With so many Canadians relying on the services of a financial advisor, it is crucial that the advice given to investors meets their needs.
What does the average Ontarian experience when he or she meets with a financial advisor to set up an investment plan? That’s what the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and Mutual Fund Dealers Association (MFDA) set to find out through a joint initiative, Mystery Shopping for Investment Advice. Members of the public were recruited and trained to engage investment dealers, mutual fund dealers, exempt market dealers, and portfolio managers to get advice on how to invest a lump sum of money. The report revealed specific areas where investors have difficulty working with advisors.
The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) consolidates the operations of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA). CIRO is a self-regulatory organization that oversees all investment dealers, mutual fund dealers, and trading activity on Canada’s debt and equity marketplaces.
How investors can get better services from advisors
Helping Canadians invest wisely and confidently is something we’ve continually aimed to do at GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca. If you’d like to invest through a financial advisor or want to know how to get the best possible service from an advisor, consider using these tips and resources:
1. Learn how to find the advisor who is right for you
Many people find their advisors through personal recommendations of friends and family. While we agree that this is a good step, there are other ways to find an advisor and to determine if they’re the best fit for you. We suggest speaking with more than one person or company to get an understanding of the different services you can expect. For tips on choosing an advisor, take a look at:
- ARTICLE: How to choose a financial advisor.
2. Know how to best prepare for a meeting with an advisor
You’re not expected to know all the answers about your finances, but you’ll likely find your meeting is more efficient if you can help the advisor get a good idea of your financial circumstances and goals. Great advisors take a look at the full picture and provide recommendations that address issues beyond basic investing – like helping you see the benefit of paying off debt. If you have this information ready when you a meet an advisor, he or she will be better equipped to provide suitable advice. Consider these resources:
- ARTICLE: Your responsibility as an investor
- ARTICLE: Financial planning – what you need to get started
- TOOL: Your Investment Policy Statement Blueprint
3. Get a better understanding of the requirements of an advisor
Some of our mystery shoppers ranked their experience as satisfactory even though the advisors they spoke to didn’t meet the minimum requirements when it came to issues like disclosure of fees or detailed information about the products being recommended. Having a better understanding of what you should expect – or even what the very best practices are – can help you get the most from an advisor:
- ARTICLE: What to expect from an advisor
- ARTICLE: Your first meeting with an advisor
4. Ask questions. Then ask more questions.
If you’re new to investing, you likely “don’t know what you don’t know”. Therefore, asking the right questions can be tough. Great advisors step you through the process and ensure that you get an understanding of their services and what you may be agreeing to. But advisors aren’t mind readers – you have a responsibility to ask questions and get clarification if you don’t understand something – be that about the investment being recommended or how your investor is paid. We’ve put together some resources to help you ask the right questions and understand the important issues around investing:
- ARTICLE: 8 questions to ask an advisor
- ARTICLE: 4 ways advisors are paid
