Investment objectives and planning parameters
SECTION 01
01What are the client’s primary and secondary investment objectives (safety, income, growth, liquidity, and/or tax minimization)?
02What is the client’s experience, skill, and knowledge of investing, and investment risk tolerance?
03What is the client’s time commitment required to manage the investment portfolio?
04Is there a balance between the client’s required retirement income and the growth of the investment portfolio, over both the short term and long term?
05Does the client understand the trade-off between the portfolio’s investment risk and the financial risk of outliving investment assets?
Developing the investment plan
SECTION 02
06Are both spouses comfortable with an investment plan for a joint, integrated investment portfolio?
07Has a long-term strategic asset allocation been determined for the client and spouse, based on a joint retirement objective?
08What is the concentration of registered assets (including DBPP) and non-registered investment assets in each spouse’s hands?
09Are there sufficient equities in the client’s portfolio to ensure the required growth over the long term?
10Does the client’s total investment portfolio have sufficient investment in foreign content?
11Does the client have a need for income in U.S. dollars (“snowbirds”) or in another foreign currency?
12Does the client have an interest in a borrowing-to-invest strategy for non-registered assets?
13If the client has more than sufficient retirement assets, are the assets invested appropriately to maximize the client’s residual estate?
14Is it appropriate to consider segregated funds for the client as an investment or estate planning option?
15Has an investment policy statement been developed for, and agreed to, by the client?
Tax aspects of the investment portfolio
SECTION 03
16Are the client’s registered assets and non-registered investment assets being drawn down in the most tax-efficient manner?
17Has the tax efficiency of the client’s mutual funds and other investments been assessed?
18Is there an accrued tax liability on the client’s existing non-registered investment assets?
19Does the client require significant tax-efficient income from non-registered investment assets?
Has the option of a systematic withdrawal plan (SWP) on non-registered equity funds been assessed?
Has the option of dividend funds or preferred shares been assessed?
20Should the aggressive equities be held in the lower-income spouse’s portion of the portfolio (income splitting strategy)?
// note on checklists: the term “client” is used in the singular. If the client has a spouse or partner, the issues concern both clients.
Blanks left on this list?
Investment services through Money Web Securities, an approved trade name of Aligned Capital Partners Inc. Member CIPF and CIRO.
