IFSE Institute CIFC - Canadian Investment Funds Course Exam

 If Ellen receives the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS), Jeff may be eligible for the Canada Learning Bond (CLB). The CLB is a grant of up to $2,000 that the Government of Canada deposits into a child’s RESP to help low-income families start saving for their child’s education2. The CLB does not require any contributions from the parents. To be eligible for the CLB, the child must have been born after December 31, 2003 and the family must receive the NCBS, which is part of the Canada Child Benefit3. The other statements are false. If Jeff qualifies for additional CESG, his CESG lifetime maximum increases to $7,200, not $10,000. If Jeff decides not to pursue a post-secondary education, he cannot keep the CESG; it must be returned to the government. George may open an RESP for Jeff and it will qualify to receive CESGs, as long as George is a resident of Canada and has a valid social insurance number. References: Unit 8: Retirement, Canada Learning Bond, [Canada Education Savings Grant], [RESP Withdrawals], [RESP Providers]

 The “Know Your Product” obligation requires that Dealing Representatives understand all the products they purchase, sell or recommend for their clients, including their structure, features, risks, costs and suitability. Rehan has fulfilled this obligation by reviewing the features of the Hedge Fund and explaining them to Georgi, who may not be aware of the lock-up period and its implications. The other Dealing Representatives have failed to fulfill their obligation by either not knowing or not disclosing important information about the products they deal with.

References: Canadian Investment Funds Course, Chapter 7: Know Your Product1

 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

A net capital loss is the excess of allowable capital losses over taxable capital gains in a taxation year. A mutual fund trust is a type of investment fund that is structured as a trust and distributes its income and capital gains to its unit holders. A mutual fund trust cannot pass on its net capital losses to its unit holders, as it can only distribute its net income and net realized capital gains. However, a mutual fund trust can carry forward its net capital losses indefinitely and use them to offset its taxable capital gains in future years. This reduces the amount of tax payable by the mutual fund trust and increases the amount of distributions available to its unit holders. A mutual fund trust cannot carry back its net capital losses to previous years, as this option is only available to corporations12. References:

Canadian Investment Funds Course (CIFC) Study Guide, Chapter 7: Taxation, Section 7.3: Taxation of Mutual Funds, page 7-103

Capital Losses and Deductions - Canada.ca1

Mutual Fund Trusts - Canada.ca2

According to the Canadian Investment Funds Course, a registered retirement income fund (RRIF) is a type of registered plan that provides a stream of income in retirement. A RRIF can be opened at any age, but it must be established by the end of the year the annuitant turns 71. A RRIF cannot accept any contributions, but it can receive transfers from other registered plans, such as RRSPs, PRPPs, RPPs, or other RRIFs. A RRIF has no maximum withdrawal limit, meaning that the annuitant can withdraw any amount from the plan at any time. However, a RRIF has a minimum withdrawal requirement, which is calculated based on the annuitant’s age or the age of their spouse or common-law partner. The minimum withdrawal must be paid out in the year following the year the RRIF is opened and every year thereafter. The minimum withdrawal is taxable as income in the year of receipt.

Therefore, the correct answer is C. Gregory’s account will be subjected to no maximum withdrawal limit but to an annual minimum withdrawal.

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

Trailer fees are ongoing fees that are paid by mutual fund managers to mutual fund dealers for providing ongoing services to their clients who hold units of their funds. Trailer fees are calculated as a percentage of the value of assets under management (AUM) of the clients who hold units of the fund. Trailer fees are paid out of the management fee that is charged by the mutual fund manager to cover the costs of operating and administering the fund. Therefore, option C is correct regarding mutual fund fees. The other options are incorrect. Option A is false because redemptions are not made from units held by investors to pay trailer fees; rather, trailer fees are paid out of the management fee that is deducted from the net asset value (NAV) of the fund. Option B is false because trailer fees are not only paid to mutual fund dealers when a purchase is made; rather, trailer fees are paid on an ongoing basis as long as the clients hold units of the fund. Option D is false because trading commissions are not paid from the management fee; rather, trading commissions are paid from the trading expense ratio (TER) that reflects the costs of buying and selling securities within the fund. References: [Mutual Fund Fees Explained | Wealthsimple], [Mutual Fund Fees | GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca], [Understanding Mutual Fund Fees | Investopedia]

A treasury bill is a short-term debt instrument issued by the government at a discount from its face value and redeemed at par value at maturity. The difference between the purchase price and the face value is the interest income earned by the investor. Therefore, Megan treats the $1,800 difference as interest income for tax purposes. Interest income is fully taxable at the investor’s marginal tax rate in the year it is received. Megan does not report any capital gain, dividend, or return of capital from the treasury bill.

References: Canadian Investment Funds Course, Unit 5, Section 5.2

The Do Not Call List (DNCL) is a national registry of personal telephone numbers that consumers can register to reduce the number of unsolicited telemarketing calls they receive. Telemarketers are required to subscribe to the DNCL and avoid calling the numbers on the list, unless they have an exemption. One of the exemptions is for existing business relationships, which means that a telemarketer can call a consumer who has purchased a product or service from them or their employer within the last 18 months, or who has made an inquiry or application within the last six months. Therefore, Kendrick is still eligible to contact Chandra, who is an existing client of Oak Solid Financial, even if she is on the DNCL registry. However, Kendrick must respect Chandra’s right to request that he stop calling her and remove her number from his contact list.

References: Canadian Investment Funds Course, Chapter 1: The Canadian Financial Services Industry1, National Do Not Call List - Canada.ca2

Orel’s goal is to build emergency savings, which means he needs a flexible and accessible account that does not penalize withdrawals. A TFSA is more suitable for this purpose, as it allows tax-free withdrawals at any time and does not affect other income-tested benefits. An RRSP, on the other hand, is designed for long-term retirement savings, and withdrawals are subject to income tax and withholding tax. Moreover, RRSP withdrawals reduce the contribution room permanently, and may affect eligibility for government benefits such as the Canada Child Benefit or the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

References = Canadian Investment Funds Course (CIFC) - Module 3: Registered Plans - Section 3.1: Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)1 and Section 3.2: Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA)2

1: https://www.ifse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/CIFC-Module-3.pdf 2: https://www.ifse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/CIFC-Module-3.pdf