In the Press
Bloomberg.com (January 9, 2008): CI Financial's Radlo bets on AltaGas, Manulife for global fund
Radlo 'is a talented stock picker, he has a strong track record and a
loyal following, so his hiring is very significant for CI,' Dan
Hallett, an independent mutual-fund analyst in Windsor, Ontario, said
in an interview today.
Globe and Mail (January 9, 2008): Trimark Fund manager resigns
Dan Hallett, an independent fund analyst, described Mr. Bousada's
resignation as a "significant loss" because it not only means a key
manager leaving, but also because it comes on the heels of exits by
others.
Toronto Star (January 9, 2008): Trimark Fund manager resigns
"It's a huge loss, even more significant when put in context against
the other departures," independent mutual fund analyst Dan Hallett
said.
Investment Executive (January 2008): Wellington West goes shopping for a mutual fund dealer
Dan Hallett, president of Windsor, Ont.-based fund industry analysis
firm Dan Hallett & Associates Inc. , applauds Wellington West's
strategy of releasing such detailed financial performance.
'It's unusual, but it's almost like a trial run,' he says. 'I think
it's positive. It's probably an indication Wellington West intends to
go through with the IPO. It's letting prospective investors and
analysts start to follow the company and build a history in terms of
its reporting and disclosure.'
Investment Executive (January 2008): Are investment products lacking transparency?
In comparison to some other products, mutual funds are reasonably good
about disclosure, says Dan Hallett, president of Windsor, Ont.-based
fund analysis firm Dan Hallett & Associates Inc. Unlike PPNs, which,
Hallett says, have fee disclosure in irregular and illogical places
such as in a section entitled 'net asset value,' a mutual fund
prospectus is easy to compare with documents from other funds.
Globe and Mail (December 21, 2007): Socking some away for the kids
Dan Hallett, president of investment research/counselling firm Dan
Hallett and Associates Inc., prefers actively managed equity funds in
his RESP. He and his wife make monthly contributions to Trimark Fund
SC, long his favourite global stock fund. It's always 'been run by
strong managers' and has a low MER of 1.6 per cent.
Globe and Mail (December 20, 2007): Investors vent ire over Javasky's giant fund
Looking ahead toward a possible bear market, independent fund analyst
Dan Hallett noted that Ivy Canadian holds a lot less cash (it keeps a
fund buoyant in a down market) now than it has in the
past. Incidentally, Mr. Hallett is no fan of Ivy Canadian, having
issued a "sell" recommendation on it three years ago.
National Post (December 18, 2007): Chasing results comes at a cost
Fund analyst Dan Hallett says ZAG "contradicts what I would
intuitively expect."
National Post (December 15, 2007): Why should I care about the credit crunch?
Initial concerns revolved around money market mutual
funds. Morningstar Canada found only small proportions of ABCP in
them. The few that owned significant amounts, such as National Bank,
were quick to issue statements they would backstop affected funds. Any
funds with ABCP "off-loaded the paper to their parent company
sponsors," says Windsor-based fund analyst Dan Hallett.
Advisor.ca (December 14, 2007): Montreal ABCP meeting: What it means for client investments
"Money market funds have definitely been seeing a reduction in assets
over the last three or four years. I think the advent of high-interest
savings accounts that pay a quarter point trailer to advisors is a big
part of the explanation," says fund industry analyst Dan Hallett,
president of Dan Hallett and Associates.
Advisor.ca (December 12, 2007): CI appears set to welcome Radlo
"The three funds happen to be the same three mandates that Radlo ran
for Fidelity," says Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett and
Associates. "The wording of the filing is set up in a way that it
looks like they'll make some changes.
Globe and Mail (December 10, 2007): Why ETF returns can get off track
"Index investors certainly should be concerned with tracking error,"
said Dan Hallett, an independent fund analyst based in Windsor,
Ont. "A fund shouldn't trail the index by a lot more than its MER. But
it depends on the index - some are tougher to replicate."
Advisor.ca (November 26, 2007): Dundee not for sale, bidding process begins
"The fund management side is the more attractive part because it's the
more profitable piece," says Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett and
Associates.
Globe and Mail (November 26, 2007): Mutual fund woos youth where they live and play
In the 1990s, many banks and financial institutions in Canada
experimented with so-called Boomer Funds, which were designed to
capitalize on trends in the market resulting from the coming of age of
the baby boomer generation. However, it was a strategy that didn't
last long, according to Dan Hallett of the investment research firm
Dan Hallett & Associates Inc., based in Windsor, Ont.
Investment Executive (mid-November 2007): F-class mutual funds fail to take the market by storm
It's all about the value proposition, agrees Dan Hallett, president of
Dan Hallett & Associates Inc. in Windsor, Ont.: 'Successful businesses
have to demonstrate what makes them unique and then explain how this
benefits their clients. Being fee-oriented allows advisors to do
that.'
Investment Executive (mid-November 2007): Scant impact on mutual funds
Short-selling and performance fees go hand in hand, according to Dan
Hallett, president of Windsor, Ont.-based fund analysis firm Dan
Hallett & Associates Inc. 'Often, those same funds that are allowed a
limited amount of short-selling charge a performance fee as well as a
base management fee,' he says, citing as examples the $1.9-billion
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund, whose MER is 4.33% including its
performance fee (as of Sept. 30), and the $1.5-billion Dynamic Power
Canadian Growth Fund, whose MER is 3.56% including its performance
fee.
Investment Executive (mid-November 2007): CIBC.s Geist rebrands Talvest and Renaissance
The Talvest and former Renaissance funds have also struggled with
distribution problems, Talvest's in particular. Veteran fund analyst
Dan Hallett, president of Windsor, Ont.-based Dan Hallett & Associates
Inc. , says the Talvest funds had only limited success in the past:
'It was basically a growth investment shop vs value, in terms of
investment style. It wasn't a terrible company, but it certainly
wasn't shooting the lights out.'
Globe and Mail (November 9, 2007): Markets due to fall? ETFs a good bet.
Dan Hallett, a Windsor, Ont.-based independent fund analyst, said the
ETFs offering short exposure can be appealing after a lot of years of
rising markets, but warns that they are not for the novice.
Globe and Mail (November 8, 2007): Precious metals funds outshine index
Independent fund analyst Dan Hallett suggested the performance of the
unhedged iShares ETF has been hurt by having a lot of foreign currency
exposure compared with Canadian precious metals funds.
Investment Executive (November 2007): The art of generating strong returns in risky times
Assets in the four funds Shannon managed for CI before her sudden
departure have held relatively firm, standing at $7.8 billion,
compared with $7.9 billion when she was in charge. Industry analyst
Dan Hallett, president of Windsor, Ont.-based Dan Hallett & Associates
Inc., says it was unrealistic to expect that a mass of assets would
follow her to her new post. Investors would have faced tax
consequences, redemption fees and sales charges if they had made the
change.
Investment Executive (November 2007): SciVest reborn as hedge and mutual fund manager
Dan Hallett, president of Windsor, Ont.-based fund industry analyst
Dan Hallett & Associates Inc., is not familiar with the details behind
either SciVest's demise or Ark's inception. But, he notes, there's
always room for more good hedge fund managers in the market.
Investment Executive (November 2007): Hard times ahead for fund firms?
Fund industry analyst Dan Hallett, president of Windsor, Ont.-based
Dan Hallett & Associates Inc., agrees that there is indeed value for
clients to be able to buy banking products from their financial
advisors. 'It's not just a convenience and time-saving issue,' he
says. 'When people have developed a certain level of trust, they like
to consolidate their business.'
Globe and Mail (31-Oct-2007): The key to Web research: knowing what to ignore
"I think the key, really, for online research is knowing what not to pay attention to," adds Mr. Hallett, who is based in Windsor, Ont.
Globe and Mail (31-Oct-2007): Lower-cost options for DIY investors
Self-directed investors aiming to buy low-cost managed money products online are finding more options all the time. "There's more than enough product out there for do-it-yourselfers," says Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett & Associates Inc., an independent fund analysis firm based in Windsor, Ont.
National Post (18-Oct-2007): .Global Dividend. just a marketing label?
However, fund analyst Dan Hallett cautions "You can't always count" on dividend funds to provide a cushion against bear markets.
Insurance Journal (October 2007): Experts share strategies for succeeding in the competitive high net worth market
Dan Hallett, president of the independent research firm Dan Hallett & Associates, believes that an investment policy statement (IPS) is an absolute must-have for those working the high net worth market. This shouldn't be a cookie cutter version produced by a financial planning software package, but rather "a real IPS with substance."
National Post (April 13, 2007): Sky-high fund fees finally slipping
It's not clear if RBC's action, which follows similar earlier MER cuts
by TD Mutual Funds, is a reaction to a controversial academic study
that drew widespread media attention in 2006. In it, three professors
(including one from Harvard) found Canada's MERs were higher than 18
other countries. Windsor, Ont.-based fund analyst Dan Hallett
dismisses the study's impact. "Even if it was complete and not so
deeply flawed, I doubt any firm would lower fees just because
non-competing global peers are cheaper."
Advisor.ca (April 12, 2007): Scotia poaches marquee names from RBC
Mutual fund analyst Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett and
Associates, points out that the RBC Canadian Dividend and the RBC
Monthly Income funds represent more than $17 billion in assets under
management, a substantial chunk of the estimated $75 billion of RBC's
total fund assets under management.
Toronto Star (April 1, 2007): Keeping it simple wins the investing race
Dan Hallett proposes a simple allocation for the RESP funds that will
give them a boost from equity returns with a safe ballast of bonds and
cash. "There's so much product out there," says Hallett, "Generally,
people freeze like deer in the headlights."
Investment Executive (April 2007): Is a single fund classification system imminent?
While Dan Hallett, head of Windsor, Ont.-based fund analysts Dan
Hallett & Associates Inc. , says the existence of two sets of
categories is not as bad as some have argued, he regards the merger as
a positive one: "It's ideal if everybody works toward a single
standard - as long as it.' a good one. That was the problem before, as
CIFSC didn't have a good standard."
Investment Executive (April 2007): Funds with concentrated portfolios key to success at Mavrix
"Mavrix has carved out a bit of a niche,. says Dan Hallett, president
of fund analyst Dan Hallett & Associates Inc. in Windsor, Ont. "Some
of its funds are on the aggressive side, and the firm has some
expertise in companies specializing in resources commodities."
Toronto Star (March 25, 2007):
Making the most of a cash windfall
Our doctor this week, Dan Hallett, of Dan Hallett and Associates
Inc. in Windsor, says they should plan for the worst case, both in
terms of investment returns and income stream. "Their future
employment beyond their contract seems uncertain. So, we don't want to
ramp up the risk."
Investment Executive (March 2007): Roll back the risk of investing in biotechnology
"To take that other step and have a narrow mandate in biotech is not
suitable for the vast majority of investors," says Dan Hallett,
president of Windsor, Ont.-based fund analyst Dan Hallett & Associates
Inc.
Investment Executive (March 2007): Small fund firms flourish
"Concentration at the top of the industry makes it hard for any young
company to get attention," says Dan Hallett, president of
Windsor-based Dan Hallett & Associates Inc. "Any new entrant needs
some kind of differentiator or unique angle - either some kind of
innovation, advantage or big-name manager - or it may not be
worthwhile to compete".
Toronto Star (16-Sep-2006): Financial disclosure a matter for
trusts
"You have this distributable cash figure that not only does everybody
calculate it differently, but it's not an audited number, and there's no
link between it and any of the audited financials," said mutual-fund
industry expert Dan Hallett.
National
Post (13-Sep-2006): Mutual funds and other targets
As fund analyst Dan Hallett notes in a recent advisory bulletin, Claymore
ETFs normally carry a management fee of 0.6% a year but its new advisor
class adds 0.75% as an annual trailer fee. "While many closed end
structured products have offered trailer fees to advisors for years, this
marks the first trailer-fee-paying ETF," Hallett says.
Globe and Mail (23-Aug-2006): Thinking small brings big returns
"Size, I think, is an issue," says Dan Hallett, president of research firm
Dan Hallett & Associates. "But I think it's really difficult to nail down
a specific figure as to how big is too big."
Globe and Mail (25-Aug-2006): High end funds made the rich
richer during past 5 to 10 years
Mutual fund analyst Dan Hallett is reluctant to point to any one reason
for the strong performance from high initial investment funds. "I wouldn't
think there's a relationship between minimum fees and performance," he
says.
Investment Executive (30-Aug-2006): Closed-end fund market is
current hot spot
“There are a lot more closed-end funds around in Canada these days, and
much of the growth has been in products with a diversified portfolio of
securities designed to produce an income,” says Dan Hallett, fund analyst
and president of Windsor, Ont.-based Dan Hallett & Associates Inc.
Investment Executive (30-Aug-2006): Do Canadians pay the
highest mutual fund fees in the world?
Another skeptic is Dan Hallett, head of Windsor, Ont.-based Dan Hallett &
Associates Inc. Even though he believes fees are high in Canada, he
questions the authors’ claims. In an e-mail to the authors, Hallett
pointed out discrepancies in their calculations. The authors believe there
is a huge gap between the Canadian fees for Fidelity Japan Fund and the
same one sold in the U.S. The former’s fee is 2.69%, including a
100-basis-point trailer. The U.S. version’s fee is 1.02%.
Advisor.ca (19-Jun-2006): Portus investors to get back more
than expected
"When you think about hedge fund scandal people are usually lucky to get
anything back; look at what's happening with Norshield," says Dan Hallett,
of Dan Hallett and Associates.
Advisor.ca (29-Mar-2006): Morningstar to create its own fund
categories
Independent fund analyst and consultant Dan Hallett, president of Windsor,
Ont-based Dan Hallett & Associates says he supports Morningstar's
decision, calling the current system "poor."
National Post (27-Mar-2006): How much should you allocate to
trusts?
Windsor-based fund analyst Dan Hallett prefers more diversified income
funds that own not only income trusts but also preferred shares,
dividend-paying stocks and similar securities. "Many trusts are paying out
more than they're earning, which does not provide a great deal of
comfort," says Hallett.
Feb
23, 2006: The Globe and Mail – Small caps provide power for long-term
gains
Dan Hallett, an independent fund analyst based in Windsor, Ont., says
there is some truth in the caution "past performance is no indication
of future returns." Small-cap stocks were deeply undervalued at the
height of the tech bubble and in recent years, have enjoyed stellar
gains.
Mid-Feb 2006: Investment Executive – Earning efficiency through bond ETFs
“If you compare bond ETFs to bond funds as a group, the main
difference is in the fees,” says Dan Hallett, president of mutual
fund research firm Dan Hallett & Associates Inc. in Windsor, Ont.
Mid-Feb 2006: Investment Executive – Jory chairman fined $25,000, gets suspension
Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett & Associates Inc. , a mutual fund
research firm in Windsor, Ont., says failing to adhere to IDA
early-warning restrictions can put client assets at risk. “You hear lots
of decisions about people who stole their clients’ money. But you’re
putting that money at risk if you don’t have the proper financial controls
in place. If you go down, a lot of your clients are going to get hurt,
too,” he says.
Mid-Feb 2006: Investment Executive – Former Mackenzie brass heads new firm
“If you don’t have a tax problem, there’s no need for a tax solution,”
says Dan Hallett, president of Windsor-based Dan Hallett & Associates Inc.
“Granted, there are a lot of uncertainties about what the new government
may change.”
Mid-Feb 2006: Investment Executive – PPNs are hot this season
“Competition is leading to innovation and creativity. But the note product
is also becoming increasingly complicated, and there are too many
variations for the average advisor to track,” says Dan Hallett, president
of Windsor-based Dan Hallett & Associates Inc.
Feb 2006: Investment Executive – Beware poor returns, high costs
“It’s been a difficult environment for venture-capital funds to exit their
investments, with a dearth of IPOs and lack of acquisitions for
venture-backed companies,” says Dan Hallett, president of Windsor,
Ont.-based Dan Hallett & Associates Inc. “Funds need a realistic
expectation of an exit on the horizon for their investment in private
companies to pay off. Without that, they can’t write up the value of their
assets.”
If you could only own one fund ...
Advisor.ca: January 6, 2006
Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett & Associates in Windsor, Ontario,
says he would go with a global stock fund. If he were limited to one fund
and never sell it, his choice would be the foreign equity Trimark Fund.
RCMP probe into trusts widens
Advisor.ca: January 5, 2006
"I think there is enough reason to suspect that the run-up in trading (and
prices) was nothing more than educated guessing," says Dan Hallett,
president of Dan Hallett & Associates. "I have heard mixed things from
fund managers regarding whether a leak actually took place.
Life-cycle funds may be ideal for bank channel
Advisor.ca: December 2005
Dan Hallett, president of Windsor, Ont.-based Dan Hallett & Associates,
similarly, sees limited use for the life cycle fund. On the balance, GICs
or high-yielding bonds could make more sense than a shorter life cycle
product, for example.
Global funds suffer from Canadian optimism
Advisor.ca: 14-Nov-2005
Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett and Associates, says the long-term outlook for commodities, given the rapid growth of China and India, makes Canadian equity more attractive to domestic investors. Whether the markets can keep up or not, he says it is understandable that the average investor would view the Canadian market as a winner.
Life cycle funds have pros and cons
Toronto Star: 12-Nov-2005
Dan Hallett, a Windsor-based independent mutual fund researcher, is the first to admit he's not a huge fan of life-cycle or guaranteed funds. He suggests it's important to remember that a guarantee on your principal isn't the same thing as a great return.
Alternatives to trusts
The Globe and Mail: 12-Nov-2005
"There really isn't anything else that is going to offer the same level of cash flow as income trusts," said Dan Hallett, a Windsor, Ont.-based independent provider of investment research. "That's the challenge."
Berkshire
shuts out former star manager
15-Oct-2005: Toronto Star
"I think it certainly makes sense for any dealer to review its
product-approval process," mutual fund analyst Dan Hallett said. Still,
there's no denying the strange timing of the decision, he added.
Resolute
may close shop over disclosure rule
14-Oct-2005: Globe and Mail
Mr. Stanley's complaint got a sympathetic ear from analyst Dan Hallett,
president of Dan Hallett & Associates Inc., an investment research firm.
"I can see where he would have an issue but I'm surprised it would drive
him to consider closing the fund," he said. "If I was going to pick
something I would have wanted in terms of improved disclosure, I'm not
sure that [quarterly holdings] would be high on my list."
Rivals bested on regular basis
Oct-2005: Investment Executive
"Dan Hallett, president of Windsor, Ont.-based Dan Hallett & Associates
Inc. , expresses concerns that the fund has almost tripled in size in the
past 12 months. “The large asset base could impose some constraints in our
relatively small market,” he says."
Products focus on short term
Oct-2005: Investment Executive
"This type of fund may have a place in a portfolio. “But it
shouldn’t be a core holding because of the leverage that is being
taken on,” says Dan Hallett, president of Windsor-Ont.-based Dan
Hallett & Associates."
In hot market, equity funds cool
21-Sep-2005: Globe and Mail
""To some extent, people have missed the boat," said Dan Hallett, an
independent fund analyst based in Windsor, Ont. Like 1999's frenzy for
pricey tech stocks, Mr. Hallett fears too many investors are buying
Canada "late in the game," snapping up yield and income-generating
funds at a premium, he said."
Annual statements should show fees
31-Aug-2005: Toronto Star
Brian Zipay contributes to mutual funds through a group RRSP at his
workplace. He recently called AGF Funds Inc. to see how much money he
paid in fees for 2004. "I was surprised to find out they can't supply
this information," he told me, "as they don't track it on an
individual basis. "I was even more surprised to learn that no mutual
fund company can provide this information." He wants to know what he's
paying for his mutual funds in dollars and cents not just a percentage
amount. "I can't fathom having someone provide me with a service and
not telling me how many dollars it cost me for that service," he
says. AGF's spokeswoman, Patricia Phillips, was away this week. And no
one else was available to comment. But we did get an answer from Dan
Hallett, a widely-quoted mutual fund researcher, based in Windsor.
Ontario to scrap labour fund tax credit
29-Aug-2005: Advisor.ca
Industry observers predict today's move by Ontario's will have a
negative impact on the already-struggling LSIF industry. First, it
will dry up fundraising after the end of this year, says Dan Hallett
of Dan Hallett & Associates, a labour fund expert who produces an
annual report on the sector.
Winnipeg money manager back in the game
22-Aug-2005: Advisor.ca
Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett & Associates, says he expects the
new firm to get off to a "decent" start but he's not sure if Sarbit will
reach the lofty heights of $2 billion in assets like he did at AIC and
Investors Group.
Hallett suggests DSC revamp
18-Aug-2005: Advisor.ca
"In a maturing fund industry with fewer sales into DSC funds, assets are
more mobile than ever," Hallett says. "Investors might actually stick
around longer if the companies with which they entrusted their life
savings actually gave them a monetary incentive to be a long-term
investor."
Jovian's aggressive expansion strategy
05-Aug-2005: Advisor.ca
Industry analyst Dan Hallett, president of Windsor-based Dan Hallett &
Associates, says he likes the poaching strategy because it's less
expensive than making acquisitions.
03-Jul-2005: Toronto Star (Portfolio Doctor column)
"There's a lot of US content," Hallett concludes. "They need to broaden
out their geographic diversification. There's also duplication within the
accounts and funds. It's not horrible but this also cuts down on
diversification. The better the diversification, the less volatile the
portfolio and the less risk. They don't need reconstructive surgery just
fine tuning."
Banks dominate mutual fund flows
July 2005: Investment Executive
Industry analyst Dan Hallett, president of Windsor, Ont.-based Dan Hallett
& Associates Inc., says banks became more successful sales machines once
they started devoting more attention and resources to mutual funds. “It
seems the banks began beefing up their resources on all fronts when it
became clear that they were losing market share to the independents,” he
says.
LSIF's death rattle rumbles through the industry
July 2005: Investment Executive
Dan Hallett, analyst and president of Windsor, Ont.-based Dan Hallett and
Associates Inc., says long-time competitor Ensis will bear the brunt of
Crocus’s demise because of geographical proximity.
Navigating rough water - Trimark Canadian Resources
June 2005: Investment Executive
Fund analyst Dan Hallett, president of Windsor, Ont.-based Dan Hallett &
Associates Inc., thinks highly of Ronan’s caution in a sector prone to
volatility. He recommends the fund, but suggests clients limit exposure to
5% of a portfolio, as the cycle is getting long in the tooth.
Mutual Misery
January 31, 2005: McLean's Magazine
Dan Hallett, who runs a financial research firm in Windsor, Ont., and is a
mutual fund believer, acknowledges that fewer than 10 per cent of the
roughly 3,000 mutual funds on the market are worthwhile. So how can an
industry thrive when 90 per cent of its products are duds?
Fidelity appoints new senior marketing executive
Advisor.ca - November 11, 2004
Industry analyst Dan Hallett points out that although the three firms seem
to heading in the same direction, each faces slightly different challenges.
Still, Hallett believes the key to the fund industry's current sales malaise
hinges on securing relationships with key distribution channels.
Investors leave income trust funds behind
Investment Executive - November 2004
These funds took a bit of a performance hit last spring, says Dan Hallett,
president of Dan Hallett & Associates Inc. in Windsor, Ont., and still haven
't rebounded. The drop in new money going into these funds could be linked
to the performance drop-off; as well, so much money has gone into those
funds over the past couple of years that the market is becoming saturated,
says Hallett.
Fidelity Canada puts focus on fixed-income
Investment Executive - November 2004
"They're certainly capable on the fixed-income side," says Dan Hallett,
president of Windsor, Ont.-based Dan Hallett & Associates Inc. "But it's
just not what I think of when I think of Fidelity. They're known more for
their equity analysts. That's their deep resource in that respect. That
might be able to extend to, say, corporate and high-yield bond management
because you need really good equity research to do that."
Industry waits for other shoe to drop
Investment Executive - Mid-October 2004
Apart from the prevalence of market-timing, Dan Hallett, president of
Windsor, Ont.-based Dan Hallett & Associates Inc., says the big issue in any
enforcement action will be the extent to which such trading was allowed
under deals between fund companies and institutional investors.
Firms ready to spend on outsourcing
Investment Executive - October 2004
"Until you have a few billion dollars under management, it's probably not
worthwhile to spend the money creating the systems in-house," says Dan
Hallett, president of research firm Dan Hallett and Associates Inc. in
Windsor, Ont.
Generating returns for the risk-adverse
Investment Executive - October 2004
Dan Hallett, head of Windsor, Ont.-based Dan Hallett & Associates Inc.,
concurs that the fund is not a pure income trust fund, but he, too, is
impressed with the result. "The team at CI has done quite a good job," he
says, noting the fund has an attractive 1.64% MER.
Investors choose alternatives to traditional mutual funds
Investment Executive - October 2004
Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett & Associates in Windsor, Ont., says it
's difficult to determine the extent to which alternative products have cut
into mutual fund sales. He says many investors who haven't been happy with
their mutual funds over the past couple of years may well have shifted to
other products.
Fund probe zeroes in on four firms
Advisor.ca - September 21, 2004
Fund industry analyst Dan Hallett says he's not surprised by today's
announcement. "I have long said that market timing was in Canada and that
many companies began taking measures to limit it before the Spitzer probe,"
he says.
Labour fund revolutionary beats a tactical retreat
Advisor.ca - September 8, 2004
"This is a reminder that brand new LSIFs carry a unique risk; that is,
the risk that the fund won't raise enough cash - open end or closed
end," says fund analyst Dan Hallett, CFA, CFP and President of Dan
Hallett & Associates."
Tech funds only for the brave of heart
Globe and Mail - September 7, 2004
"Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett & Associates Inc., is no fan of
sector funds, noting that tech funds, along with precious metal and
international funds, have a very volatile history."
Bond fund risks outweigh rewards, says analyst
Advisor.ca - September 7, 2004
"With interest rates at multi-decade lows and the prospect of rate
hikes ahead of us, many are leery of the outlook for bonds," wrote Dan
Hallett, CFA, CFP and head of Dan Hallett & Associates in Windsor,
Ontario in a recent online column. "In my opinion, there are good
reasons for this gloomy view. However, if that's how you feel about
bonds, you should be downright repelled by most bond funds."
Fund firms need to write more clearly
Globe and Mail - August 28, 2004
"Mr. Hallett and Mr. Folk, for example, agreed some statements
provided worthwhile disclosure."
Canadian investors piling into income-oriented funds
Globe and Mail - August 17, 2004
"In fact, if you exclude this past RRSP season . . . stock funds as a
group have seen money leave on a net basis since June, 2002. The silver
lining is that the net redemption of stock funds are much smaller this
year than they were over the past couple of years," Mr. Hallett said.
Fund
mergers bring tax headaches for unitholders
Investment Executive - August 2004
Federal tax rules say that both capital and non-capital losses of a
terminating fund can be used to reduce capital gains only in the tax year
in which the merger takes place, says Dan Hallett, president of Dan
Hallett & Associates Inc. in Windsor, Ont.
High-tech
puts Richardson on top of the heap
Investment Executive - August 2004
Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett & Associates Inc., a Windsor,
Ont.-based investment research firm, agrees that new technology is a large
benefit but says the quality of an advisor's abilities is still key.
Let's
get fund brokerage fees out in the open
Globe and Mail - July 22, 2004
Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett & Associates Inc. in Windsor, Ont.,
offers a simple calculation that roughly approximates the same trading
expense ratio that you OSC folks should require fund companies to adopt.
Fortune,
not fame, drives Brandes's corporate outlook
Globe and Mail - July 14, 2004
"It's a really good firm," said Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett &
Associates Inc. He applauds the rigorous process that each investment must
pass before receiving the thumbs-up.
Manager
hedges bets with heavy metals
Globe and Mail - July 9, 2004
Mr. Barisheff's 20-per-cent precious metals mandate is "a bit much for my
tastes," said Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett & Associates Inc. in
Windsor, Ont.
Fund
managers find their voice
Globe and Mail - July 9, 2004
However, "it's a tough thing to classify," said Dan Hallett, president of
Dan Hallett & Associates Inc. in Windsor, Ont. "I would certainly think
activists would have good performance. Whether its better or not than
non-activists, I don't know."
Boosting
performance by moving money
Investment Executive - July 2004
It's those layers of diversification that concern Dan Hallett, president
of Windsor, Ont.-based Dan Hallett & Associates Inc. He fears there may be
too many components to the fund's strategy.
New
look, challenges for dealers
Investment Executive - July 2004
"I think a critical element required to stay competitive - both for
dealers and for advisors - is access to individual securities," says Dan
Hallett, president of Windsor, Ont.-based Dan Hallett & Associates Inc.
PHN's entrepreneurial spirit keeps its costs low
The Globe and Mail - June 23, 2004
"Their big appeal is that they are a sizable company, been around a long time and their fees are dirt cheap. They pay nothing to brokers and dealers, which is one of the reasons that their fees are as low as they are," said Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett & Associates Inc. in Windsor, Ont.
Mutual Funds: Special Investigation: Industry Voice
The Globe and Mail - June 22, 2004
Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett & Associates Inc. in Windsor, Ont., is "surprised" by IFIC's relative silence on market timing, especially in contrast to the institute's aggressive stance earlier this year to a negative mutual fund ad campaign by Canadian Deposit Insurance Corp.
High yield plays dominate fund sector
The Globe and Mail - June 7, 2004
"Some of it is marketing driven," Mr. Hallett said. "From a business standpoint, it makes sense that they [fund companies] would want to at the very least retain the assets that they are managing currently, and ideally attract, on a net basis, new money."
How to avoid panic investing
The Globe and Mail - February 28, 2004
'Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett & Associates Inc. in Windsor, Ont., says investors who need to make a quick decision might do well to buy into a plain-vanilla balanced fund. He recommends the $126.5-million Mawer Canadian Balanced RSP Fund and the $1.4-billion Trimark Income Growth Fund.'
Income trusts can add heft to your savings
The Globe and Mail - February 28, 2004
'The typical income trust has an underlying company that is a mature business with strong cash flow but limited growth potential, adds Dan Hallett, president of Dan Hallett Associates Inc. of Windsor, Ont. Almost all the revenue the business generates flows right through to unitholders, instead of being retained by the company to reinvest.'
Funds the pros would pick
The Globe and Mail - February 14, 2004
'For his Canadian equity choice, Mr. Hallett has chosen, for a second year, CI Canadian Investment Fund because of its strong discipline and "fairly heavy value tilt."'
Don't get hit by falling rates
National Post - January 22, 2004
'"People wanting to play the variable game with their mortgages are best to de-emphasize investment assets that are strongly, inversely related with interest rate changes," Hallett says.'
Conservatism, Asia, venture capital this year's watchwords
Globe and Mail - Jan. 2, 2004
"Mr. Hallett tends to favour value-style investing for the long term, and he thinks value managers will do well this year. He also believes venture capital and labour-sponsored investment funds could see a return to favour in the next year or two after being ignored for the past few years. Valuations in the private equity area have been sliding steadily since the end of the technology boom, he says. Even as publicly traded equities have rebounded, private equities have not."
Mutual fund sales keep making gains
Globe and Mail - Dec. 16, 2003
"Dan Hallett, president and chief executive officer of Windsor, Ont.-based Dan Hallett & Associates Inc., said November's numbers show that investors continue to chase the past performance of some hot bond and dividend funds. 'There are specific funds that are grabbing a disproportionate share of the market.' He pointed to the RBC Monthly Income and the CIBC Monthly Income funds - both offered by big banks - as two examples of funds that are attracting investors. Among global funds, Mackenzie Cundill Value and Trimark Fund are also doing well, he added."
Are there foreign funds the high dollar can't hurt?
ROB Magazine - December 2003 issue
"In answer to your question, there are foreign-content mutual funds that hedge their currency exposure. They attempt to smooth out fluctuations through the use of currency futures and other instruments, so you get the same percentage return in Canadian dollars as investors in the relevant countries get in their local currencies. Yet, Hallett says, there are just a few funds in Canada that do this. TD, RBC and Altamira all offer RSP-eligible index funds that are fully hedged. Talvest hedges selectively in some of its funds. There are some hedged funds at other companies as well, including the Cundill Value Fund."