Planning and Advice

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Planning and Advice

Legally speaking: Avoiding liability in uncertain times (Part 1)

Part 1: Second opinion seekers. This three-part series, advice that reflects lessons learned during past economic downturns, is written to help advisors avoid risk during these turbulent times. Jim Bullock of the Peel Institute for Applied Finance is a well-known industry expert. He says complaints and lawsuits are inevitable because every human needs three things: […]

By Harold Geller |March 24, 2009

6 min read

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Planning and Advice

Out of these markets—opportunities for a ‘new’ kind of advisor

In the small city where I live, a major Canadian investment firm has opened a new office. The full-page ad in our local paper focuses on the experience of the two new “wealth advisors” at the firm and their willingness to provide a review of your portfolio. “If you are not happy with the returns […]

By Barry LaValley |March 19, 2009

5 min read

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Planning and Advice

Why branding still matters

Marlatt – Creating plans for life Barks Financial – Caring people. Sound advice. CoralLife – Discover a new view Seligman & Associates Ltd. – Knowledge. Guidance. Caring. Advisors who have previously survived tough times are often prepared for a recession or downturn. They use the time to focus and build their brand strategy. By working […]

By Fortunato Restagno, The Personal Coach |March 18, 2009

4 min read

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Planning and Advice

The risk list

It’s generally accepted that having clients invested in properly diversified portfolios reduces their exposure to downside risks. Interestingly, adhering to this course of action across all client portfolios could also reduce downside risks for an advisor’s book of business overall. To get to this point, though, it’s necessary to discuss risks with clients, provide education […]

By Kate McCaffery |March 10, 2009

6 min read

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Planning and Advice

We need patience in this impatient world

It’s hard to be patient these days. Whether you are an advisor or an investor, markets are volatile, the economic news is terrible and clocks everywhere are ticking toward retirement. Patience, and lots of it, is what we need right now. In the current context, though, being patient doesn’t mean doing nothing. I’ll come to […]

By Peter Drake |March 6, 2009

4 min read

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Planning and Advice

Taking an advice-first approach

Advisors have had brutal experiences in the marketplace, especially over the last six months. Some clients are more proactive than others when it comes to asking for advice about their portfolios. I often hear questions like, In light of the losses that I’ve taken do you think that I will still be able to retire […]

By John Page |March 2, 2009

4 min read

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Planning and Advice

A new era

The year 2008 won’t be fondly remembered— it was a cruel year that hobbled the global economy and brought governments to their knees. And it gives me no great pleasure to inform you challenging times are here to stay. Our comfortable world crashed quickly and there’s no road map for getting back to the days […]

By Mark Halpern |March 1, 2009

3 min read

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Planning and Advice

The quest

Prepare for the unexpected. That’s the lesson I grudgingly learned six years ago when my father succumbed to cancer. We had four days from firm diagnosis to his passing. It wasn’t enough time to say goodbye, let alone sort out an entire life. Thankfully my father, a project manager in the oil and gas industry […]

By Romana King |March 1, 2009

13 min read

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Planning and Advice

Shine a light

Sometimes, you have to set an example; display some solidarity; share the pain. Which is why it was gratifying to see many high-level Canadian financial services executives recently forgo their bonuses or other compensation, and do so publicly. Naturally, the cynic in me sees it as a publicity stunt. But, even still, it was the […]

By Philip Porado |March 1, 2009

2 min read

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Planning and Advice

Back to basics: A downloadable household balance sheet

A household balance sheet opens up a lot of discussion points. The economy and credit crisis have affected nearly every client. Maybe they haven’t lost their jobs but their salaries have likely been frozen at 2008 levels. Executive bonuses have been reduced — if not cut altogether — and stock options have dried up. Meanwhile, […]

By Deanne Gage |February 10, 2009

1 min read

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