taken […]

4 min read

Advisor websites: Eight rules for success

(July 2006) Recently, I wrote about some of the "rules" behind making an effective e-mail newsletter. Several readers have since contacted me about whether some of these rules apply to other interactive media — in particular, websites. The simple answer: yes and no. Yes, many of the same principles of en e-mail newsletter — particularly […]

5 min read

Evaluating an early retirement package: A checklist

If one of your clients is offered an early retirement package chances are they will have a relatively short window in which to consider the offer. Help them make an informed decision by taking an organized approach to evaluating the offer. Use this checklist from the Financial Planning Practitioner’s Guide — created by the Canadian […]

2 min read

Make way for the working retiree

People nearing retirement are in for busy times, but it won't just be making exotic travel plans or sinking holes-in-one. Instead, some will be re-entering the workplace, either full-time or part-time, and even reclaiming their old offices.

3 min read

E-mail newsletters: Nine rules for success

(June 2006) Quick question: how many e-mail newsletters do you find in your inbox an average week? If you’re like most advisors, you probably receive several, some of which you subscribe to, and some which find their way into your inbox one way or another. Now, think of all those newsletters for a moment — […]

6 min read

Hit for the cycle

(June 2006) Do you have the sneaking suspicion you’re doing something not quite right. Well, it might be more than a suspicion. “What did your latest audits find firms were doing wrong?” is the question we put Karen McGuinness, compliance chief at the Mutual Fund Dealers Association. Her response: “Everything.” All the problems the self-regulatory […]

3 min read