Bond ETFs Take on Expanded Role as BlackRock Report Highlights Shift in Portfolio Construction
BlackRock’s new report declares bond ETFs no longer peripheral but central to modern portfolio construction. Higher global yields and expanding alternative assets are prompting investors to treat fixed‑income ETFs as income anchors, liquidity engines, and stabilizers. Global bond‑ETF assets have topped $3 trillion, with institutional and wealth inflows accelerating. The study also notes rising cash balances of about $12 trillion and growing interest in active bond‑ETF strategies as portfolios become more complex.
Carney Signals Fiscal Upside as New Data Shows Canadians Split on His Record
Prime Minister Mark Carney is previewing a stronger fiscal picture ahead of the spring economic update, noting that the deficit for the first 11 months of the fiscal year came in at $25.5 billion CAD (about $18.9 billion USD), well below the...
Canada Prepared to Launch CUSMA Review as Washington Demands Concessions
Canada’s new U.S. ambassador, Mark Wiseman, told parliament that Ottawa is ready to launch formal CUSMA review talks with its North American partners. He framed the review as a chance to calm market volatility caused by recent U.S. trade moves....
Nature Investments Could Unlock Billions for Canada While Boosting Environmental Resilience
A new Canada Nature Advantage report argues that protecting forests, farmland and waterways can generate sizable economic returns. It estimates that regenerative practices on the Prairies could deliver roughly $480 million USD in net gains for farmers, while public benefits across...
Sustainable Investing Gains Traction in Canada, but Knowledge Gaps Cloud Energy Transition
Mackenzie Investments’ seventh annual Earth Day study shows sustainable investing in Canada rising to 37% of investors, up from 33% a year earlier and nearly double the 2023 level. While interest in the energy transition is strong—61% see it as...
BlackRock Flags AI, Energy Shocks and Diversification as Defining Forces for 2026 Markets
BlackRock’s Spring 2026 Investment Directions report warns that persistent inflation, geopolitical shocks and rapid AI expansion will shape market dynamics, but it still sees resilient U.S. corporate earnings. The firm recommends a constructive stance on risk assets, favoring large‑cap growth stocks...
Canada’s New Space Race Aims to Cut US Reliance and Unlock $40 Billion
Canada unveiled the Canadian Space Launch Act (C‑28), granting the government authority to regulate commercial launches and re‑entries from Canadian soil, ending its status as the only G7 nation without domestic launch capability. The legislation is paired with a $200 million...
US Class Action Raises Risk for RBC and US Banks
A US$12 bn class action alleging that major banks, including Royal Bank of Canada, kept interest rates on municipal variable‑rate demand obligations (VRDOs) artificially high will move forward after the Supreme Court declined to intervene. The lawsuit, certified as a nationwide...
Top Portfolio Management Software and Fintech Providers in Canada | 5-Star Wealth Tech Providers
WealthTech Canada’s 5‑Star report highlights providers that are reshaping advisor productivity through automation, explainable AI and Canadian‑specific compliance. Harmony, a comprehensive portfolio‑management system, delivers a single source of truth by consolidating multi‑custodian data, cutting reconciliation time and scaling operations for nearly...
Canadian Energy Sector Outlook Brightens as Growth Ambitions Accelerate
The ATB Cormark Capital Markets spring 2026 survey shows a markedly brighter outlook for Canada’s energy sector. Ninety‑five percent of exploration and production firms expect output to rise, with oil and gas producers targeting roughly 6% growth. Investor confidence has...
Canadian Pension Funds Pivot Away From Domestic Equities Toward Global and Private Markets
Canadian pension funds are set to trim domestic equity holdings, redirecting capital toward passive global equities and alternative assets. The Crisil Coalition Greenwich study shows 25% of institutions will significantly cut both active and passive Canadian stocks, while roughly 30%...
What Should Advisors Take Away From the Pivot in SEC Enforcement Focus?
The SEC reported a more than 20% drop in enforcement actions for fiscal year 2025, even as it highlighted $17.9 billion in monetary remedies. New leadership and extensive staff turnover have created uncertainty about whether the decline reflects a strategic shift...
Citi Rolls Out AI-Powered ‘Sky’ to Reshape Wealth Client Experience
Citi Wealth unveiled Citi Sky, an AI‑driven, always‑on digital assistant built on Google Cloud and DeepMind technologies. The platform provides real‑time market intelligence, voice and avatar interactions, and aims to augment, not replace, human advisors. Initially rolled out to U.S....
Market Slump Trims Canadian Fund Assets Despite Steady Inflows in March
Canada’s investment fund industry recorded solid inflows in March, yet a broad market slump erased those gains. Mutual fund assets slipped 3.5% to CAD 2.6 trillion (about $1.9 trillion USD), while ETFs fell 1.4% to CAD 771 billion ($564 billion USD). Net sales remained positive, with...
OSC Presses Forward with Purpose Investments ESG Greenwashing Case
The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) has charged Purpose Investments Inc. with making 19 false sales communications about how ESG factors are integrated into its funds. The regulator also alleges that the firm’s chair, CEO and Ultimate Designated Person, Som Seif,...
OSC, AMF Québec and AMF France Sign Agreement to Facilitate Cross-Listing of Equity Securities Between Canada and France
On April 16, 2026 the Ontario Securities Commission, AMF Québec and AMF France signed an agreement to streamline cross‑listing of equity securities between Canada and France. The framework creates dedicated support teams, a formal dialogue channel and shared supervisory experience...
Canadian Dealer Names New CEO, Aims at $25bn in AUA
Harbourfront Wealth Group announced Richard McIntyre as its new chief executive, effective April 20, 2026, while founder Danny Popescu shifts to Executive Chair. McIntyre, who led Manulife Wealth since 2022, brings over three decades of Canadian and international wealth‑management experience. The firm says...
Why Conflict Makes Interest Rates More Volatile, and How Advisors Can Manage
Franklin Templeton Fixed Income portfolio manager Naveed Sunderji says recent Middle‑East conflict has reignited interest‑rate volatility in Canada, pushing market expectations for Bank of Canada hikes higher. The shift follows a March peak where investors priced three 25‑basis‑point hikes in...
Former BoC Governor Puts One in Three Recession Odds on Canada
Former Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz warned that the war‑driven oil shock gives Canada roughly a 30 percent chance of slipping into recession. He noted that annual GDP growth is hovering around 1 percent and that the economy is still absorbing...
Mackenzie Taps OneVest to Power Next Phase of Advisor and Client Digital Overhaul
Canadian asset manager Mackenzie Investments has selected fintech firm OneVest to power the next phase of its digital transformation. The partnership will deploy OneVest’s API‑driven operating system to launch new advisor and client portals, onboarding tools, and a mobile app...
Oil Shock Muddies Rate Path, but Loonie Seen Gaining Ground: TD Economics
TD Economics warns that renewed oil market turbulence is reviving inflation risks, keeping bond yields above pre‑crisis levels and clouding the path for central‑bank rate cuts. The firm expects the Canadian dollar to benefit from a narrowing US‑Canada rate gap,...
Pension Surplus Era Reshapes Strategy as Corporate Plans Rethink Risk and Returns
BlackRock’s 2026 U.S. corporate pension report shows funded ratios climbing to roughly 108%, up from 87% in 2018. With many plans now over‑funded, sponsors are shifting from deficit‑closing to preserving surplus and deciding how to deploy excess assets. Liability‑driven investing...
Canadians Ramp up Foreign Investing, Triggering Sharp Capital Outflow in February
Canadian investors bought a record $18.8 billion USD in foreign securities in February, the highest since March 2024, while foreign investors added only $4.6 billion USD to Canadian assets. The net capital outflow reached $14.2 billion USD, reversing the $26.2 billion USD inflow recorded in...
Oil Rising Again as US, Iran Fire on Commercial Traffic While Peace Talks Are Disputed
U.S. forces and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard exchanged fire on commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, reigniting geopolitical tension in the region. The confrontations pushed Brent crude above $95 per barrel and WTI near $90,...
AI that Gives Advisors More Time for Clients
Maximizer, a Canadian CRM provider, is hosting a May 12 webinar to show financial advisors how practical AI workflows can cut administrative burdens, support compliance, and free time for client interaction. Speakers Gabe Karkanis and Taylor Campbell will demonstrate real‑world use...
Iran Foreign Minister Makes Major Energy Announcement
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi announced that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open to all commercial vessels for the remaining days of the 10‑day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The declaration triggered an 11.2% drop in Brent crude, pulling...
“Clients Are Philanthropic” An Advisor’s Guide to DAFs
Wealth advisor Mike Flux launched his own donor‑advised fund (DAF) with a $35,000 CAD (≈$26,000 USD) in‑kind donation, using the vehicle to illustrate its low entry barrier and tax efficiency. He argues DAFs let clients pursue strategic philanthropy without the administrative...
Investment Advisor Hit with 18-Month Ban, $30,000 Fine
Canada’s self‑regulatory body CIRO has sanctioned investment advisor Calogero “Charlie” Alaimo with an 18‑month ban from any securities‑related work at CIRO‑member firms, a $30,000 CAD fine (≈$22,200 USD), $14,314 CAD disgorgement (≈$10,600 USD) and $10,000 CAD costs (≈$7,400 USD). The penalties stem from...
$5M Refund Case Raises Fresh Concerns over CRA Controls
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) mistakenly paid a bogus refund of roughly $3.7 million USD to Teresa Wallace, whose small hemp and grain business generates about $54,000 a year. The claim listed a fabricated $9.99 million CAD foreign income with a 100%...
Weak Confidence Weighs on Canada’s Spring Housing Season
Canada’s spring housing market opened 2026 on a muted note, with the national average home price slipping 2.0% year‑over‑year to C$812,900 (about US$593,000). Quarter‑over‑quarter prices were flat, edging up 0.7%, hinting at a possible price floor despite lingering consumer hesitancy....
What Do Financial Planners Need to Know in 2026?
FP Canada and the Institute of Financial Planning released their 2026 Projection Assumption Guidelines, adding formal housing cost assumptions and refining inflation and borrowing rate benchmarks. The guidelines keep long‑term inflation at 2.1%, set borrowing costs at 4.40%, and project...
Condo Investors Might Have a ‘Buy the Dip’ Opportunity in the GTHA Right Now
The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area condo market entered its fifth year of decline in Q1 2026, with sales plunging 52% YoY to just 246 units. Unsold, completed inventory surged to a record 4,295 units, creating roughly 92 months of...
Another Major US Financial Services Firm Moves Into Crypto
Charles Schwab announced Schwab Crypto, a spot‑trading service for bitcoin and ethereum that will roll out to retail clients over the next few weeks. The offering is embedded within Schwab’s existing brokerage, banking and wealth‑management platform, pairing execution with research,...
TSX Venture Exchange Scraps Longstanding Sponsor Requirement, Streamlines Listing Process
On March 31, 2026 the TSX Venture Exchange eliminated the long‑standing sponsor requirement for new listings, deleting Policy 2.2 and related forms from its Corporate Finance Manual. The sponsor, a member firm that previously performed due‑diligence and submitted a report, is...
No Actual Loss Needed to Convict Crypto Token Fraudster, Ontario Court Rules
The Ontario Securities Commission secured a fraud conviction against Peblik token founder Stephan Katmarian after 32 investors lost roughly $484,000. A trial judge had acquitted him, but the Superior Court reversed, ruling that a loss is not required if investors'...
Trump Threatens Another Major Firing
President Donald Trump intensified his campaign against Federal Reserve leadership, warning he will fire Chair Jerome Powell if a new chair is not confirmed soon. He has nominated former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh as Powell's successor, but Senate Banking Committee...
Canadians Are Open to AI Financial Services, What Does that Mean for Advisors?
A recent Accenture survey of 1,000 Canadians shows strong openness to AI‑driven financial assistance, with 63% willing to use an AI assistant in banking apps and 60% open to AI tools outside their primary bank. While 78% of respondents want...
Can a 179-Year-Old Solution Help with Contemporary Volatility?
Vikram Malik, senior vice‑president at Canada Life, argues that participating life insurance—available in Canada since 1847—offers a proven way to smooth volatility through guaranteed benefits and annual dividends. The insurer has refreshed its par product suite, adding niche options for...
Canadians Are Using AI for Money Help Despite Security Concerns
A H&R Block Canada survey shows 9% of Canadians have already used AI tools for financial management or tax filing, while 21% would be comfortable doing so. However, 56% remain uneasy about entrusting personal financial data to open AI platforms....
OSFI and Global Risk Institute Release AGILE Framework Flagging AI Risks for Canadian Financial Services
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions and the Global Risk Institute released the FIFAI II report, unveiling the AGILE framework—Awareness, Guardrails, Innovation, Learning, Ecosystem Resilience—to steer AI risk management in Canada’s wealth and investment sector. The report warns that...
CSA Proposes Amendment to Close Insider Reporting Gap on Single-Issuer ETFs, CDRs, and Structured Products
On April 9 2026 the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) released a proposed amendment to National Instrument 55‑104 to close a reporting gap for single‑issuer ETFs, Canadian Depositary Receipts (CDRs) and certain structured products. The amendment adds a new section 9.8, clarifying that the 9.7(g)...
Dealer CEO Shares How Her Firm Grew 1,042%
Designed Wealth Management, an independent dealer founded in 2021, posted a 1,042% revenue surge over the past two years, propelling CEO Kunza to the #3 spot on The Globe and Mail’s Top Growing Women‑Led Companies list. The firm now employs...
Tech Provider Targets Growing Crypto Demand Among Advisors, Clients
Broadridge Financial Solutions has launched a digital‑asset platform for Canadian wealth‑management firms, allowing them to integrate cryptocurrencies and tokenized assets alongside traditional investments. The solution consolidates trading, custody, servicing, communications and compliance into a single infrastructure, supporting both advisor‑led and...
Canadian Retirement Startup Raises $12 Million
Canadian fintech Common Wealth secured a CAD$12 million (~US$8.8 million) Series A round to accelerate its retirement‑plan platform. The raise builds on a prior CAD$15 million (~US$11 million) venture‑debt facility and targets the 10 million+ private‑sector workers lacking employer‑sponsored plans. By expanding services to small and...
Stocks Downplay Iran Risks in Whipsaw Trading Day
U.S. equities rebounded sharply on Thursday, wiping out losses from the recent Iran‑U.S. escalation. The S&P 500 rose about 1% back to pre‑conflict levels, while the Dow added over 300 points and the Nasdaq gained more than 1%, led by technology...
Investors May Not See Benefits of AI Adoption as Most Firms Fail to Show ROI
PwC’s 2026 AI Performance Study finds that the top 20% of companies generate the bulk of AI‑driven value, outpacing peers in revenue growth and efficiency. Success is tied not to the number of pilots but to deep integration of AI...
Private Credit Warning Signs Are Emerging Beneath the Surface, Says TD’s Uk-Sun Kim
Private credit’s rapid expansion, especially through semi‑liquid funds, is prompting advisors to look beyond headline yields. TD’s Uk‑Sun Kim warns that opaque valuations, rising PIK interest and asset sales tied to redemption windows signal growing liquidity stress. He highlights a...
Health-Care Spending Surge Threatens Provincial Balance Sheets, Desjardins Warns
Desjardins Group’s latest report warns that soaring health‑care costs are outpacing economic growth and threatening the fiscal health of Canada’s provinces. Per‑capita spending has already eclipsed pandemic‑era peaks and continues to rise faster than GDP, while an aging population will...
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...
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...