The Sound Commercial Practices Guideline sets out the AMF’s expectations for ensuring that financial institutions establish practices aimed at making the fair treatment of clients a core component of their corporate culture, thereby protecting consumers from the inherent risks of using their products while bolstering consumer confidence in the financial system.

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Fraudsters are targeting people with quick high-return schemes based outside of Canada.

Fraudsters are using the fear of current economic conditions to target victims by posing as government departments or agencies.

Fraudsters are taking advantage of Canadians looking for alternative sources of income by promoting Work From Home Scams.

There are many frauds and scams as fraudsters use this time of economic uncertainty to their advantage. But how do you spot a scam? And how do you know if an investment opportunity is legitimate?

A pump-and-dump scam is a type of investment fraud. Fraudsters artificially increase the price of a stock they own by encouraging other investors to buy it. Fraudsters then sell their shares; the price falls and investors lose money.

Ellen explains how to assess client knowledge and support an advisor’s recommendations so that when they are faced with a client complaint and their recommendations are called into question by their firm, regulator, and OBSI or a judge, they will be armed with the evidence they need.

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The Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators (CCIR) and the Canadian Insurance Services Regulatory Organizations (CISRO) have released for public consultation a discussion paper on upfront compensation paid for the sale and servicing of segregated funds and individual variable insurance contracts (IVICs)

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Introducing SEDAR+, the new web-based application for regulatory filings and issuer information in Canada. This short video provides an overview of the phased rollout of the new system, which provides an improved experience for all users, with new functionality and features.

“Best Kept Secret about KYC” By Ellen Bessner BABIN BESSNER SPRY LLP

How important is the client’s investment knowledge/sophistication when determining suitability? Very important – Ellen explains that this criterion can impact both a judge’s and regulator’s decision on suitability because they are seeking to determine whether the investment risk was accepted by the client. Ellen also provides guidance as to how an advisor can protect themselves in their assessment and evidence thereof.

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