Career

Don’t be suckered by cash flow statements

It’s a question we get a lot from advisors: Can you trust the cash flow statement? The answer is no. The question usually arises after a discussion of how untrustworthy the income statement and balance sheet are. What follows is an even longer discussion about how untrustworthy the cash flow statement is.

August 1, 2011

6 min read

Industry

Have your say, Forums return to Advisor.ca

Share your thoughts, insights and opinions with others in the financial industry in our newly relaunched Forums.

By Staff |July 18, 2011

1 min read

Planning and Advice

Like it or not, change is coming

I recently attended the CIFPs annual meeting where current trends in the industry where discussed. One of the topics was the strategic move to require all CFPs to put their clients' interests first. On the surface, this seems like motherhood and apple pie. Beneath that surface, however, something far more contentious lurks.

By John J. De Goey |June 22, 2011

3 min read

Industry

Canadian Capital’s summer issue

As financial advisors you are responsible for helping business owner clients build their wealth, manage their liabilities and inform them on ways to develop and grow their businesses.

By Staff |June 10, 2011

1 min read

Specialist or generalist? Which path to success?

To specialize or to generalize? This question faces financial advisors at different stages of their careers, from getting that first customer service job after college to mid-life transitions that fulfill one’s true professional calling. There is no right or wrong answer.

4 min read

What’s up, doc? Who would you rather be?

I think doctors have a very tough job; they are overwhelmed with patients and are trying their best to keep up with demand. Imagine though if they could choose how to run their practice -- determine pricing, services, amount of clients, etc.

5 min read

Becoming the next superstar advisor

Anyone with kids knows pop star Justin Bieber was discovered via YouTube. Before long, his songs were getting millions of hits from a growing fan base and he was courted by Justin Timberlake and Usher at age 12. When I was 12, I wasn’t even courted by girls with pigtails.

5 min read

Three dollar raffle tickets

It seems a number of readers have recently either taken my points out of context or missed the point altogether. Lately, I’ve been writing about cost and why it is important to keep expenses down. People have written back and talked about the importance of planning, the randomness of returns for actively managed products and the overall quality of advice they give.

3 min read

No fiduciary standard needed in Canada

In the wake of numerous instances of financial fraud in North America, there has been increased focus on the duties and obligations owed by investment professionals to their clients. In the U.S. and elsewhere, regulators are proposing changes that would impose a fiduciary standard on those entrusted with managing investor funds.

4 min read