CLIENT RESOURCES

Whether you are a new or seasoned investor, the relationship you have with your advisor is one built on trust, open dialogue and a commitment to your best interests.

As a client, you and your advisor work together to pursue investment objectives and financial goals. In many cases, your advisor and their support staff are your main points of contact. But who is the dealer and what do they do? How are they part of the picture and how does Designed Securities Ltd. ultimately impact you? This information helps highlight why your advisor has chosen our firm to support their business.

TRUE INDEPENDENCE

First and foremost, we believe in total independence.

We are here to support your advisor and give them the flexibility they need to achieve your objectives. We are not owned by a large public company, or a parent company, or foreign organization. We don’t require account minimums, trading minimums and we don’t use in house proprietary products. Advisors choose how they build their business, how many clients they take on and where they build their expertise. Clients can rest assured that their investments goals are not put in second place.

VALUES

At Designed Securities Ltd. we value the ideas your advisor shares with us.

Every dealer has a form of values or mandates they are trying to achieve. An advisor works every day to pursue their clients needs and when ideas come up that would make things better for a clients experience, it is the advisor who brings that to our attention. We value their feedback through formal and informal channels, and every time we can put those ideas to the forefront, we know it is making your experience better. Listening to our advisors needs and supporting them so that you have the best experience is part of our commitment.

SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY

We believe in finding balance between the personal touches your advisors has in their practice, and giving them great technology to be more efficient with their, and your, time.

Our platforms are industry leading and work regularly with us to enhance and upgrade new features. Some of our systems are accessed by you directly and we aim to improve those based on the feedback you give to your advisor. Other systems are used only by your advisor, and we have an equally focused commitment on ensuring those systems are also enhanced regularly to make their roles easier. Our partners and all development team members understand that continuous improvement is paramount.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS & COMPLIANCE

Your advisor will help you select appropriate products for to reach your objectives and with Designed Securities Ltd. they have complete independence to choose the most suitable products.

We don’t require our advisors to use in house manufactured products (also known as proprietary products), and do not need to promote any one investment over another. We allow our advisors to discuss all products with us, and to make informed choices that are specific to you and void of any influence by us. We maintain strong compliance to help oversee which products are available, and who they are most suitable for and we help our advisors make the best choices for you, with total independence.

RESOURCES

Through our network with are able to support your advisor with other areas of expertise.

If there are unique circumstances relating to you, your advisor is never alone. We are available at all times to connect your advisors to other parts of our network and give them access to valuable expertise.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Designed Securities Ltd. provides development opportunities for your advisor that are unique.

Our advisors can access events, committees, mentorship and other professional development opportunities that keep them engaged and in the know about the wealth management industry and best practices to serve clients. We engage regularly with our advisors and have a robust support system for advisors seeking to pursue designations or other certifications.

DESIGNED SECURITIES LTD.

Designed Securities Ltd. (“Designed”) is an independent dual registered investment dealer providing a range of investment products and solutions. Designed is a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (“CIRO”) in Canada, which is an amalgamation of the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA) and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC).

REGULATORS IN CANADA

The Canadian wealth industry is managed under the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), which is Canada’s overarching organization made up of provincial and territorial securities regulators. Their mandate is to improve, coordinate and harmonize regulation of the Canadian capital markets.

More information about them can be found at https://www.securities-administrators.ca/

The provincial regulators operate under the guidance of the CSA to continue providing oversight to the capital markets. These organizations include:

• Alberta Securities Commission
• British Columbia Securities Commission
• Manitoba Securities Commission
• Financial and Consumer Services Commission (New Brunswick)
• Financial Services Regulation Division, Digital Government and Service Newfoundland and Labrador
• Office of the Superintendent of Securities (Northwest Territories)
• Nova Scotia Securities Commission
• Nunavut Securities Office
• Ontario Securities Commission
• PEI Office of the Superintendent of Securities Office (Prince Edward Island)
• Autorité des marchés financiers (Quebec);
• Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan
• Office of the Yukon Superintendent of Securities

CANADIAN INVESTOR PROTECTION FUND (CIPF)

CIPF is authorized to provide protection (within defined limits) to eligible clients in the event a member firm becomes insolvent and a client suffers property loss comprising securities, cash, and other property held. Not all holdings, accounts or clients are eligible and coverage is within specific limits.

More information about CIPF can be found: https://www.cipf.ca/

CARRYING BROKERS

A carrying broker is a firm that provides back-office support for other types of firms like investment dealers. They may support an investment dealer through regulatory compliance procedures, record keeping of client account transactions, access to the markets, distributing client documents, and providing certain systems and online access support.

Designed uses Aviso Wealth as its carrying broker. More information about them can be found: www.aviso.ca

Designed Securities Ltd. was borne out of the belief that the industry does not maintain enough truly independent options for advisors. It was founded on the belief that true independence means clients are free to choose platforms, products and investment strategies that are not burdened by the decisions, mandates, or proprietary product shelf of a parent company or majority owner.

“Independence” is coined frequently from large organizations with parents companies, dealers that have proprietary products and sales quotas, to public companies who are accountable to shareholders. Designed’s founders wanted to create something that would be different. Not only would it be independent, but it would bring transparency to the forefront, listen closely to the advisor’s voice and provide for staff and advisors alike to participate in the long run success of the company.

Having successfully launched in 2021, the firm continues to gain momentum in the industry with its original ideas. With “Designed” as the name, the aim is to stay connected to deliberate decision making, planning, measuring along the way, and designing a successful future much in the same way the advisors create plans and strategies for their clients.

ACCOUNT TYPE

Designed offers clients commission-based, fee-based, managed accounts and client name account structures. Not all account types, or products are available to all clients, and availability is dependent on several factors.

Commission-based Accounts

In a commission-based account, the client must approve all trades made in their account before the trade is placed. The account holdings generate trailing commissions or up-front commission payments based on the invested assets. As a result, compensation earned from the investments is considered “embedded”.

Fee-based Accounts

In a retail, fee-based account, the client must approve all trades made in the account before the trade is placed. Fees in the account are not embedded and are discussed and approved by the client (fees are based on assets in the account). Products that have embedded trailing commissions are not permitted to be included in the calculations of fees in fee-based accounts.

Managed Accounts

In a managed account, a client must be working with a Portfolio Manager and have a signed managed account agreement on file. Fees in the account are not embedded and are discussed and approved by the client (fees are based on assets in the account). The Portfolio Manager makes investment decisions on behalf of the client.

Client Name Accounts

In a client name account, the account is held directly with a fund company and certain documents (such as tax slips or trade confirmations) and certain service requests (such as withdrawal requests) can be processed directly with them. The fund company maintains custody of your securities.

ACCOUNT SUB TYPE

Under the account types listed above, accounts may be classified as cash accounts, registered accounts (e.g. RRSP, RRIF), educations saving plans (RESP), and tax-free savings accounts (TFSA). Other account types may be available based on client specific information.
Examples are as follows:

Cash Accounts

Cash accounts allow an investor to deposit and withdraw funds freely with no limitations set by government or other regulatory bodies. Investments are made dollar for dollar with the funds deposited or earned within the account.

Registered accounts (e.g. RRSP, RRIF)

Registered Retirement Savings Plans and Registered Retirement Income Funds are tax advantaged investment accounts that allow tax deductions on yearly contributions. RRSP accounts are subject to limits on the amount that can be deposited based on individual factors per client.

Educations Saving Plans (RESP)

Registered Education Savings Plans provide an opportunity to save for future education and receive government grants within the account. Future withdrawals are taxed to the beneficiaries at the time of withdrawal so long as the beneficiary is attending an eligible school.

Tax-free Savings Accounts (TFSA)

Tax-free Savings accounts allow investors to earn income tax free. There are limits to the total amounts that can be deposited to the account set by the government and unique to the deposits and withdrawals a client has previously made.

Other account types may be available depending on your unique circumstances and it is important to discuss your needs in full with an Investment Advisor or Mutual Fund Representative. They will help determine what account(s) may be appropriate for you.