Pass the IFSE Institute Investments & Banking CIFC Questions and answers with ExamsMirror

 Hamid is using a bottom-up investment approach, which focuses on the analysis of individual stocks rather than the overall market or industry trends. Hamid is looking for companies that have strong fundamentals and are undervalued by the market, regardless of their sector or macroeconomic factors. References: Investment Strategies to Learn Before Trading

 According to the Canadian Investment Funds Course, different types of investment income are taxed differently in Canada. Interest income is fully taxed at the marginal rate, while dividend income is favourably taxed with a dividend tax credit. Capital gains are taxed on 50% of the gain at the marginal rate, and foreign income is subject to withholding tax. Therefore, a tax-efficient strategy is to include interest paying investments, such as bonds or GICs, in the registered plan, where they can grow tax-deferred until withdrawal. Dividend paying investments, such as Canadian stocks or ETFs, should be included in the non-registered plan, where they can benefit from the lower tax rate and the dividend tax credit. Foreign income should also be avoided in the non-registered plan, unless it is held in a U.S. dollar account or a foreign currency hedged ETF, to reduce the impact of withholding tax and currency fluctuations.

References: 1: Canadian Investment Funds Course - IFSE Institute 2 (Unit 9: Retirement)

The statement that is true about Marta’s situation is option D. A registered retirement income fund (RRIF) is a type of registered account that provides income in retirement by converting savings from an RRSP or other sources. A RRIF holder must withdraw a minimum amount from their RRIF each year, starting from the year after they open their RRIF. The minimum amount is calculated based on a percentage factor set by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and the value of the RRIF at the beginning of each year. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CRA has reduced the required minimum withdrawals from RRIFs by 25% for 2020 and 2021. Therefore, Marta does not have to withdraw the minimum amount this year if she chooses to take advantage of this temporary measure. Therefore, option D is true about Marta’s situation. The other statements are not true about Marta’s situation. Option A is false because she will not be able to continue contributing to her RRIF and be subject to the same annual limits as her RRSP; rather, she will not be able to make any further contributions to her RRIF once she converts her RRSP to a RRIF. Option B is false because she will not incur a tax liability when she converts her RRSP to a RRIF; rather, she will only pay tax on the amount that she withdraws from her RRIF each year. Option C is false because she will not be subject to annual maximum withdrawal limits; rather, she will be able to withdraw any amount from her RRIF as long as she meets the minimum withdrawal requirement. References: [Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) | GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca], [Making RRIF withdrawals | GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca], [RRIF minimum withdrawal factors], [RRIFs: Temporary 25% reduction in minimum withdrawals for 2020 and 2021]

The element of the Know Your Client (KYC) information that Malik has been able to learn is Charlotte’s risk preference. KYC information is a collection of personal and financial information that registered firms and individuals must obtain from their clients before providing any investment advice or services. KYC information helps registered firms and individuals understand their clients’ needs, goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, and personal circumstances, as well as comply with regulatory obligations such as suitability, disclosure, and reporting. One of the components of KYC information is risk preference, which is a measure of how much risk an investor is willing to take on in their portfolio. It reflects the investor’s attitude, personality, and emotional factors that influence their investment decisions. Risk preference can be classified into three categories: risk-seeking, risk-averse, or risk-neutral. Based on Charlotte’s statement that she does not know much about trading ETFs, but she wants to invest in ETFs, and that she feels fortunate to have this money and that she’s not worried about losing it because she never planned on having any of it, Malik can infer that Charlotte has a high-risk preference or a risk-seeking attitude. This means that Charlotte is willing to take on more risk in exchange for higher potential returns, even if it means losing some or all of her money. Therefore, option C is correct regarding what element of KYC information Malik has been able to learn. The other options are not correct regarding what element of KYC information Malik has been able to learn. Option A is false because risk profile is not an element of KYC information; rather, it is an outcome of KYC information that summarizes the investor’s overall suitability for different types of investments based on their KYC information. Option B is false because risk capacity is not an element of KYC information; rather, it is a measure of how much risk an investor can afford to take on in their portfolio based on their financial situation and goals. Option D is false because risk tolerance is not an element of KYC information; rather, it is a measure of how much risk an investor can handle in their portfolio without losing sleep or changing their plans. References: [Know Your Client (KYC) | IFIC], [Know Your Client (KYC) | GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca], [Risk Preference | Investopedia]

Your client, James, would like to work beyond the normal retirement age. He comes to you for advice on his registered retirement savings plan (RRSP). What are the rules regarding terminating an RRSP?

James must terminate the plan by the end of the year he turns 65.

James must terminate the plan by the end of the year he turns 67.

James must terminate the plan by the end of the year he turns 70.

James must terminate the plan by the end of the year he turns 71.

Answer: D

According to the Canadian Investment Funds Course, an RRSP is a retirement savings plan that allows individuals to defer taxes on their contributions and investment income until they withdraw the funds. However, an RRSP cannot be held indefinitely and must be terminated by the end of the year the annuitant turns 71. At that point, the annuitant has three options to withdraw the funds from the RRSP:

Make a lump-sum withdrawal, which is subject to withholding tax and income tax.

Convert the RRSP to a registered retirement income fund (RRIF), which provides a steady stream of income with a minimum amount that must be withdrawn each year.

Purchase an annuity, which offers a guaranteed income for life or for a specified period.

References: 1: Canadian Investment Funds Course - IFSE Institute 2 (Unit 9: Retirement)

The Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA) is the self-regulatory organization (SRO) that regulates mutual fund dealers in Canada, except in Québec. The MFDA is responsible for setting and enforcing rules and standards of conduct for its members and their representatives, as well as conducting compliance reviews and investigations. Rashad works for a mutual fund dealer that is registered in all provinces and territories of Canada, including Alberta, where he is based. Therefore, his client files will be part of a compliance review by the MFDA, which is the applicable SRO for his firm and jurisdiction.

References = Canadian Investment Funds Course, Unit 7: The Regulatory Environment, Lesson 1: The Regulatory Framework, Section 7.1.2: Self-Regulatory Organizations (SROs) 1; MFDA website 2

 Relationship Disclosure Information (RDI) is a document that provides important information about the nature and scope of the relationship between a registered firm and its clients. It covers topics such as the products and services offered by the firm, the fees and charges applicable to the client’s account, the risks associated with investing, the conflict of interest management policies of the firm, and the dispute resolution services available to the client. According to Section 14.2 of National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations (NI 31-103), registered firms must provide RDI to their clients before they purchase or sell securities for them or advise them to do so. Registered firms must also update RDI in a timely manner if there are any significant changes to it. To evidence that they have satisfied their RDI obligation, registered firms may retain a copy of the RDI in the client file with detailed notes to confirm that they have provided and explained RDI to their clients. This is one of the acceptable methods suggested by Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) in its presentation on RDI1. Delivering RDI only upon request or using a letter of engagement are not sufficient methods to comply with NI 31-103. Providing and explaining Fund Facts is a separate obligation under NI 31-101 Mutual Fund Distribution Rules. References: Relationship Disclosure Information August 2021, Relationship Disclosure Information, Relationship Disclosure Information

Mutual fund orders placed after the market closes are processed using the next business day's net asset value per unit (NAVPU). Since Derek submitted his sell order at 8:00 p.m. EST on Friday, January 6 (after the close of the markets), his proceeds will be based on the NAVPU for Monday, January 9, the next business day.

References: This information is consistent with the standard practice for mutual fund transactions as outlined in the Canadian Investment Funds Course (CIFC). The CIFC materials provided by IFSE Institute (https://www.ifse.ca/courselist/canadian-investment-funds-course-cifc/ and https://www.ifse.ca/resources/ ) cover the procedures and timings related to mutual fund transactions.

The federal tax on eligible Canadian dividends is calculated as follows:

First, the dividend amount is grossed up by 38%, which means multiplying it by 1.38. This is to account for the corporate tax that has already been paid by the company. Eleanora’s grossed-up dividend is $500 x 1.38 = $690.

Second, the grossed-up dividend is multiplied by the federal marginal tax rate to get the gross federal tax. Eleanora’s gross federal tax is $690 x 0.29 = $200.10.

Third, the grossed-up dividend is multiplied by the federal dividend tax credit rate to get the federal tax credit. This is to avoid double taxation of the dividend income. Eleanora’s federal tax credit is $690 x 0.1502 = $103.64.

Fourth, the federal tax credit is subtracted from the gross federal tax to get the net federal tax. Eleanora’s net federal tax is $200.10 - $103.64 = $96.46.

Therefore, Eleanora will pay $96.46 in federal tax on her dividend. References: How Dividends Are Taxed and Reported on Tax Returns - Investopedia, Dividend Tax Credit in Canada - TurboTax

A passively managed fund is a type of investment fund that follows a predetermined strategy or rule to track the performance of a market index, such as the S&P 500, or a specific sector, such as technology or health care. A passively managed fund does not involve active decision-making by the fund manager, who simply replicates the composition and weighting of the index or sector. A passively managed fund aims to match the return and risk of the index or sector, rather than outperform it. A passively managed fund typically has lower fees and expenses than an actively managed fund, as it requires less research, trading, and oversight.

An exchange traded fund (ETF) is a type of passively managed fund that trades on a stock exchange like a common stock. An ETF holds a basket of securities that mirrors an index or sector, and its price fluctuates throughout the day based on supply and demand. An ETF allows investors to gain exposure to a diversified portfolio of securities with low costs, high liquidity, and tax efficiency.

A commodity pool is a type of investment fund that invests in futures contracts or options on commodities, such as oil, gold, or wheat. A commodity pool is usually actively managed by a commodity trading advisor (CTA), who uses various strategies to generate returns from the price movements of commodities.

A hedge fund is a type of investment fund that employs sophisticated and often aggressive strategies to achieve high returns and reduce risk. A hedge fund is usually actively managed by a hedge fund manager, who has wide discretion and flexibility to use various instruments, such as derivatives, leverage, short selling, arbitrage, etc. A hedge fund is typically available only to accredited investors who meet certain income and net worth criteria.

A labour-sponsored investment fund (LSIF) is a type of investment fund that provides venture capital to small and medium-sized Canadian businesses, while offering tax benefits to investors. An LSIF is usually actively managed by a labour union or an organization affiliated with a labour union, who selects the companies to invest in based on their potential for growth and job creation.

References: Canadian Investment Funds Course, Chapter 4: Types of Investments1