CI Assante Wealth Management is one of the largest wealth management firms in Canada in the delivery of complete financial advice for affluent Canadian families, business owners and professionals. Advisors have “freedom to make objective product choices” and help make the right choices from our selection of carefully screened and approved industry-leading mutual funds, GIC, deposit accounts and ETFs. The broad product shelf includes investment solutions as a full service brokerage dealership. Securities-licensed advisors with Assante Capital Management Ltd. can provide stock and bond recommendations as well as superior trade execution. The advisors at Assante demonstrate powerful wealth management proficiency using a comprehensive approach that takes into consideration each piece of the financial puzzle to build and preserve wealth.
Established in 1995, Assante has since become one of the largest wealth management firms in Canada, supporting over 900 advisors who manage wealth for clients and their families nationwide. In 2003, Assante was purchased by CI Financial Corp. – a diversified wealth management firm and the third-largest investment fund company in Canada – bringing additional financial strength and resources to the Assante organization. Four key safeguards that are in place to protect your assets: strong corporate backing, the security safekeeping measures we follow, our adherence to strict industry standards and industry-wide investor protection.
Each client continues to be represented and serviced by their designated Lead Advisor and the Advisor-Client Support Team to provide personalized services tailored to individual clients' needs. Advisors offer personalized financial planning services that encompass investment strategies, retirement planning, tax optimization, estate planning, and more. By understanding our clients' financial goals, risk tolerance, and personal circumstances, we provide tailored advice and solutions that resonate with each individual client. By pooling our knowledge, advisors can collectively address complex client needs, offering comprehensive solutions that draw on multiple perspectives. Collaboration leads to resource sharing, from research tools to administrative support, making operations more efficient and enhancing the client experience.
The first level of client protection is provided by our comprehensive governance processes and the substantial financial resources of CI Assante Wealth Management’s parent company, CI Financial Corp. Assante’s legal and compliance personnel keep senior management, as well as CI Financial’s board of directors, aware of legal, regulatory and compliance matters on a continuous basis. In addition, CI Financial’s Internal Audit Department plays an integral role by reviewing and testing the processes and internal controls of Assante to ensure they are meeting regulatory requirements.
CI Financial is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “CIX” and is a component of the S&P/TSX Composite Index. CI Financial’s status as a publicly traded company provides additional transparency and accountability through continuous financial disclosure obligations.
CI Financial, Canada’s third largest investment fund company, is financially strong. See CI Financial’s most recent annual and quarterly reports and other related investor information.
Assante is required by regulators to maintain adequate capital to cover our business risks, keep comprehensive and accurate records and employ appropriate securities handling procedures. Most securities owned by our clients are held through central industry-wide electronic or book-based systems. In this approach, investments are tracked using independent service providers, including FundSERV in the case of mutual funds, and the Canadian Depository for Securities for most equity securities. In situations where fully paid up securities are physically held by us, they are kept separate from any securities related to our corporate investing activities and are subject to regulatory audit on an annual basis. This safeguard helps to ensure that clients’ investments are not subject to any risks related to their dealer’s business activities and are adequately segregated for the benefit of clients. Custodial services for all securities, other than mutual funds, held in client nominee accounts are provided through CI Investment Services Inc., and National Bank Independent Network for client margin accounts. The provision of security recordkeeping and custody by independent service providers results in multiple parties being involved in transactions within our clients' accounts. The benefit to clients is additional oversight of the firm's procedures to ensure all assets are accounted for accurately.
Assante’s dealer subsidiaries, Assante Capital Management Ltd., a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), and Assante Financial Management Ltd., a member of the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA), are subject to the oversight of the provincial securities commissions. Both Assante Capital Management and Assante Financial Management are required to adhere to regulations governing investor protection, financial market integrity, and stringent recordkeeping. These requirements are monitored by IIROC and the MFDA, respectively, through independent audits conducted regularly by external auditors and by examiners or the regulators. IIROC and MFDA undertake business conduct examinations that include the assessment of marketing materials, trades, disclosures on client statements, and branch operations, as well as financial compliance audits that include a detailed review of the firm’s financial and custodial procedures and adherence with regulatory policies. In addition, every financial advisor at Assante is subject to regulatory oversight. For every relationship you have, we would encourage you to check with the applicable regulator to ensure the firm is registered and in good standing.
Although Assante clients’ assets are segregated from the dealer’s assets, additional security is provided to our clients through industry investor protection plans that will reimburse investors, within predefined limits, if their dealer becomes insolvent or bankrupt and their assets are missing as a result. The Canadian Investor Protection Fund reimburses clients of securities dealers up to a maximum loss of $1 million by account type (i.e. separate coverage for open accounts and registered accounts). The MFDA Investor Protection Corporation provides similar protection for clients of mutual fund dealers.
Asset Management: CI Global Asset Management is one of Canada’s pre-eminent investment managers and offers a comprehensive selection of investment solutions, including mutual funds, ETFs and alternatives, to retail and institutional clients. The CI GAM portfolio management team consists of more than 100 investment professionals with expertise spanning asset classes and industry sectors globally.
CI Private Wealth: Integrates discretionary money management, tax-optimization strategies, estate planning and personalized advice. Private Client Investment Counsel services are offered through CI Assante Private Client, a division of CI Private Counsel LP, providing high net worth individuals, families and businesses with a wealth management program designed for their diverse and complex financial planning needs. This solution offers attentive client investment service by CI Assante Private Client Investment Counsellors and comprehensive wealth plans prepared by their team of legal, accounting, and financial planning professionals. Investment management team and wealth planning group are available through our parent company, CI Investments Inc., and CI Assante Private Client, a division of CI Private Counsel LP.
Private Client Investment Counsel is made available through CI Assante Private Client, a division of CI Private Counsel LP. The pools used in Private Client Investment Counsel are managed by CI Global Asset Management.
CI Global Asset Management is one of Canada’s pre-eminent investment managers and offers a comprehensive selection of investment solutions, including mutual funds, ETFs and alternatives, to retail and institutional clients. The CI GAM portfolio management team consists of more than 100 investment professionals with expertise spanning asset classes and industry sectors globally.
To find out more about how your assets are protected, we encourage you to visit these online sources:
Canadian Securities Administrators
Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada
Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada
Investment Funds Institute of Canada
Canadian Investor Protection Fund
Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association
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