Industry News

Desjardins set to buy Western Financial

Desjardins Financial Group has struck a deal to acquire Western Financial Group, the largest insurance and financial services retailer in Western Canada, for $443 million. Desjardins is paying a 70% premium to Western Financial’s closing share price on the TSX on December 22, 2010. “This transaction will allow us to accelerate our business development in […]

By Steven Lamb |December 29, 2010

1 min read

The risks, rewards of outsourcing

For over ten years now, the Financial Advisors Brokerage (FAB) Group has looked outward for support services like IT or advertising, and even for some practices—like tax and legal services—more closely tied to their core business.

By Terri Goveia |December 23, 2010

8 min read

Countdown is on for charitable gifts

The countdown has begun. The CRA website is reminding taxpayers that ‘charitable donations must be made by December 31, 2010 in order to qualify for a tax credit in the 2010 tax year.’ For advisors this may be a good time to discuss charitable giving with their clients. “Every time there’s a tax situation, there’s […]

By Vikram Barhat |December 22, 2010

3 min read

VenGrowth’s abandoned merger leaves GrowthWorks hopeful

VenGrowth is still on the market. At a fairness hearing last Friday in Toronto both the court and the Ontario Securities Commission rejected Covington Fund’s bid for the firm, largely due to poor disclosure practices, forcing the boards of both companies to terminate the acquisition agreement. The decision is a boon for David Levi, president […]

By Sheila Avari |December 22, 2010

3 min read