Tribunal Orders Developer to Disgorge $22.2M for Hiding LP Conflict
Ontario’s securities tribunal ordered real‑estate developer Oscar Furtado to disgorge C$22.2 million (≈US$16.4 million) after he concealed a personal “lift” profit from limited‑partnership investors. Furtado raised C$42 million (≈US$31 million) from 23 investors for a Toronto land‑assembly project, then funneled a C$20.95 million (≈US$15.5 million) assignment fee to an affiliate and took C$6.4 million (≈US$4.7 million) in dividends. He also misled investors about pro‑rata returns, secured a C$16.8 million (≈US$12.4 million) “day loan,” and overstated equity to obtain an additional C$12 million (≈US$8.9 million). The tribunal imposed 10‑year market‑participation bans, barred him from director roles, and levied a C$1 million (≈US$740 k) administrative penalty.
Manulife Funds Quebec Dementia Clinic
Manulife Canada is investing CAD$1 million (≈US$740,000) over four years to launch Quebec’s first precision‑medicine clinic focused on preventing dementia before symptoms appear. Housed at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, the Douglas Cognitive Health and Prevention Clinic will serve adults...
Rising Borrowing Costs Strain Canadian Homeowners, Survey Finds
A TD survey shows Canadian homeowners are bracing for higher mortgage costs, with 56% planning to cut household spending and 64% opting for fixed‑rate renewals. Financial anxiety is widespread—67% feel uneasy about upcoming renewals—yet only 9% will start renewal talks...
New Vanguard AI Tool Aims to Scale Investment Advice
Vanguard has launched "Expert Insights," an AI‑driven add‑on to its Portfolio Analytics platform that generates real‑time, client‑ready portfolio analysis for financial advisors. The tool, currently in a pilot with a select group of advisors, uses generative AI to translate complex...
Global Operation Disrupts $45M Crypto Fraud Network
Operation Atlantic, a joint effort by U.S., U.K. and Canadian law‑enforcement agencies, dismantled a cryptocurrency fraud network worth more than $45 million. Investigators froze roughly $12 million of stolen assets and identified over 20,000 victim wallet addresses across 30+ countries. The crackdown...
Alan – Now Worth $7.8 Billion – Comes to Canada as It Accelerates Global Expansion
Digital health insurer Alan, now valued at $7.8 billion after a €100 million funding round, is accelerating its Canadian expansion. The company has secured nationwide licensing and is serving over 1,600 members from its Toronto office, with plans to open a Montreal...
International Crackdown Disrupts US$45M Crypto Fraud, Freezes $12M in Stolen Assets
Operation Atlantic, a coordinated international crackdown led by the Ontario Securities Commission and law‑enforcement partners, disrupted more than $45 million in cryptocurrency fraud and froze roughly $12 million of stolen assets. The effort targeted approval‑phishing schemes that trick users into authorising illicit...
Canada ETF Inflows Hit $19.1BN in March as Investors Leaned Into Equities
Canadian exchange‑traded funds attracted roughly $14.1 billion USD in net new money during March, extending a multi‑month inflow streak despite a 4.9% drop in the S&P/TSX and a 5.2% decline in the S&P 500. Equity ETFs led the flow, pulling in about...
Markets Look Past US-Iran Tensions with Inflation, Bank Profits in Focus
U.S. equity futures were flat as investors weighed renewed U.S.-Iran tensions, but broader market forces kept activity elevated. Traders await a CPI report expected to show a headline inflation spike, while Wall Street’s biggest banks are positioned for record equity‑trading...
Young Athletes Face New Financial Realities in the NIL Era, Says Merrill’s Whittaker
Nearly all athletes aged 18‑24 are now earning from name, image and likeness (NIL) deals, with Merrill research showing 96% have or expect such contracts. Gordon Whittaker of Merrill Wealth Management warns that this early cash flow often arrives before...
Asset Allocation Still Dominates Outcomes as Investors Navigate New Inflation Era, Says William Blair
William Blair’s new asset‑allocation paper reaffirms that portfolio structure, not security selection, accounts for more than 90% of long‑term return differences. The firm highlights a shift toward a higher‑inflation environment that is eroding the historic inverse relationship between stocks and...
Bill C-15 Raises Capital Gains Exemption to $1.25 Million, Blocks Corporate-Controlled Mutual Fund Corporations and Launches Stablecoin Regulation
Bill C‑15, the Budget 2025 Implementation Act, received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026, overhauling Canada’s financial‑services framework. It raises the lifetime capital‑gains exemption to $1.25 million and expands the exemption for cooperative and employee‑ownership business sales. The legislation bans corporate‑controlled mutual‑fund corporations, grants...
CIRO Puts Rulebook Harmonization, Complaint Timelines and Account Transfers at the Top of Its Final-Year Agenda
The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) unveiled its fiscal 2027 agenda, the final year of its 2025‑2027 Strategic Plan. The regulator will prioritize completing a single, harmonized rulebook that merges investment‑dealer and mutual‑fund‑dealer requirements, while also finalizing advisor‑compensation and dual‑registration...
Advisors Agree that Fine Wine Investment Is Poised for Historic Surge
US wealth managers are rapidly moving fine wine into core client portfolios, with 97% expressing bullish sentiment. After a multi‑year correction that erased roughly 30% of values from the 2022 peak, the market has begun to rebound, driven by improved...
Canada Arms FINTRAC with $30 Million Penalties and a New Public Disclosure Rule
Canada’s Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act (Bill C‑12) rewrites the AML/CTF regime, giving FINTRAC authority to levy penalties up to $30 million or 3 % of an entity’s global revenue. The reform makes compliance agreements mandatory for any prescribed violation...
Two Thirds of AI Users Already Take Money Advice From Chatbots
A recent Intuit Credit Karma poll shows that 66% of Americans who use generative AI have asked it for financial advice, with 85% acting on the recommendations. Usage spikes among millennials and Gen Z, where 82% turn to AI for...
Manulife Wealth Appoints New President and CEO
Manulife Wealth & Asset Management announced a reshuffle of its Canadian leadership, appointing Brett Marchand as president and CEO of Manulife Wealth and naming Erica Hall as interim head of Canada Retirement. Marchand, a 30‑year veteran of the firm, succeeds Richard McIntyre and...
Are Canadians Ready for Gas at $2 a Litre and Its Hit to Growth and Risk Assets?
Gasoline prices in Canada have surged above $2 CAD per litre (≈$1.48 USD), the highest level in four years, as global crude climbs to about $110.64 USD per barrel. The spike is eroding household disposable income, especially for debt‑laden Canadians, and pushing businesses...
Ceasefire Announced: Oil Below $100, US Market Futures up Sharply
A surprise two‑week cease‑fire between the United States and Iran caused oil prices to plunge below $100 per barrel, with Brent falling about 13% and U.S. benchmarks mirroring the drop. The sharp decline sparked a risk‑on rally, lifting S&P 500 and...
Ontario’s Prosperity Gap Widens as US Neighbours Pull Further Ahead, Report Reveals
A new Fraser Institute report shows Ontario’s GDP per capita lagged far behind its Great Lakes neighbours in 2024, registering roughly $55,000 USD per person – the second‑lowest among the eight U.S. states and Quebec examined. New York topped the region...
SEC Enforcement Haul Hits $17.9B as Agency Sharpens Focus on Retail Investor Protection
The SEC reported a record $17.9 billion in enforcement remedies for fiscal 2025, driven by $10.8 billion in disgorgement and $7.2 billion in civil penalties. Retail investor protection topped the agenda, with two‑thirds of cases naming individual defendants and a 27 % rise in...
Ontario Court Holds Advisor Liable After False Crypto Promise Costs Client
An Ontario Superior Court ruled that senior financial advisor Michael Santonato is personally liable for a client’s lost cryptocurrency investment. The court awarded Bushra Heland $152,086.41 after finding Santonato fraudulently promised stop‑loss protection that could not be implemented. The judgment...
Oil Outage Labelled ‘Biggest in History’ Sends Prices and Nerves Higher
Six million barrels per day have gone offline as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, creating the biggest oil outage in modern history. The shutdown has cut roughly 20% of global supply, pushing Brent to about $109 and WTI to...
War Adds ‘Uncertainty Premium’ to Canadian Mortgages as Fixed Rates Jump
A Middle‑East conflict has pushed Canadian bond yields higher, adding an "uncertainty premium" to fixed‑rate mortgages. In three weeks, three‑ and five‑year rates jumped about 0.5 percentage points, taking the five‑year average to roughly 4.95%. About 1.4 million mortgages—23% of the...
Can Big Tech’s Thirsty AI Data Centres Still Be a Safe Bet?
Investors are demanding greater transparency on water and energy use from AI‑focused data centres operated by Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Meta, after several multibillion‑dollar projects were halted amid community opposition. North American facilities consumed nearly one trillion litres of water...
Frozen Housing Market Squeezes First-Time Buyers as Canadians Stay Put
A March 2026 CPA Canada survey shows the housing market is becoming increasingly stagnant, with 55% of owners planning to stay put, limiting turnover for first‑time buyers. Affordability concerns are rising, as 46% say homeownership is getting harder and many...
Oil Surge Widens Provincial Divide as Deficits and Debt Climb, BMO’s Kavcic Warns
Canada’s provinces face a combined fiscal deficit of roughly $34.5 bn USD (1.4% of GDP) in 2026/27, even as higher oil prices lift revenue prospects for Alberta and Saskatchewan by about $14.8 bn USD. The oil‑driven boost could push those provinces back...
Could Canada Join the EU? Most Canadians Would Not Rule It Out
A Spark Advocacy poll shows roughly half of Canadians consider EU membership worth exploring, while only 17% outright reject the idea. France’s foreign minister hinted Canada could become a future EU candidate, signaling diplomatic openness. The poll reflects growing curiosity...
Why Private Equity Wants to Invest in Wealth Managers
Private‑equity firms poured $20.89 billion into wealth‑management companies across the US, Canada and Europe in 2024, underscoring a booming appetite for the sector. Wellington‑Altus CEO Shaun Hauser attributes the surge to recurring, market‑linked revenue, minimal capital expenditures and scalable cost structures....
Gold-Fuelled Import Surge Widens Canada’s Trade Gap to $5.7 Billion
Canada’s merchandise trade deficit widened to a record $5.7 bn CAD (about $4.2 bn USD) in February 2026, driven largely by a 45.6% jump in gold imports. Imports rose 8.4% to $72.1 bn CAD (~$52.6 bn USD) while exports grew 6.4% to $66.3 bn CAD...
Regulators Draw Tight Limits Around Prediction Market Event Contracts
Canadian regulators CSA and CIRO have confined prediction‑market event contracts to a narrow framework, authorizing only two investment dealers to offer them. The approved contracts fall into three categories—economic, environmental and financial indicators—and must have a maturity of at least...
Once‑dominant Toy Chain Gambles on a Quick Sale to Outpace Mounting Claims
Toys “R” Us Canada, under creditor protection since February, has secured court approval to solicit bids for a sale or investment, with a timeline that targets bids in May, a buyer selection in June and a likely closing in July. The...
The Conflict Is Disrupting More than Just Energy Flows, What Do Investors Need to Watch For?
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is choking the flow of more than 20% of global oil, 25% of LNG and a suite of critical industrial inputs such as phosphate fertilizer, sulfur and urea. These constraints are creating a...
How Long Can the Bank of Canada Look Through a US$100 Oil Shock?
BMO projects Canadian inflation edging just above 3% in April as oil prices breach $100 per barrel, yet the Bank of Canada keeps its policy rate steady at 2.25%. The governing council said it will "look through" the temporary energy...
Tribunal Restricts Emerge Canada Expert Testimony in Fund Transfer Case
The Ontario Securities Commission sued Emerge Canada Inc. for allegedly diverting investor funds into its own and U.S. affiliate accounts, breaching fiduciary duties and internal‑control standards. A Capital Markets Tribunal hearing on March 23, 2026, considered the firm’s request to call three...
DIY Investors Increasingly Seek Human Advisors as Portfolios Grow: JD Power
JD Power's Canada Investor Satisfaction Study shows that 47% of affluent DIY investors with at least CAD 250,000 (≈US $185,000) plan to work with a human financial advisor within a year, especially those with children. Fintech platforms like Wealthsimple still lead on innovation...
TD Rolls Out Easy Trade App to Lower Barriers for New Self-Directed Investors
TD Bank has launched the Easy Trade mobile app to attract first‑time investors in Canada. The platform eliminates traditional barriers by offering zero account minimums, no monthly fees, and a generous allotment of commission‑free trades—50 free stock trades per year...
WP Award Nominees Share the Alts Strategies that Earned Them Their Honours
The Wealth Professional (WP) Awards have nominated three top advisors—Krissy Morrison, John De Goey, and Scott Starratt—for the Advisor of the Year – Alternative Investments honor. Each explains how they integrate private real estate, private equity and other alternative strategies to...
Is BMO Bank Stock Worth Your Clients’ Money?
Bank of Montreal (BMO) remains a core Canadian banking stock, with a market capitalization of roughly $96 billion USD and a trailing twelve‑month P/E of 15.4, suggesting relative undervaluation. The bank reported fiscal 2025 net income of about $6.4 billion USD and Q1 2026...
Is National Bank of Canada Stock a Worthy Investment for Your Clients?
National Bank of Canada (TSX:NA) now commands a market capitalization of roughly US$51 billion, a modest 0.13% rise from the previous year after a 54% surge in 2025. The stock trades at a price‑to‑book ratio of 2.04 and a price‑to‑earnings multiple...
Client Who Aided Fraud Cannot Recover $240,000 in Crypto: Court
The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal ruled that cryptocurrency broker HoneyBadger Enterprises Ltd. is entitled to the full $200,000 CAD (≈$148,000 USD) disputed loss after fraud victim Norman Bue gave scammers remote access to his computer. The lower court had split liability, but...
Energy Shock Masks Deeper Risks as Markets Misread Outlook: Desjardins
Desjardins warns that investors are fixated on energy‑driven inflation while underestimating deeper growth risks. Rising energy costs are benefitting exporters but straining import‑dependent economies, creating a split in global performance. Markets are pricing inflation aggressively but may be misreading the...
BC Crypto Director Settles Fraud Case for $1M Penalty
A British Columbia crypto platform director, Michael Ongun Gokturk, settled enforcement proceedings with the BC Securities Commission by agreeing to pay a $1 million penalty, the regulator’s maximum fine for such misconduct. The Einstein entities he directed operated a fraudulent trading...
Guardian CEO Shares Plans for Advisor Channel After Desjardins Deal Closes
Guardian Capital Group completed a $1.67 billion take‑private transaction with Desjardins, becoming part of Desjardins Global Asset Management. CEO George Mavroudis, now also president of Desjardins’ asset‑management arm, outlined a plan to accelerate growth in the advisor channel, emphasizing long‑term product...
TD Slashes 2026 Housing Forecast as Ontario, BC Face Sharper Pain
TD Economics has sharply revised its Canadian housing outlook, now projecting a 1.8% year‑over‑year decline in national home sales and a 0.3% drop in average prices for 2026, reversing its previous bullish forecasts. The downgrade is most severe in Ontario,...
Emerging Markets Optimism Hits Record High, but Geopolitical Risks Temper Outlook
HSBC’s latest Emerging Markets Sentiment Survey shows optimism reaching a record high, with 68% of investors bullish on EM assets over the next three months, up from 63% previously. The survey recorded zero bearish responses, marking the 14th consecutive reading...
Ontario Budget Targets Affordability as Majority of Canadians Say Housing Falls Short
Ontario’s 2026 budget rolls out expanded HST relief, wiping out the provincial portion of the tax for new homes priced up to $1 million CAD (about $740,000 USD) and offering partial rebates beyond that level. The measure could shave six‑figure amounts...
As Long-Term Bonds Fail to Protect Again, Where Can Investors Find Safety?
Manulife Investment Management’s CIO Nathan Thooft warns that long‑duration U.S. Treasury bonds have again failed to act as a hedge, as equities and bonds moved together amid the US‑Israeli conflict and rising inflation. He argues that the positive equity‑bond correlation,...
The Top 7 Questions Advisor Coaches Use to Help You (and Why They Change Everything)
Top advisor coaches use a seven‑question framework to unlock growth, clarity, and accountability for financial advisors. The questions surface unexpected wins, eliminate low‑impact tasks, and challenge comfort zones while addressing bottlenecks, over‑delivery, and personal development. Each prompt includes actionable homework...
Estate Planning Enters a New Era as Ultra-Wealthy Families Seek Deeper Advisory Support
Estate planning for ultra‑high‑net‑worth families is undergoing a fundamental shift as advisors expand beyond pure investment management to integrated legacy, governance, and cross‑border services. The global UHNW cohort now tops 510,000 individuals, holding roughly $59.8 trillion, driving demand for more sophisticated,...
