Which of the following statements about pension adjustments (PA) is TRUE?
Correct Answer: D
Explanation 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) References: * 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
Question 97
Lior is considering an investment that gains exposure to companies that trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). He is not sure what the differences are between a Canadian equity fund and a Canadian dividend fund. What would you tell him?
Correct Answer: C
Explanation The answer that you should tell Lior is that dividend funds tend to be less volatile and lower risk than equity funds. A dividend fund is a type of equity fund that invests primarily in dividend-paying stocks, which are shares of companies that distribute a portion of their earnings to shareholders on a regular basis. A dividend fund provides income and capital appreciation to investors, as well as tax advantages for eligible dividends paid by Canadian corporations. A dividend fund tends to be less volatile and lower risk than an equity fund that invests in non-dividend-paying stocks or growth stocks, which are shares of companies that reinvest their earnings into expanding their business rather than paying dividends. This is because dividend-paying stocks are usually issued by well-established and profitable companies that have stable cash flows and earnings, which make them more resilient to market fluctuations and economic downturns. Therefore, option C is correct regarding what you should tell Lior. The other options are not correct or relevant to what you should tell Lior. Option A is false because equity funds are not more appropriate than dividend funds if Lior requires a steady flow of income; rather, dividend funds are more suitable for income-oriented investors who want to receive regular dividends from their investments. Option B is false because dividend funds do not generate tax-preferred income while income from equity funds is fully taxable; rather, both types of funds generate taxable income for investors, but eligible dividends from Canadian corporations may qualify for a lower tax rate than other types of income due to the dividend tax credit. Option D is false because equity funds do not hold common shares while dividend funds hold only preferred shares; rather, both types of funds hold common shares, but dividend funds focus on common shares that pay dividends, while equity funds may also hold common shares that do not pay dividends or pay low dividends. References: [Dividend Funds | GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca], [Equity Funds | GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca], [Dividend Tax Credit | GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca]
Question 98
What type of shares offer its shareholders the opportunity to receive additional dividends if the company's profit exceeds a stated level?
Correct Answer: D
Explanation Participating preferred shares are a type of preferred shares that offer its shareholders the opportunity to receive additional dividends if the company's profit exceeds a stated level. These dividends are paid in addition to the fixed dividends that are normally paid to preferred shareholders. Participating preferred shares allow shareholders to benefit from both fixed and variable income streams, depending on the company's performance. References: Participating Preferred Stock Definition - Investopedia, Preferred Shares Explained | TD Direct Investing
Question 99
Winter is a Dealing Representative with Top Tier Investing, a mutual fund dealer and member of the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA). Which of the following statements about Winter's suitability obligation is CORRECT? Winter is required to make a suitability determination every time: i) she makes a recommendation to a client ii) a client's investment returns decline. iii) she opens a new client account iv) the markets fluctuate.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation According to the MFDA Rules, a Dealing Representative is required to make a suitability determination every time: The Dealing Representative makes a recommendation to a client; The Dealing Representative accepts a trade instruction from a client; The Dealing Representative opens a new account for a client or changes the account type; The Dealing Representative becomes aware of a material change in the client's KYC information; Securities are transferred or re-registered into the client's account; or There has been a change in the Approved Person responsible for the client's account2 A suitability determination is the process of ensuring that any investment action taken for a client is suitable for the client based on their KYC information, such as investment objectives, risk tolerance, time horizon, financial situation, and investment knowledge. A suitability determination also requires putting the client's interests first and disclosing any material factors involved in the investment action2 Therefore, Winter is required to make a suitability determination every time she makes a recommendation to a client (i) or she opens a new client account (iii). She is not required to make a suitability determination every time a client's investment returns decline (ii) or the markets fluctuate (iv), unless these events trigger a material change in the client's KYC information or affect the suitability of the client's portfolio. References: 1: MSN-0069 | MFDA 2 (Know-Your-Client (KYC) and Suitability)
Question 100
Which statement CORRECTLY describes index mutual funds and traditional exchange-traded funds (ETFs)?
Correct Answer: A
Explanation Index mutual funds and traditional exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are both types of investment funds that use a passive investment management style, which means they try to track the performance of a specific market index, such as the S&P/TSX Composite Index or the S&P 500 Index. They do so by holding the same securities as the index or a representative sample of them, and by adjusting their portfolio composition and weighting to reflect any changes in the index. However, both types of funds may not be able to exactly replicate the return of the index for various reasons, such as fees, expenses, tracking error, rebalancing frequency, dividend reinvestment, and cash holdings. Therefore, there may be some deviation or difference between the fund's return and the index's return, which is called tracking difference. References: Canadian Investment Funds Course, Chapter 4: Types of Investments1