Investments

Fewer features, higher fees future for GMWBs: Manulife Fallback Image Decorative pattern

Products

Fewer features, higher fees future for GMWBs: Manulife

While guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit funds have been a huge hit in the Canadian marketplace, at least one company isn’t looking to gain shelf space anytime soon. “We’re not excited about gaining market share until the product is more compatible with where we’re headed,” Manulife senior executive vice-present and chief financial officer Peter Rubenovitch told […]

By Scot Blythe |March 5, 2009

3 min read

Road to ruin Fallback Image Decorative pattern

Market Insights

Road to ruin

While they’ve been around for just over two years, Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit (GMWB) segregated funds have made a significant impact on the Canadian marketplace. The introduction of an investment vehicle that offers the opportunity to participate in investment markets while guaranteeing a stream of income for life has been so attractive to the marketplace […]

By Jason M. Pereira |March 1, 2009

5 min read

Power of indexation Fallback Image Decorative pattern

Market Insights

Power of indexation

The battle still rages between those who propose to “be” the market and those who prefer to “beat” it. But thanks to a deluge of new options, passive and active products can now co-exist in portfolios. And with the recent advent of index mutual funds designed specifi cally for the MFDA channel, those advisors now […]

By Preet Banerjee |March 1, 2009

7 min read

All over for stocks? Not yet Fallback Image Decorative pattern

Market Insights

All over for stocks? Not yet

Equities rolled off a cliff last year, for the second time in a decade. And yet, stocks are still expected to deliver the best returns over the long haul — albeit muted returns compared to the blistering 1990s. That’s the conclusion of Elroy Dimson, Paul Marsh and Mike Staunton, researchers at the London School of […]

By Scot Blythe |February 19, 2009

3 min read