IFC Exam Dumps - CSI Canadian Securities Course Questions and Answers

Research and the CSC curriculum stress that asset allocation is the single most important factor in determining portfolio performance, more than market timing or security selection.

Proper asset mix (equities, fixed income, cash) accounts for most portfolio success or failure.

Scarcity is a characteristic of investment capital that refers to the limited availability of capital relative to the demand for it. Scarcity affects the price and return of capital, as well as the allocation of capital among different issuers and sectors. When capital is scarce, issuers have to compete for it by offering higher returns or lower prices, or by adjusting their financing strategies. When capital is abundant, issuers have more access to it at lower costs or higher prices, or by diversifying their sources of capital. In this case, Raybert has a very short-term investment objective and has decided to purchase money market instruments. There are plenty of 90-day money market securities available for him to choose from, but he can only afford to purchase one. This means that the issuers of these securities are exposed to the scarcity of capital, as they have to attract Raybert and other investors with similar objectives by offering competitive rates or discounts.

References = Canadian Investment Funds Course, Unit 5: Types of Investments, Lesson 1: Economic Factors and Financial Markets, Section 5.1.1: Characteristics of Investment Capital1; CIFC prepkit, Chapter 5: Types of Investments, Question 5.1.1 2

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."

Asset allocation should be reviewed when the investment environment changes to ensure it remains suitable for the client’s objectives. The feedback from the document states:

"In general terms, an equity weighting of less than 25% is considered conservative and more than 75% is considered aggressive. Only if the client is very aggressive should the weighting of his equity component reach 90%."

Overconfidence bias leads investors to overestimate their knowledge or the reliability of information, such as a “hot tip,” prompting them to act without sufficient due diligence. The feedback from the document states:

"Overconfidence is defined generally as unwarranted faith in one’s intuitive reasoning, judgements and cognitive abilities. People tend to overestimate both their predictive abilities as well as the precision of the information they have been given. For example, an investor may get a tip from a wealth advisor or read something on the Internet about an investment opportunity, and then take action (that is, make the decision to invest) based on her perceived knowledge advantage."

Jabir will be eligible to open new client accounts and sell investments only after he receives formal confirmation from the securities regulator that he is registered as a Dealing Representative. This is because registration is a legal requirement for anyone who trades securities or advises clients on securities in Canada, unless an exemption applies. Registration helps protect investors by ensuring that only qualified and competent individuals and firms can conduct securities related business. Jabir must also meet the proficiency, solvency, and suitability requirements for registration, as well as comply with the ongoing obligations of a registrant. Passing the proficiency course and being employed by the dealer are necessary but not sufficient conditions for registration. The dealer must apply for registration on behalf of Jabir and wait for the regulator’s approval.

Canadian Investment Funds Course, Unit 1, Section 1.2

Factors that increase a mutual fund’s management expense ratio (MER) include investing in foreign equities and paying trailer fees, as these add to operational costs. The feedback from the document states:

"Four factors primarily affect the management expense ratio. Funds that invest in foreign equities; are small in size; are managed by an outside specialist firm; and charge trailer fees will have higher management expense ratios."

Disclosure documents are documents that provide information about a mutual fund’s features, risks, performance, fees, and expenses to investors and regulators. Disclosure documents are required by securities laws and must be prepared and filed by the fund manager in accordance with the prescribed rules and standards. Disclosure documents relating to mutual funds include the following:

Statement of net assets: This is a document that shows the value of the fund’s assets and liabilities as of a specific date. It also shows the net asset value per unit (NAVPU) of the fund, which is the price at which investors can buy or sell units of the fund. The statement of net assets is part of the fund’s financial statements, which are prepared and filed semi-annually and annually.

Annual information form (AIF): This is a document that provides additional information about the fund that is not included in the simplified prospectus or the fund facts. The AIF includes information such as the fund’s history, organization, management, governance, policies, risks, conflicts of interest, fees, expenses, taxation, and legal matters. The AIF is prepared and filed annually.

Management reports of fund performance (MRFP): These are documents that provide information about the fund’s financial performance, portfolio composition, risk profile, and management expenses. The MRFPs are prepared by the fund manager and filed semi-annually and annually. The MRFPs include sections such as financial highlights, past performance, summary of investment portfolio, management discussion of fund performance, and financial statements.

Canadian Investment Funds Course, Chapter 6: Fund Operations and Regulations1