Investments

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Market Insights

Once-hot maple bonds experience big declines

(April 2008) With more investors turning away from risk and investing in government bonds, one debt instrument that has fallen out of favour with investors is the maple bond. In the last six months of 2007, there were only 15 Maple issues worth $4.9 billion; that’s a 53.8% drop over the same period in 2006. […]

By Bryan Borzykowski |April 21, 2008

4 min read

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Market Insights

AIC unveils

(April 2008) AIC Ltd. is moving ahead with a new “turnaround” strategy that it hopes will quell the rising tide of redemptions and market failings that have cost the company $6.5 billion — or about 58% in assets — in the last six years. The company is promoting its new partnerships with three American-based deep-value […]

By Romana King |April 4, 2008

3 min read

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Market Insights

Federal budget keeps inflation low, productivity high

(March 2008) By now, every advisor will have determined which parts of the federal government budget apply to their practice. The majority of the headlines have focused on the 2009 introduction of the tax-free savings account, enhancements to registered education savings plans and proposals to increase flexibility in freeing up locked-in federally legislated pension funds, […]

By Peter Drake |March 24, 2008

4 min read

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Transparent alternatives wanted

(March 2008) A few years ago the thought of a hedge fund manager tipping his hand or letting investors get a glimpse inside his “black box” was laughable, the stuff of fairy tales. This secrecy was acceptable — and still is — because alternative investments, hedge funds, were more narrowly defined and available only to […]

By Kate McCaffery |March 20, 2008

4 min read

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Investors overlooking muni-bonds

(February 2008) Everyone knows that government savings bonds are a safe way to invest, but they’re not much fun when it comes to returns. So some investors who want the security of a federal or provincial bond but like a bit more kick in the return are turning to often overlooked municipal bonds. Muni-bonds are […]

By Bryan Borzykowski |February 13, 2008

5 min read

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Market Insights

The long and short of investing for retirement

(February 2008) RRSPs are a long-term issue, yet the savings season, with its often frenetic pace and abrupt deadline, can feel very much about the here and now. So how do we keep our clients focused on the long-term goal of retirement when they are being bombarded with headlines about poor near-term economic performance? It’s […]

By Peter Drake |February 8, 2008

4 min read

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Market Insights

Inflation will kill purchasing power: Graham

(January 2008) There’s no question about it — inflation is back, according to Gavin Graham, chief investment officer at Guardian Group of Funds. Speaking to a packed house at the Financial Forum Expo this past weekend, Graham’s pronouncement was not earth-shattering — former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge tackled the potential of inflation and […]

By Romana King |January 28, 2008

3 min read

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The new long-term private capital

(January 2008) With recent stock turmoil pushing BCE shares to well below the takeover price negotiated by a consortium led by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, speculation has been that Teachers’ will walk away from the deal. But Teachers’ incoming chief, Jim Leech, says simply, “I look forward to the time when Bell is out […]

By Scot Blythe |January 25, 2008

3 min read

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Market Insights

Trying times: Coping with volatility

To call this month’s markets “volatile” is a bit of an understatement — a 600-point freefall, followed by a 500-point gain, is enough to make even your best trained client a little queasy. Too often Canadians are distracted by short-term market movements, as the mainstream press runs screaming headlines. It may be time to remind […]

By Staff |January 24, 2008

3 min read

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Market Insights

CPP is key to a golden future

(January 2008) There’s no denying that saving for retirement is key, but it’s also important, maybe even more so, to talk about retirement income planning with your clients. A primary element of retirement income planning is the sources of retirement income, a major one of which is government benefits such as Canada or Quebec Pension […]

By Peter Drake |January 16, 2008

6 min read

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