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Articles by Curtis Panke
3 reasons why the Raptors will be better than many experts are predicting
The Toronto Raptors are entering the 2019-20 regular season as the reigning NBA champions – a statement that fans aren’t sick of hearing yet. As is tradition for this time of year, everyone is making their predictions for how the season is going to unfold. Many of them aren’t being too kind to the champs. But the NBA is an unpredictable league, this past season/off-season is a prime example of that. 1.
Porsche Taycan Specs: 22 Things You Need to Know » AutoGuide.com News
Debuting four years ago as the Mission E concept, Porsche has today revealed its first fully-electric production car, the Taycan. The numbers do not disappoint. Set to lead the EV charge amongst legacy automakers and become the first serious rival to Tesla’s stronghold on the high-end electric car market, the debut took place simultaneously in Canada, China, and Germany.
Porsche Taycan Interior: 18 Things You Need to Know » AutoGuide.com News
With the highly anticipated reveal of the Taycan on September 4th, Porsche invited us to their North American headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia to learn all about it and even experience its awesome performance. We’re only able to give out information in chunks, meaning you’ll have to wait for official performance specs and impressions, but here’s what you need to know about the interior of this electric super sedan.
What the Raptors can do moving forward without Kawhi Leonard
The King of the North is relinquishing his throne and heading west. After a weeks of rumours, speculation, and plane watching, Kawhi Leonard decided to go home, signing a four-year, $142 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. With the newly acquired Paul George by his side, Leonard has his eyes set on another crown, the one LeBron James currently wears with the LA Lakers. @UniWatch @PhilHecken LeBron James is repping LA tonight at the #NBASummerLeague with the purple/gold Dodgers hat.
What the Raptors can do moving forward without Kawhi Leonard
The King of the North is relinquishing his throne and heading west. After a weeks of rumours, speculation, and plane watching, Kawhi Leonard decided to go home, signing a four-year, $142 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. With the newly acquired Paul George by his side, Leonard has his eyes set on another crown, the one LeBron James currently wears with the LA Lakers. @UniWatch @PhilHecken LeBron James is repping LA tonight at the #NBASummerLeague with the purple/gold Dodgers hat.
What you need to know about Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors, and free agency
The confetti has fallen, the champagne has popped, and the Larry O’Brien Trophy is north of the border. Despite being told to enjoy the moment and celebrate all summer during the championship parade, Toronto Raptors fans across the country are focused on the impending free agency of NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard.
5 things that need to change for the Raptors to win Game 3 in Oakland
Win or lose, game days are more delicious with Uber Eats. Download the Uber Eats app today to order the meals you love from your favourite restaurants. Let’s Eats, sports fans! We’re only two games into the 2019 NBA Finals and the Toronto Raptors have already experienced the highs and lows of playing for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. After riding an electric crowd and hot shooting, the Raptors took Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors 118-109.
6 things the Raptors need to do to upset Golden State in the NBA Finals
Win or lose, game days are more delicious with Uber Eats. Download the Uber Eats app today to order the meals you love from your favourite restaurants. Let’s Eats, sports fans! Three teams down, one to go. After coming back from a 2-0 deficit in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Toronto Raptors are competing in their first ever NBA Finals. Toronto welcomes the reigning back-to-back champion Golden State Warriors to Jurassic Park in what is shaping up to be a classic David vs.
Gambling websites taking bets on what Drake will do during next Raptors playoff game
As Game 6 between the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks approaches on Saturday night, the tension couldn’t be any higher between both teams on and off the court. With the chance of making their first NBA Finals on the line, the Raptors look to clinch on home court, while the Bucks will try to force a Game 7 after blowing a 2-0 series lead. But as the series has dragged on, the headlines have shifted towards the antics of Raptors global ambassador and super fan Drake.
6 things to expect in the Raptors-Bucks Conference Final playoff series
It wasn’t pretty, and it took some help from the Basketball Gods, but the Toronto Raptors have made it to the Eastern Conference Finals to face the Milwaukee Bucks. Kawhi Leonard’s Game 7 heroics have carried the Raptors to the third round for just the second time in franchise history, ensuring that the two best teams in the East will compete for a shot at the NBA Finals. Led by MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks recorded a league-best 60-22 record this season.
Leonard, Raptors respond with critical Game 4 victory
Win or lose, game days are more delicious with Uber Eats. Download the Uber Eats app today to order the meals you love from your favourite restaurants. Let’s Eats, sports fans! What a difference a couple of days off can make. After getting blown out by the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 3, the Toronto Raptors bounced back in Game 4 with a 101-96 victory, tying the series at 2-2.
Kawhi Leonard is living up to the hype as a playoff beast for Raptors
Win or lose, game days are more delicious with Uber Eats. Download the Uber Eats app today to order the meals you love from your favourite restaurants. Let’s Eats, sports fans! Kawhi Leonard was brought to the Toronto Raptors for one purpose: win in the postseason. After years of great regular seasons followed by playoff failures by the Raptors, Kawhi came to Toronto with a reputation. “Playoff Kawhi” is a term that has been coined to refer to how Leonard elevates his game at this time of year.
7 things to expect in the Raptors-76ers playoff series
Win or lose, game days are more delicious with Uber Eats. Download the Uber Eats app today to order the meals you love from your favourite restaurants. Let’s Eats, sports fans! The first round of the NBA playoffs concluded on Tuesday night for the Eastern Conference and as expected the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers will square off in Round 2. It didn’t take long for both teams to advance, the Raptors and Sixers defeated the Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets respectively in five games each.
3 players stand in Kawhi Leonard’s way of winning NBA MVP
It didn’t take long for Toronto Raptors fans to chant “MVP” for Kawhi Leonard. Given it began during just his second game with his new team, it was probably premature. But as Leonard has hit his stride this season, fans are being proven right. After months of patience with his health and managing his playing time, the results are paying off. The Raptors are second in the NBA with a 34-13 record and Leonard is showing everyone that he is back to his old self as one of the best players in the league.
Raptors beat Golden State Warriors for first time in 4 years
Despite what you may hear from Kyle Lowry, Thursday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors at Scotiabank Arena was not just another regular season game. Riding high with the NBA’s best record, the Toronto Raptors had a chance to show the rest of the NBA that they belonged in the same conversation with the reigning champions on primetime, and they did not disappoint.
Raptors beat Golden State Warriors for first time in 4 years
Despite what you may hear from Kyle Lowry, Thursday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors at Scotiabank Arena was not just another regular season game. Riding high with the NBA’s best record, the Toronto Raptors had a chance to show the rest of the NBA that they belonged in the same conversation with the reigning champions on primetime, and they did not disappoint.
Raptors beat Golden State Warriors for first time in 4 years
Despite what you may hear from Kyle Lowry, Thursday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors at Scotiabank Arena was not just another regular season game. Riding high with the NBA’s best record, the Toronto Raptors had a chance to show the rest of the NBA that they belonged in the same conversation with the reigning champions on primetime, and they did not disappoint.
Raptors beat Golden State Warriors for first time in 4 years
Despite what you may hear from Kyle Lowry, Thursday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors at Scotiabank Arena was not just another regular season game. Riding high with the NBA’s best record, the Toronto Raptors had a chance to show the rest of the NBA that they belonged in the same conversation with the reigning champions on primetime, and they did not disappoint.
The Nylander saga will end this week in one of three ways
By the end of this week, the William Nylander contract dispute with the Toronto Maple Leafs will come to an end… One way or another. After what has felt like an eternity of rumours and speculation from fans and pundits alike, the Leafs and Nylander have until Saturday at 5 pm ET to reach a new contact in order to keep him eligible to play this season.
Former Raptors coach Casey returns to hero's welcome, leaves with sweet revenge
After spending seven seasons as the head coach of the Raptors, Dwane Casey made his highly anticipated return to Toronto on Wednesday night as head coach of the Detroit Pistons. For the first time since Casey was fired last summer, fans had a chance to show their appreciation to the man that helped build the Raptors into one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
The GoDaddy curse has hit the Toronto Raptors again
If you’re someone that’s fascinated by superstitions, the sports world is the place for you. Sports and curses seem to go hand-in-hand. Throughout history there are numerous examples of curses that have been created to help rationalize the misfortune of a team or individual player. Recently, baseball saw the Chicago Cubs break the curse of the billy goat in 2016, ending a 108-year championship drought.
Raptors rise to top of most NBA power rankings this week
With a 4-0 record to kick-off their season, the Toronto Raptors are putting the NBA on notice that they are a team to be reckoned with in 2018-19. And to the excitement of fans across the country, the Raptors are getting the recognition they deserve from the basketball community in the United States. Various outlets have released NBA power rankings this week, and it seems the Raptors have impressed everyone.
Key yearend tax tips
Of course, speaking with your clients throughout the year about tax planning will help ensure they don’t lose out on tax-saving opportunities. “There’s very little you can do to save taxes when you’re actually sitting down [with clients in the spring] to file their tax returns from [the previous] year,” says Jamie Golombek, managing director of tax and estate planning with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce’s financial planning and advice group in Toronto.
Auston Matthews has become a superstar in more ways than one
If there’s one thing that the 2018-19 Maple Leafs season has taught us so far, it’s that this is Auston Matthews’ world, and we’re all just along for the ride. Matthews is off to another blistering hot start in his third NHL season and is once again putting the league on notice. In four games he leads the league with seven goals and is tied with teammate Morgan Rielly for a league-best 10 points. But what makes this season different for Matthews is how he’s conducting himself on and off the ice.
New Raptor Kawhi Leonard arrives in Toronto with a positive attitude
At long last, Kawhi Leonard has been spotted in Toronto. After two months of high anticipation, the Raptors officially introduced Leonard and Danny Green Monday morning as part of their media day, and there’s a lot for fans to be excited about. It’s well known across the NBA that you never know how much Kawhi is going to say when he is placed in front of a camera or microphone. But no one expected the reserved superstar to begin the press conference by cracking jokes with the media.
New Raptors guard Danny Green will help sell Kawhi Leonard on Toronto
Since the shocking trade that sent Kawhi Leonard to Toronto last July, there have been many questions surrounding the new Raptors superstar ahead of training camp. It’s been hard gauge how Leonard feels about playing north of the border. Aside from a statement thanking the Spurs’ organization and fans, he hasn’t made any public comments about the Raptors since the trade was announced two months ago.
Staff is key to a strong back office
“[The back office] is extremely important. [The staff is] always there to help; they’re quick and they’re efficient,” says an advisor in Alberta with Mississauga, Ont.-based Investment Planning Counsel Inc. “I’ve messed up [before] and they’ve fixed it; you can’t ask for more than that.” Despite the importance of the back office, though, firms have failed to meet advisors’ expectations of this department year after year – and 2018 was no different.
Training offerings meet expectations
This result is evident in the performance ratings advisors gave their agencies in this category. Calgary-based PPI Solutions Inc. (9.3), Toronto-based PPI Advisory (9.1) and Mississauga, Ont.-based IDC Worldsource Insurance Network Inc. (IDC WIN; 9.1), received the highest ratings in the category.
Banks deliver for their advisors
Many advisors surveyed for this year’s Report Card praised their bank for its solid reputation, strong communication efforts and the level of support the bank provides to its advisors to run their individual businesses – especially for clients who have more complex financial needs. “We have an easy job because there’s so much confidence in our products and our support,” says an advisor in Ontario with Toronto-based Bank of Montreal.
Report Card on Banks 2018 main chart
Advisors praised their banks' reputation, strong communication efforts and extensive support services, but work remains to be done in other areas Some banks were praised for their ongoing training efforts, while others still have work to do The banks have put accusations of poor sales practices behind them, as advisors report having larger, more productive books The support advisors need from their back offices is critical, but banks are failing to deliver in this important category
Praise for HNW support
The industry standard to be considered a high net-worth (HNW) client is either $500,000 or $1 million in investible assets. But, at the bank branch level, advisors can access specialized support services for clients who have complex needs. In addition, clients with at least $250,000 in investible assets can access special products available only to them.
Advisors were split on banks' training
Case in point: advisors with Toronto-based Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) gave the bank the highest rating in the category for the fourth straight year – at 9.0 this year – largely because of CIBC’s willingness to help its advisors cover the cost of attaining professional designations such as certified financial planner (CFP) or personal financial planner (PFP). “When I went through [this process, the] fees were covered,” says a CIBC advisor in Ontario.
A return to growth for advisors' books
That said, the return to growth in the average advisor’s book was modest, and advisors haven’t recovered all of the ground they reported losing in last year’s survey. The average advisor now has $90.6 million in assets under management (AUM), up slightly from last year’s average of $85.2 million in AUM. Notably, the average AUM reported this year still is less than the $95 million in AUM that the average advisor reported in 2016.
Banks are communicating effectively
Those increases were driven by ratings for three banks that were higher by half a point or more in the effectiveness category and two banks’ ratings that increased by the same margin in the receptiveness category.
Mixed reviews for marketing efforts
Advisors with Bank of Nova Scotia and Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), both based in Toronto, as well as Montreal-based National Bank of Canada, were particularly pleased. In fact, they gave these three banks higher ratings in both categories. In the cases of Scotiabank and RBC, their advisors were satisfied with those banks’ advertising efforts. In fact, the advisors pointed to their bank’s promotion campaigns surrounding high-profile sporting events.
Banks' reputations holding up well
The FCAC’s ensuing report, delivered in March, stated that the banks had “insufficient” controls to prevent sales of financial products that may be misrepresented or unsuitable for clients. The report also concluded that the banks’ sales-oriented culture increases the risk that bank employees may disregard consumer protection rules.
Back-office services fall short
For advisors, having a strong back office is critical. In fact, an advisor in Ontario with Toronto-based Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) described the bank’s back office as the “backbone” of her business. But when advisors believe they aren’t getting the support they need from the back office, they didn’t hold back.
Firms fall flat on technology
Advisors also were displeased with their firms’ efforts in the “support for mobile technology and the mobile advisor” category. Four firms’ ratings dropped by half a point or more in the category year-over-year. This, in turn, resulted in the overall average performance rating dropping to 6.7 from last year’s 7.2. And the difference this year between the category’s overall average importance rating of 7.6 resulted in the seventh-highest satisfaction gap in the survey.
Advisors favour action on commissions
The question was added in response to a CSA consultation paper published in January 2017 that raised the possibility of discontinuing embedded commissions because they’re considered to “raise conflicts of interest that misalign the interests of investment fund managers, dealers and representatives”; “limit investor awareness, understanding and control of dealer compensation costs”; and “generally … not align with the services provided to investors.” The response IE received: 63.5% of advisors...
Two firms face opposite paths
This positive trend follows a dismal showing in 2017, when advisor dissatisfaction with the firm came to a head, as they rated their firm lower by half a point or more in 21 of 31 categories – not including the “IE rating” and the “overall rating by advisors,” which dropped by that same margin last year. “There was pretty much a palace revolt and the firm’s [executives] didn’t want to [listen to advisors], but they had to,” says a Nesbitt advisor in British Columbia.
Yet another year of strong growth
Indeed, the average advisor’s AUM rose to $139.6 million from $129.7 million year-over-year. These gains took place even though the size of the average client roster declined slightly, as advisors now serve an average of 177.6 client households, down from 182.3 last year. This combination of increasing AUM and a modest decline in client households resulted in solid growth in advisors’ productivity. The average AUM/client household now is $1,043,135, up from $943,279 in 2017.
Basketball | Daily Hive Vancouver
NBA star hilariously documents his struggle to make it through this BC hike (VIDEO) "I was like 'it can't be that bad.' Little did I know, I was wrong" 😂😂😂
Erik Karlsson’s playoff scoring is etching his name among the best defencemen of all-time
At this point of the NHL playoffs, it’s almost a given that when Erik Karlsson touches the puck, it will find its way in the back of the net. With less than five minutes left in Game 1 against the New York Rangers, Karlsson scored from an improbable angle behind the goal line. The puck ricocheted off Henrik Lundqvist’s mask and in to win the game for the Ottawa Senators, 2-1, and put them up 1-0 in their second-round series.
Major banks suddenly shunning medical marijuana companies
Members of Ontario’s emerging marijuana industry have been left left wondering why two of Canada’s biggest banks, RBC and Scotiabank, are no longer offering bank accounts to firms associated with the legal weed industry. “It’s a bit of a surprise,” said Jordan Sinclair, director of communications for Smiths Falls Ont.-based Tweed Inc., the largest producer of medical marijuana in Canada.
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