Limit Series A Sales to Channels that Permit Advice: IFIC
TORONTO, May 8, 2017 /CNW/ - The Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC) is calling on regulators to establish rules to ensure that mutual funds carrying an embedded advisor fee are sold only in channels where advice is permitted.
"Investors who buy funds directly, for example through a discount broker, should be confident that they are not inadvertently overpaying by selecting a series that includes fees for services that are not available through that platform," says Paul C. Bourque, Q.C., IFIC's president and CEO.
Series A mutual funds bundle an advice fee within the product. Most companies already provide other series of funds with no or nominal trailer fees that investors can purchase if they are do-it-yourself investors or want to pay for advice separately. The industry's proposal would advance the goal of ensuring that low-trailer or no-trailer funds are available to these types of investors in a more uniform and transparent way.
"IFIC members believe that consumers should be able to choose for themselves the products, services and payment methods that best meet their needs and preferences," Bourque stated. "Today's proposal would help to achieve a goal that the industry shares with our regulators: to ensure that fees are aligned with the services that investors receive. It reflects the industry's commitment to provide Canadian consumers with real and meaningful investment choices."
Today's announcement follows IFIC's recent call to regulators to extend client disclosure requirements to encompass the full Management Expense Ratio (MER) of investment funds, an initiative sometimes referred to as CRM3.
"Canada has one of the strongest regulatory regimes in the world," Bourque noted. "The industry is dedicated to working with regulators to protect investors by addressing any gaps that exist and improving the investor experience at every stage."
About IFIC
The Investment Funds Institute of Canada is the voice of Canada's investment funds industry. IFIC brings together 150 organizations, including fund managers, distributors and industry service organizations, to foster a strong, stable investment sector where investors can realize their financial goals. By connecting Canada's savers to Canada's economy, our industry contributes significantly to Canadian economic growth and job creation. The organization is proud to have served Canada's investment funds industry and its investors for more than 50 years.
SOURCE The Investment Funds Institute of Canada
Sara Clodman, Senior Manager, Public Affairs, [email protected], 416-309-2317
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