Pass the CSI Canadian Securities Course IFC Questions and answers with Dumpstech

The endowment bias occurs when investors place a higher value on assets they already own compared to the market value, simply because of ownership.

Dave overvalues his property relative to the market.

Farida = representativeness bias.

Kendra = availability bias.

Peter = status quo bias.

Thus, Dave demonstrates endowment bias.

Standard equity funds focus on capital gains and may include dividend income, but unlike dividend funds, they do not prioritize capital preservation. The feedback from the document states:

"A standard equity fund seeks to earn some combination of dividend income and capital gains from investment in Canadian common stocks. This objective appears to be similar to that of a preferred dividend fund. The difference between the two is that an equity fund usually has a much stronger capital gains focus. Note as well that equity funds make no specific attempt to preserve capital; in other words, equity funds are willing to put capital at substantially greater risk than preferred dividend funds."

Martine has multiple financial goals (short-term home purchase, medium-term education, long-term retirement). Using a single growth fund for all goals is inappropriate because growth funds are designed for long-term objectives and involve higher volatility.

This results in unsuitable allocation across her short-, medium-, and long-term needs.

Sector rotation is an investment philosophy that prioritizes weighting industries based on their expected performance during different economic cycles, placing less emphasis on individual security selection. The feedback from the document states:

"Sector rotation is a portfolio manager’s attempt to profit through timing. It is based on the belief that different industries will perform well during certain stages of the economic cycle. Industries expected to outperform would be overweighted. More emphasis is placed on industry weighting than on security selection."

The custodian, typically a trust company, receives and holds all funds from investors and other sources, managing the fund’s assets and expenses. The feedback from the document states:

"The Custodian. When a mutual fund is established, a separate organization, most often a trust company, is appointed as the fund’s custodian. The custodian receives and holds the fund’s money obtained from all sources – investors buying the fund’s units or shares, income earned by the fund’s investment portfolio, proceeds from the sale of the fund’s investments, holds all the fund’s assets and distributes the fund’s money to pay the fund’s expenses."

 According to the What Is a Call Option and How to Use It With Example - Investopedia, a call option is a contract that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy an underlying stock at a specified price (the strike price) within a specified time period (the expiration date). The seller of a call option is obligated to sell the stock if the buyer exercises the option. Pierre buys a call option on a stock, which means he has the right to buy the stock if he exercises the option. He can also choose not to exercise the option or sell it before expiration.

A target date fund is a type of mutual fund that adjusts its asset allocation and risk level according to a predetermined future date, such as retirement or college education. A target date fund typically starts with a higher proportion of stocks and a lower proportion of bonds and cash, and gradually shifts to a more conservative mix as the target date approaches. This is called the fund’s glide path, which shows the asset mix through the life of the fund until the future date. Russell is permitted to include this information on his website, as it is factual and relevant to the fund’s characteristics and suitability. Russell is also permitted to include information about the expected decline in the fund’s risk level as the fund reaches its target date, as this is part of the fund’s objective and strategy. However, Russell is not permitted to include any information that implies or suggests that the target date fund offers a guaranteed return or a promised growth on the future date, as this would be misleading and inaccurate. Target date funds are not guaranteed investments, and their performance depends on the market conditions and the fund manager’s decisions. Russell must not make any false or exaggerated claims about the target date fund’s benefits or returns on his website.

Canadian Investment Funds Course, Chapter 7: Know Your Product1

Implied needs of your clients are needs reflected by statements made by clients regarding problems and dissatisfactions1. For example, a client may say “I’m worried about outliving my savings” or “I don’t understand how this investment works”. These statements imply that the client has a need for retirement planning or financial education, respectively. Implied needs are different from explicit needs, which are statements of wants and needs made by clients1. For example, a client may say “I want to save for my child’s education” or “I need a low-risk investment”. These statements express the client’s goals and preferences clearly. Statements made by you showing readiness to solve a client’s problem are not implied needs, but rather responses to implied needs1. For example, you may say “I can help you create a retirement plan that suits your lifestyle” or “I can explain how this investment works and what are the benefits and risks”. Statements made by clients expressing the desire for lower commissions are not implied needs, but rather objections or concerns that may arise during the sales process2. For example, a client may say “Your fees are too high” or “I can get a better deal elsewhere”. These statements may indicate that the client is not convinced of the value of your service or product, or that they are trying to negotiate a lower price. References: Unit 2: Know Your Client, Unit 10: Sales Process

Misrepresenting risks violates the MFDA Rule No. 2 requirement to deal fairly, honestly, and in good faith with clients. The feedback from the document states:

"MFDA Rule No 2 ‘Business Conduct’ sets out the standards applicable to all MFDA members and their respective dealing representatives. In this case, the representative has not dealt honestly with the client by misrepresenting information."

C is correct because the management expense ratio (MER) reflects the percentage of each dollar of fund assets that is used to pay for management services and operating expenses of a mutual fund. The MER includes various fees and expenses, such as management fees, administration fees, trailer fees, audit fees, legal fees, and taxes. The MER reduces the return of the fund, as it is deducted from the fund’s income and capital gains before they are distributed to investors. Mutual funds are not required to calculate the MER on a daily basis (A), but rather on an annual basis. Trailer and brokerage fees are included in the MER (B), not charged separately. Mutual fund performance is impacted by the MER (D), as it lowers the net return of the fund. Rates of return are published net of fees, but they do not reflect the impact of the MER on the fund’s performance.

The dividend tax credit for Canadian dividends is calculated based on the grossed-up dividend amount. For eligible dividends, the gross-up is 38%. The taxable amount for $1,200 in dividends is $1,200 × 1.38 = $1,656. The dividend tax credit is 15.02% of the grossed-up amount: $1,656 × 15.02% = $248.73. The feedback from the document confirms:

"The taxable amount of the dividend is the income received plus a 38% gross-up amount. In this example, $1,200 + ($1,200 × 38%) = $1,656. The dividend tax credit is 15.02% of the grossed-up amount, in this example, $1,656 × 15.02% = $248.73."

A pension adjustment (PA) is the amount that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) assigns to your pension plan each year to reflect the value of the pension benefits that you earned. The PA reduces your registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) contribution room for the following year by the same amount. The PA ensures that all taxpayers have access to comparable tax assistance, regardless of the type of pension plan they participate in. You will receive a PA whether you are in a defined contribution or a defined benefit pension plan, but the calculation of the PA will differ depending on the type of plan. (Canadian Investment Funds Course, Chapter 8, Section 8.2)

Canadian Investment Funds Course, Chapter 8, Section 8.2: Retirement Savings Plans and Pension Plans

Investopedia: Pension Adjustment: Definition and Types of Plans1

PlanEasy: What Is A Pension Adjustment?2

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]

A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is a tax-advantaged savings plan that helps parents and family members save for a child’s post-secondary education. The government also contributes to the plan through the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) and the Canada Learning Bond (CLB), depending on the family income and the amount of contributions. However, there are some rules and limits that apply to RESP contributions and government grants. One of them is the lifetime contribution limit, which is the maximum amount that can be contributed to an RESP for a beneficiary from all sources. The lifetime contribution limit is $50,000 per beneficiary, regardless of how many RESPs are opened for them or who contributes to them. Therefore, statement A is correct. Justin and Yvonne may contribute a combined lifetime maximum of $50,000 for Grace to their RESP.

The other statements are incorrect for the following reasons:

Statement B: RESPs are not tax-free investment plans. They are tax-deferred plans, meaning that the contributions are made with after-tax dollars and the investment income earned in the plan is not taxed until it is withdrawn as an educational assistance payment (EAP) for the beneficiary. The EAPs are taxed in the hands of the beneficiary, who usually has little or no income and pays little or no tax.

Statement C: There is no annual contribution limit for RESP contributions. However, there is an annual limit for the CESG, which is 20% of the first $2,500 contributed per beneficiary per year, up to a maximum of $500 per year. The CESG also has a lifetime limit of $7,200 per beneficiary.

Statement D: Contributions made to an RESP are not eligible for a tax deduction in the year they are contributed. They are made with after-tax dollars and do not reduce the contributor’s taxable income.

Canadian Investment Funds Course, Unit 9, Section 9.1