Based on the latest update received, the processing delay issue at the CRA is gradually improving, with several files now successfully processed. Client tax slip information should already be accessible in the “My Account” section of the CRA website or will be shortly. However, some delays persist with certain files, particularly those related to TFSAs. 

Last November, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) went on strike against Canada Post, resulting in a disruption of postal services. As you may recall, the national strike was paused at the end of 2024 for an inquiry commission to take place. Now, as you may have heard, a labour disruption could happen again as early as May 22, 2025 (ref. Canada Post Notice – Negotiations updates). 

Please be advised that Q1 statements (from January 1 to March 31, 2025) will be available in the Investia Client Portal before the end of the week for all clients registered for e-delivery. Clients who have opted to receive paper statements will have their statements mailed out shortly. 

Click here to save the dates for the 2025 National Business Conference.

Friday, April 18 is a statutory holiday observed across all provinces, which means that markets and Fundserv will be closed. As a result, no trading activities or settlement will occur on that day. 

If you haven’t completed it yet, the “Annual Review of Professional Activities” (“ARPA”) questionnaire is now available on the Investia Advisor Centre for online completion.

Effective April 1, 2025, the Canadian Investment Funds Standards Committee (“CIFSC”) introduced new fund classifications as follows: 

As of January 22, 2024, corporations registered under the Canada Business Corporations Act (“CBCA”) must maintain and provide a record of individuals with significant control (“ISC”) to Corporations Canada. 

As a follow-up to our last communication, we have received feedback from CIRO that some CERTS users (Representatives, Associate Advisors, Junior Advisors, Licensed Assistants, Branch Managers) are having difficulty either registering on the portal or completing their 2024 and 2025 mandatory MFD compliance credit(s).

As a reminder, annual licence fees will be deducted from your commissions deposited next week, i.e., on April 17, 2025 (pay period 2025-15), unless you have elected to pay these fees by credit card via ePay.

We would like to inform you of two important changes regarding model portfolios in Univeris. These changes will come into effect on May 1, 2025.

On March 24, 2025, the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) issued a press release to warn Canadian investors about an emerging scam known as account intrusions. This type of fraudulent activity is a growing concern as fraudsters employ sophisticated tactics to access and exploit investment accounts.

In an effort to improve our Limited Authorization Form (LAF) process, please note that the following two changes will come into effect on April 4, 2025.

Please be advised that the CIRO 2025 MFD Compliance credit is now available on CIRO’s CE Reporting and Tracking System (“CERTS”) portal. 

We are pleased to announce the launch of a brand-new email address dedicated to questions about compensation.

We would like to remind you that annual licence fees will be deducted from your commissions deposited on April 17, 2025 (pay period 2025-15), unless you have elected to pay these fees by credit card via ePay.

Please find below some key reminders regarding letters of indemnity (“LOIs”).

In order to streamline the processing of estate requests and ensure the timely liquidation of a deceased client’s account with the executor and/or beneficiaries, here are four useful tips:

It is crucial that all Investia Representatives and their staff, including both licensed and unlicensed assistants, complete the mandatory Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Anti-Terrorist Financing (ATF) training. This training must be done every two (2) years to ensure that your knowledge is current and your skills in identifying suspicious transactions are sharp. By staying up to date with this training, you can play a vital role in protecting our clients and the integrity of our financial system. 

We remind you that the “Annual Review of Professional Activities” (“ARPA”) questionnaire is available on the Investia Advisor Centre and must be completed and submitted by April 30, 2025.

Further to last week’s communication, please note that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is still experiencing delays in processing tax slips for the 2024 taxation year. 

Please refer to the progress chart below for the latest information on the delivery status of tax slips, contribution receipts and fee-based invoices for Investia nominee accounts. We invite you to refer to the table below before contacting Client Services to inquire about the transmission status of any of these documents. 

We would like to remind you that annual licence fees will be deducted from your commissions deposited on April 17, 2025 (pay period 2025-15), unless you have elected to pay these fees by credit card via ePay.

Click here to save the dates for the 2025 Virtual Best Business Practice Roadshows.

Below are the online group trainings you can now register for on Investia Learning (How to Register?).

Conquest specializes in modern financial planning software tailored for the financial services industry. Their key offerings feature a planning engine powered by artificial intelligence, delivering real-time, collaborative financial guidance, along with tools enabling both advisors and clients to flexibly modify financial plans. They primarily serve financial institutions aiming to improve their financial advice delivery through technology.

The Government of Nova Scotia has changed the rules governing the unlocking of life income funds (LIFs) and locked-in retirement accounts (LIRAs).

We would like to inform you that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is currently experiencing processing delays with its new system. 

Please rest assured that Investia has sent all client tax slips to the CRA within the required deadlines and  that we have received confirmation of receipt. 

As you have heard at our fall conference and during our Water Cooler Chats this year, we have announced the launch of our new Office 365 project! This initiative is designed to streamline your work experience, enhance collaboration, and provide additional tools to drive efficiency.

Please be advised that annual licences for all Mutual Fund Representatives, as well as licenses for Representatives registered in the categories listed below were automatically renewed via the National Registration Database (“NRD”) on January 1, 2025:

• Mutual funds;
• Exempt market products;
• Restricted practice broker (investment contracts); and 
• Scholarship plans.
  

Please be advised that effective March 18, 2025, the risk rating of the following fund was increased by Mackenzie Investments (“MFC”):

Following the introduction of our Banking information Management Tool on the Advisor Centre, please note that the “Cheque Transmission” section of the “Cheque Transmission or Banking Information Addition Form” (F51-349A) has been removed as it is no longer necessary.

Did you know? Our Web Showcase site makes it simple and free to create your own web page. Use it to promote your services, boost your visibility, and ultimately grow your clientele online.

We would like to thank everyone who joined our Virtual Water Cooler Chat last Tuesday. For those who missed it, you can watch the presentation by clicking on the recording link below. 

Following our February 20, 2025 communication, please be advised that due to ongoing discussions with regulatory authorities on mutual fund license fees for 2025, the fee withdrawal period has been postponed to a later date, i.e. after Investia has received official confirmation from the regulatory authorities.

If you’re not already aware, the Investia logo is readily available on the Advisor Centre if you need it to create your marketing and sales communications material.

As a reminder, November 30, 2025 is the end of the current continuing education (“CE”) reporting cycle for CIRO registrants (Representatives, Associate Advisors, Junior Advisors, Licensed Assistants, Branch Managers). 

Over the past few weeks, we have observed a trend that poses significant risks for you and Investia. 

As you know, during order entry, withdrawal errors can occur for various reasons, such as duplicate withdrawals from a client’s bank account or withdrawals that simply should not have been made at all. 

Please refer to the progress chart below for the latest information on the delivery status of tax slips, contribution receipts and fee-based invoices for Investia nominee accounts. We invite you to refer to the table below before contacting Client Services to inquire about the transmission status of any of these documents. Stay tuned for upcoming updates via The 360.

For those who have subscribed to the Investia Group Insurance Program with AGA, please note that renewal will take place on June 1, 2025. The renewal process will start in April and end mid-May.

With the high volume of documents we receive, we would like to remind you of a few best practices for uploading documents to imaging via the Secure File Upload tool.

Please be aware of a date change for our March Water Cooler. The event will now be held on Tuesday, March 11, at 2:45 p.m. ET, instead of Thursday, March 13. This change allows us to welcome a special guest, Denis Ricard, President & CEO of iA Financial Group. Below are the details.

The last days of the RRSP campaign are already fast approaching! To ensure timely processing of your one-time PACs (also known as pre-authorized debits or PADs) programmed for March 3, we remind you that a new process will be implemented for the 2025 investment period. In addition to the regular cycle launched in the morning, a second PAC cycle will be launched at 11 p.m. on March 3, 2025. 

Click here to get a summary of key information to help you prepare for this year’s RRSP season.

In an effort to prevent transactions being halted in the order affirmation process for risk suitability concerns, we have gathered all the necessary steps in a comprehensive and easy-to-read administrative procedure.

When managing automatic withdrawal deposits (AWDs), it is important for Representatives to pay close attention to tax rates set for these transactions to prevent discrepancies for clients. 

We invite you to refer to the progress chart below for the latest information on the delivery status of tax slips, contribution receipts and fee-based invoices for Investia nominee accounts. Please refer to the table below before contacting Client Services to inquire about the transmission status of any of these documents.

We are delighted to announce the creation of two new forms to streamline the management of your nominee group RRSPs. 

Click here to save the dates for the 2025 Virtual Best Business Practice Roadshows.

Please be advised that annual licences for all Mutual Fund Representatives, as well as licenses for Representatives registered in the categories listed below were automatically renewed via the National Registration Database (“NRD”) on January 1, 2025:

• Mutual funds;
• Exempt market products;
• Restricted practice broker (investment contracts); and 
• Scholarship plans.
  

We would like to thank everyone who joined our Virtual Water Cooler Chat last Thursday. For those who missed it, you can watch the presentation by clicking on the recording link below. 

We would like to inform you that the presentation accreditation process for last year’s National Business Conference, held from October 8 through 10, 2024, is now complete. Please find below the details of CE credits granted for each eligible presentation.

The last days of the RRSP campaign are already fast approaching! To ensure timely processing of your one-time PACs (also known as pre-authorized debits or PADs) programmed for March 3, a new process will be implemented for the 2025 investment period. In addition to the regular cycle launched in the morning, a second PAC cycle will be launched at 11 p.m. on March 3, 2025. 

Since the beginning of the year, we have noticed an increase in the number of cases of insufficient funds in clients’ AWDs.

Investia’s Compliance Policies & Procedures Manual (“CPPM”) has been updated to reflect recent policy changes and enhancements arising from internal and regulatory developments.

For ease of reference, below is a list of high-level material changes made to the CPPM:

Please find below some key reminders regarding letters of indemnity (“LOIs”).

With the high volume of documents we receive, we would like to remind you of a few best practices for uploading documents to imaging via the Secure File Upload tool.

Please note that Monday, February 17, is a statutory holiday in several provinces, including Ontario, which means that markets and Fundserv will be closed and no trading or settlement will take place on that day. 

Click here to get a summary of key information to help you prepare for this year’s RRSP season.

Following the October 3 communication regarding incorrect market values in some Investia GIC nominee accounts, we have made the necessary corrections to address the discrepancies. These corrections applied to the following cases:

• Errors in GIC market value following an internal transfer transaction between nominee plans;
  
  
• Minor discrepancies in the GIC market value, for certain issuers only, where Univeris showed an extra day in the interest calculation during leap years, while some issuers did not.
  

This memo provides clarification on the witness signature process for client signatures on documents and the use of our electronic consent (E-Signature) tool. 

With RRSP and tax season in full swing and in an effort to reduce compliance delays and inquiries, you will find useful information below that we hope will enhance your client relationships, streamline meetings, and make your administrative tasks easier.

Please take note of the following changes and reminders regarding our exchange traded fund (ETF) process:

We would like to inform you that we’ll regularly be updating you on the progress of our tax slip and fee-based invoice mailing process via The 360 Newsletter.

Due to recent technological and legal changes, we would like to remind you that the Order Instruction Form for Systematic Withdrawals (F51-326A) for nominee accounts has been updated.

As such, effective January 31, 2025, any version of the AWD form prior to 24-11 will be rejected, and the request will need to be resubmitted on the current version, even if all the required information was provided with the request. 

The Investia Relationship Disclosure Information Document (“RDID”) has been recently reviewed and amended. The key reasons for these changes are as follows:

• Regulatory requirements: To address conflicts arising from fee-based accounts; and
  
  
• Industry changes: The MFDA Client Complaint Information Form (CCIF) has been replaced with the CIRO Complaints Brochure.
  

Click here to save the dates for the 2025 Virtual Best Business Practice Roadshows.

Clients can request to have their 10% free and mature units automatically converted into 0% front-end load funds at the end of the year. Below are important reminders pertaining to this process:

Please find below some key reminders regarding letters of indemnity (“LOIs”).

As a reminder, below are four useful tips which will help streamline the processing of estate requests and ensure the timely liquidation of deceased client accounts with the executor and/or beneficiaries:

Please be advised that we will be conducting system maintenance tomorrow, Friday, January 31, 2025. 

Please be advised that Q4 client statements (from October 1 to December 31, 2024) will be available in the Investia Client Portal before the end of the week for clients registered for e-delivery. Clients who have opted to receive paper statements will have their statements mailed out shortly. 

As we mentioned in our December 12 communication (ref. Updated AWD Forms & Adjustments to Administrative Procedures 34 & 34A), due to recent technological and legal changes, the Order Instruction Form for Systematic Withdrawals (F51-326A) for nominee accounts has been updated.

We would like to inform you that the presentation accreditation process for last year’s Virtual Conference for Administrative Personnel, held on October 29 and 30, 2024, is now complete. Please find below the details of CE credits granted for each eligible presentation.

We would like to thank everyone who joined our Virtual Water Cooler Chat last Thursday. For those who missed it, you can watch the presentation by clicking on the recording link below. 

In response to questions recently received about the calculation of LIF plan maximum amounts, below you will find a useful support document. 

We have been actively working on improving the electronic signature tool by upgrading the underlying technology supporting the signature process.  

Click here to save the dates for the 2025 National Business Conference.

As a reminder, November 30, 2025 is the end of the current continuing education (“CE”) reporting cycle for CIRO registrants (Representatives, Associate Advisors, Junior Advisors, Licensed Assistants, Branch Managers). 

Kickstart your RRSP season with ease! Below you will find this year’s RRSP loan chart, highlighting our exclusive agreements with our key partners (iA Trust, B2B Bank, Manulife).

Clients can request to have their 10% free and mature units automatically converted into 0% front-end load funds at the end of the year. Here is how to request this conversion, based on the type of account:

Please find below some key reminders regarding letters of indemnity (“LOIs”).

Click here to get a summary of key information to help you prepare for this year’s RRSP season.

Please find below some key reminders regarding letters of indemnity (“LOIs”).

In order to streamline the processing of estate requests and ensure the timely liquidation of a deceased client’s account with the executor and/or beneficiaries, here are four useful tips:

As you may already know, the purpose of National Instrument 54-101 is to provide greater protection for investors by regulating the sharing of personal data with various organizations, including, among others, issuers of exchange traded funds (“ETFs”).

As part of this initiative, we are required to obtain our clients’ explicit authorization for the transmission of their personal information to these entities, or their refusal to do so. 

We are happy to present the full range of online group training courses available this quarter on Investia Learning (How to Register?).

Click here to save the dates for the 2025 National Business Conference.

Click here to read Louis’ heartfelt Holiday message, filled with gratitude and inspiring reflections for the year ahead.

Happy Holidays!

As you may have heard, Canada Post resumed operations on December 17, but mail delivery delays are expected over the next few weeks. 

We would like to thank everyone who attended our Virtual Water Cooler Chat last Thursday. For those of you who missed it, you can watch the presentation by clicking on the following recording link: 

To ensure our clients’ records are current and compliant, more fund companies now require the federal business number, in addition to the NEQ for Quebec. Some fund companies have already reached out to you regarding this. Therefore, we remind you that it is your responsibility to add this information to the company details in Univeris. 

Please be advised that the Product Review Committee will be taking a break for two weeks. Specifically, there will be no product approval/review process from December 23, 2024 to January 3, 2025 inclusively for the following products:

• Exchange traded funds (ETF)
• Liquid alternative funds
• Exempt market products
  

Please be advised that effective November 28, 2024, the risk rating of each the following funds was increased by Dynamic Funds (“DYN”):

A mandatory Univeris upgrade is required on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, between 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. ET. During this time, Univeris will be unavailable.

As a reminder, Head Office operating hours during the Holiday season are as follows:

December 24: 8:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. (reduced staff)
December 25 & 26: closed
December 27, 30 & 31: 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
January 1: closed
January 2: 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. (reduced staff)

Given the ongoing Canada Post strike, which is likely to extend through the holidays, we strongly advise you to prompt your clients to sign up for the Client Portal and e-delivery as soon as possible, if they haven’t done so already. This will ensure they receive their next quarterly statement as well as their tax slips on time. We remind you that clients can change their document  delivery preferences on the Client Portal at any time.

With the end of the year fast approaching, we would like to provide you with some important reminders to help you prepare for this period.

Due to recent technological and legal changes, the following documents have been updated accordingly:

• Order Instruction Forms for Systematic Withdrawals (F51-326A for nominee accounts and F51-394A for client-name accounts*); and
  
  
• Administrative Procedures #34 and #34A related to automatic withdrawal deposits (AWDs) (for client-name/intermediary and nominee accounts, respectively).

This memo aims to provide clarification regarding the witness confirmation process for client signatures on legal documents. Recently, there have been issues with documents not meeting the necessary requirements. 

Good news! We have collaborated closely with the iA Clarington team to make accessing their Advisor Hub easier for you.

It can sometimes be tricky to find relevant, up-to-date content, tools and promotional materials that meet your clients’ specific needs.

To assist you, if you don’t already know it, the document included herein, Investia Marketing Materials for Clients, summarizes our marketing resources for clients.

Please be advised that effective December 6, 2024, the risk rating of each of the following funds was increased by Fidelity Investments Canada ULC (“FID”):

We would like to remind you that your mutual fund licence with Investia will expire on December 31, 2024 and will be automatically renewed for 2025 unless we have received written notification of your resignation (or your license cancellation request) no later than December 15, 2024.

As you know, maintaining accurate and current information about your clients’ financial circumstances is essential. This also applies to non-financial details. As a reminder, it is the Representative’s responsibility to maintain and update client data in Univeris and send backup documentation to Imaging for dealer record-keeping purposes. As  stated in the November 7, 2024 communication, starting this week, any non-financial changes submitted to head office for processing will not be processed and will be redirected to Imaging without any action taken by head office. 

Due to the ongoing labour dispute at Canada Post, and in the event that the strike continues after the holidays, we strongly recommend that you encourage your clients to register for the Client Portal and e-delivery now, if they have not already done so, to ensure that they receive their next quarterly statement in a timely manner. As a reminder, clients can change their document  delivery preferences on the Client Portal at any time.

Please note that effective January 1, 2025, Quebec’s life income fund (“LIF”) accounts will undergo changes to offer more flexibility in accessing retirement savings for people aged 55 and over in accordance with Quebec’s Regulation to amend the Regulation respecting supplemental pension plans (the “Regulation”). Changes to Quebec LIF accounts set out in the Regulation include the following:

We would like to remind you that your mutual fund licence with Investia will expire on December 31, 2024 and will be automatically renewed for 2025 unless we have received written notification of your resignation (or your license cancellation request) no later than December 15, 2024.

This year, Investia, in collaboration with iA Financial Group, is once again providing you with the opportunity to take advantage of competitive group pricing if you subscribe to Morningstar’s Advisor Workstation investment platform.

The holiday season is just around the corner! This year, you can order paper or virtual cards to send holiday greetings to your clients and business partners. 

Pension buy backs are time-sensitive and are considered transfer outs. As such, they follow the same procedures and processing timeframes as all other transfer out requests.

Please be advised of the following update to the “Unsuitable” tile in the Advisor Dashboard regarding currency conversion.

Good news! As discussed in our last Water Cooler session, the Advisor Centre’s managing client banking information section has been enhanced with a new automated character recognition tool.

In light of recent technological advancements and in line with our commitment to meet regulatory audit requirements, we have implemented the necessary updates to our three New Account Application Forms (for intermediary/client-name, nominee and nominee TFSA accounts) and KYC Update Form. Below is a summary of the main changes.

With the end of the year fast approaching, we would like to provide you with some important reminders to help you prepare for this period.

We would like to thank everyone who attended the Virtual Water Cooler Chat last Thursday, November 14. For those of you who missed it, you can watch the presentation by clicking on the following recording link: Virtual Water Cooler Chat – November 14, 2024

In view of the impending labour dispute at Canada Post, please be aware that a strike may begin at midnight on Friday, November 15, if no agreement has been reached with the union by then. Currently, we are unsure of the strike’s specifics (such as duration and regional alternation), but we will provide updates as soon as we have more information.

To reduce the impact of any mail service disruptions while ensuring timely client payments, please consider the following important points and reminders.

Once again this year, Investia, in collaboration with iA Financial Group, is providing you with the opportunity to take advantage of competitive group pricing if you subscribe to Morningstar’s Advisor Workstation investment platform.

Please be advised that we will be conducting system maintenance on the weekend of November 15, 2024.

As a result, Univeris, as well as the Investia Advisor Centre, Client Portal and mobile application, will be unavailable from Friday, November 15, 2024, 9:00 p.m., to Sunday, November 17, 2024, 8:00 p.m. (ET).

We would like to remind you that if you paid this year’s Client Administrative Fees on behalf of your clients, the 3^rd and last charge was made today, November 14, which will be reflected in your pay deposited on Thursday, November 21.

With the end of the year fast approaching, we would like to provide you with some essential information to help you prepare for this period.  

As you know, your mutual fund licence with Investia will expire on December 31, 2024 and will be automatically renewed for 2025 unless we have received written notification of your resignation (or your license cancellation request) no later than December 15, 2024.

We would like to remind you that, effective August 28, 2024, clients’ AWDs are no longer adjusted by Head Office in the event of insufficient funds. 

We would like to remind you that if you paid this year’s Client Administrative Fees on behalf of your clients, the 3^rd and last charge will be made on November 14, which will be reflected in your pay deposited on Thursday, November 21.

Click here to save the dates for the 2025 National Business Conference.

We would like to remind you that our next Water Cooler session will be held on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. (ET).

Maintaining accurate information regarding your clients’ financial circumstances is essential. This also applies to non-financial details.

We are pleased to inform you that the accreditation process for this course has now been completed by the various regulatory bodies responsible. You can now generate your certificate on Investia Learning to obtain the following continuing education (CE) credits:

As you may already know, Canada Post employees might go on strike as early as this weekend (November 3, 2024) if no agreement is reached with the union by then. To minimize the impact of any mail delivery service interruptions for your clients, please find below a few important considerations and reminders.

We are pleased to announce that 3 new processes have been added to the Business Tracker tool to facilitate the ability for you to view the status of these types of requests. 

On October 18, 2024, CIRO issued a press release warning Canadian investors not to be fooled by a fraudster currently impersonating an employee of the regulatory organization to launch investment recovery scams.

Please be aware that this scam is specifically aimed at investors. We encourage you to inform your clients to help them stay alert and cautious.

We are excited to announce the launch of our new Business Continuity and Transition microsite, now available on the Advisor Centre under the “Tools and Resources” heading of the “Useful Links” section.

Once again this year, Investia, in collaboration with iA Financial Group, is providing you with the opportunity to take advantage of competitive group pricing if you subscribe to Morningstar’s Advisor Workstation investment platform.

In order to enhance our services by reducing waiting times and informational inquiries, we would like to remind you that we will soon introduce a new option in our phone menu.

Firstly, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us at our National Business Conference in Quebec City two weeks ago. The event was a great success and we were delighted to see you all in person!

We would like to thank everyone who attended our live webinar dedicated to nesto, which was held on Thursday, September 19.

Need to stay updated on essential economic news and its impact on your finances in less than ten minutes? Look no further! 

We would like to inform you that Administrative Procedure # 21 – Commission Reports has recently been updated.

In-cash transfers into Investia nominee accounts are sums received by electronic funds transfer between the relinquishing dealer and Investia via Fundserv or by physical cheque received at Investia Head Office.

Upon receipt of these funds, head office staff will deposit them to the client’s nominee cash account and code the deposit appropriately to ensure the accuracy of the contribution receipts in cases where a receipt is required.

As you are aware, a minimum annual payment (MAP) is mandatory for all RRIF and LIF accounts. In accordance with Section 146.3(1) of the Income Tax Act, Investia is responsible for ensuring that all minimum payments are made before the last day of the year.

We would like to inform you that Q3 statements (from July 1 to September 30, 2024) will be available next week in the Investia Client Portal for all clients registered for e-delivery. For clients opting to receive paper statements, they will be mailed out to your clients shortly. 

With the introduction of the new Electronic Funds Transfer (“EFT”) purchase option in Univeris (for nominee accounts only), please note that the default payment method in the system has changed from “Client Cheque Deposit” to “Client EFT Deposit”.

We would like to remind you that our 2024 Virtual Conference for Administrative Personnel will be held on Tuesday, October 29 and Wednesday, October 30, 2024. The virtual conference will consist of 2.5 hours of live presentations each day from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (ET). 

We are pleased to announce the release of an updated version of Investia’s Compliance Policies & Procedures Manual (CPPM”), reflective of policy changes and enhancements arising from internal, and regulatory developments made over the past year.   

We would like to inform you that the Investia Relationship Disclosure Information Document (“RDID”) has been recently reviewed and amended.

Please note that our T2033 transfer form has been revamped.

Following the September 19, 2024 communication, we would like to remind you that holders of a nominee RRSP or LIRA/locked-in RRSP who will have reached age 71 by December 31, 2024 must transfer their account to a RRIF or LIF before year end.

In order to enhance our services by reducing waiting times and informational inquiries, we will soon introduce a new option in our phone menu.

Please be advised that effective Friday, October 18, 2024, the risk rating of several funds will change in Univeris. 

For the past few months, the Investia IT team has been working on something very exciting! We have developed a brand-new application protocol interface (API) that connects to your CRM (Salesforce, Power BI or Equisoft).  

We would like to remind you that if you paid this year’s Client Administrative Fees on behalf of clients, the second charge was made today and will be reflected on your pay deposited next Thursday, October 17.

As communicated by email on September 19, 2024, following the recent launch of the purchase option by electronic funds transfer (EFT) deposit in nominee accounts, we experienced temporary issues with this new functionality. 

As such, we are pleased to inform you that the issues have been resolved. We apologize again for any inconvenience caused.

As you are aware, a minimum annual payment (MAP) is mandatory for all RRIF and LIF accounts. In accordance with Section 146.3(1) of the Income Tax Act, Investia is responsible for ensuring that all minimum payments are made before the last day of the year.

Please be advised that Monday, October 14, 2024, is Thanksgiving Day and a statutory holiday in several provinces, including Ontario. As a result, markets and Fundserv will be closed, which means that no trading or settlement will take place on that day. We will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, October 15.

We would like to inform you that we are currently experiencing a technical issue with the display of market values for certain guaranteed investment certificates (“GICs”) in Investia nominee accounts.

More specifically, the various reports generated from Univeris may display an incorrect market value for GICs that have been internally transferred between two Investia nominee plans.

We would like to remind all those who have paid this year’s Client Administrative Fees on behalf of their clients that the 2^nd charge will be made on October 10, which will be reflected in your pay deposited on Thursday, October 17.

As you may already know, Fundserv, and therefore Univeris, requires the gender of the beneficiary when opening a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) account that holds segregated funds, as the premium calculation is based on the age and gender of the beneficiary. However, due to a system limitation, this requirement is mandatory for all RESP beneficiaries, whether or not they hold segregated funds.

We are pleased to announce the update of our mandatory training on anti-money laundering (AML) and anti-terrorist financing (ATF), now available on Investia Learning. As this topic is a priority for our industry, it is necessary to complete this training every two (2) years to keep knowledge current and enhance your skills in identifying indicators and reporting suspicious transactions.

Please be advised that effective September 27, 2024, the risk rating of each the following funds was increased by Mackenzie (“MFC-MRD”):

As you know, as part of our Digital Adoption Campaign, we launched a contest last August offering clients the opportunity to win $1,000 by logging into the Investia Client Portal or app. The contest will run until December, and we are very enthusiastic about its potential success. 

As announced on April 27, 2023 and in other communications, members of the New Self-Regulatory Organization of Canada approved the new name of this organization to Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (“CIRO”) following the amalgamation of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (“IIROC”) and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association (“MFDA”) on January 1, 2023.

Always with the goal of achieving the highest level of efficiency for you and your clients, we would like to provide an important reminder regarding internal transfers between two Investia nominee accounts.

Please be advised that Monday, September 30, 2024, all banks will be closed because of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. As a result, September 30 will be a trade day, but not a settlement day.

As a follow-up to the September 12, 2024 communication, we would like to remind you that we will be sending over the bank files to the various financial institutions today, Thursday, September 19, 2024 to enable the withdrawal of Investia’s Client Administrative Fees from clients’ bank accounts for eligible clients:

The 8th edition of iA Financial Group’s Canada-wide philanthropic contest is open! To mark the occasion, iA will be giving out $500,000 in donations. 

This year, the contest is focused on supporting Canadian charities that work in the health, education, environment or social services fields and have a mission, or a component of their mission, which supports people struggling with social issues such as homelessness, food insecurity, dropping out of school, addictions, violence, mental health or isolation.

In order to facilitate the opening of your clients’ accounts with all the necessary documentation, we would like to remind you that our “Forms Checklist (Appendix 4)” is available for you to use. You can access this document in the Document Centre of the Advisor Centre via this link:  Forms Checklist (Appendix 4).

We would like to thank everyone who attended the Virtual Water Cooler Chat held on Thursday, September 12. For those of you who missed it, you can watch the presentation by clicking on the following recording link: Virtual Water Cooler Chat – September 12, 2024

Following the August 29, 2024 communication, we would like to remind you that holders of a nominee RRSP or LIRA/locked-in RRSP who will have reached age 71 by December 31, 2024 must transfer their account to a RRIF or LIF before year end.

We are excited to announce the dates for the 2024 Virtual Conference for Administrative Personnel. 

Following the September 5, 2024 communication, we would like to inform you of an amendment recently made to Administrative Procedures # 47 – Electronic Funds Transfer – Investia Nominee Accounts and #47A – Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) - Purchase in a Client-Name Account. More specifically, these procedures were reviewed, and clarifications related to EFTs from a third party’s bank account have been added.

Good news! As previously announced, we are pleased to confirm that starting September 16, 2024, it will be possible to make purchases via electronic funds transfer (“EFT”) deposit in Investia nominee accounts.

Following the launch of the Business Tracker last year, we are pleased to announce that we have made an enhancement to this tool.

Effective September 12, 2024, in the “Processing Timelines” section, a column will be added next to the existing estimated timelines to indicate the current processing times. This column will allow you to view the status of delays, if any.

We are happy to introduce to you the new online group training courses that are now available on Investia Learning.

As a follow-up to the September 5, 2024 communication, we would like to inform you that we will be sending over the bank files to the various financial institutions on September 19, 2024, to enable the withdrawal of Investia’s Client Administrative Fees from clients’ bank accounts for eligible clients:

• who have provided consent up to and including June 30, 2024;
• who have valid banking information on file;
• whose fee was not redeemed via investments;
• where the Representative has indicated that they are not paying the fee on behalf of the client.
  

In order to facilitate your transactions in client-name accounts and answer questions you may have on the Electronic Processing Agreement (“EPA”), we are providing you with a document entitled “EPA Guidelines (Client-Name Accounts Only)”.

The “Great Renewal” is coming. Are your clients ready for the mortgage renewal payment shock?

Millions of homeowners locked in super-low rates during the pandemic are about to face a financial reality check. When those terms expire, higher payments could seriously strain their budgets. Are you equipped to guide your clients through this turbulent transition?

We would like to inform you that we will be sending over the bank files to the various financial institutions during the week of September 16, 2024 to enable the withdrawal of Investia’s Client Administrative Fees from clients’ bank accounts for eligible clients:

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new dedicated estate email estates@investia.ca, effective Monday, September 9, 2024. This new channel will allow you to communicate directly with our team of Estate Specialists to ensure that you receive their expert support in a timelier manner.

The “Great Renewal” is coming. Are your clients ready for the mortgage renewal payment shock?

Millions of homeowners locked in super-low rates during the pandemic are about to face a financial reality check. When those terms expire, higher payments could seriously strain their budgets. Are you equipped to guide your clients through this turbulent transition?

We would like to inform you of an amendment recently made to Administrative Procedure # 47A – Using Nominee CCA (Open or TFSA) for a Purchase in a Client-Name Account. More specifically, this procedure was reviewed so that it can now apply to open accounts and nominee TFSAs which hold assets in the plans, whereas before this procedure was reserved for accounts opened for cash account purposes only.

We would like to remind you that in the situation where you are appointed as the executor/liquidator of a client’s estate, as a general rule, you must transfer the client’s account to another dealer. 

You missed these communications while you were on vacation this summer? Here are two initiatives released by our Compliance team last June and July to facilitate your day-to-day activities. 

We would like to remind you that our next Virtual Water Cooler Chat will be held on Thursday, September 12, at 2:30 p.m. (ET).

We would like to remind you that a new self-serve reporting tool is available on the Investia Advisor Centre. Launched on the week of August 12, 2024 (ref. August 1, 2024 communication), this tool enables you to generate useful reports for your practice, including the “Advisor Service Fee Invoice” report, which was made available upon launch.

Following the August 1, 2024 communication, we would like to remind you that holders of a nominee RRSP or LIRA/locked-in RRSP who will have reached age 71 by December 31, 2024 must transfer their account to a RRIF or LIF before year end.

Please be advised that effective Friday, August 30, 2024, the risk rating and asset class of several funds will change in Univeris. 

As a follow-up to the June 20, 2024 communication, we would like to inform you that as of Tuesday, September 3, 2024, Client Services will be returning to its regular operating hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

Please be advised that Monday, September 2, 2024, is Labour Day and a statutory holiday in all the provinces. As a result, markets and Fundserv will be closed, which means that no trading or settlement will take place on that day. We will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, September 3.

As a follow-up to the June 27, 2024 communication, we remind you that effective August 28, 2024, Head Office will no longer manually adjust your clients’ AWDs in the event of insufficient funds. This applies to the payment cycle of September 5, 2024 as well as all subsequent AWDs.

To promote digital adoption, we would like to remind you that a contest was launched on August 7 to give clients the chance to win $1,000 by simply logging in to the Investia Client Portal or app. An amount of $1,000 in cash will be drawn each month until December among every client who logs in at least once during the month.

For those of you who may not know, a new global client management initiative was launched on July 18, 2024 (ref. Launch of Global Management memo).

As a follow-up to the June 27, 2024 communication, please be reminded that effective August 28, 2024, Head Office will no longer manually adjust your clients’ AWDs in the event of insufficient funds. This applies to the payment cycle of September 5, 2024 as well as all subsequent AWDs.

As a follow-up to the July 25, 2024 communication, we would like to remind you that the trade settlement cycle changed from T+2 to T+1 effective May 27, 2024.

We are pleased to inform you that a new client marketing document has been made available: the Investia Corporate Profile. This 4-page promotional document provides a high-level overview of Investia and the services we offer as dealer which set us apart in terms of client experience. 

Have you started using it yet? Launched on June 27, 2024, our Automated KYC Update Tool allows clients to review their KYC profile easily, quickly and securely through their Client Portal, and Representatives to approve the KYC much more efficiently.

After a well-deserved summer break, our Water Cooler Chats are now back in full force!

Effective April 29, 2024, Investia introduced a new process for adding clients’ banking information to Univeris via the Advisor Centre. The process has been in place for a couple of months, and we would like to take this opportunity to remind you of a few key steps to ensure a smooth process for both Representatives and Head Office. 

Following the August 1, 2024 communication, we are pleased to inform you that our client contest was launched yesterday, Wednesday, August 7. To promote digital adoption, this contest will give your clients the chance to win $1,000 for logging on to the Investia Client Portal or Mobile App. All they have to do is log on to the portal or app! $1,000 will be awarded each month until the contest ends on December 31, 2024. 

We are pleased to share with you some excellent news concerning the identification process for global management clients. As you know, we had previously announced that the use of the (*) symbol to identify these clients was a temporary measure. After analysis, we have found a simpler and more permanent way of facilitating this process.