WHERE INDEPENDENCE AND INTEGRITY GO HAND IN HAND INDEPENDENT ADVICE FULL-SERVICE DEALER WEALTH MANAGEMENT INDEPENDENCE AT THE CORE OF A SOLID NETWORK
IMAGINE A PARTNER TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS From coast to coast, PEAK Financial Group has captured the trust of over 1,500 Independent Advisors, registered professionals and employees throughout Canada. PEAK brings its expertise and support to a network of Independent Financial Advisors attentive to the needs of over 150,000 investors. With over $7.5 billion in assets under administration, PEAK is positioned as the leader amongst independent full-service dealers. PROFILE Established in 1992, PEAK Financial Group is proud to represent and promote independent advice. 2
IMAGINE A PARTNER TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS OUR MISSION: TO SERVE, REPRESENT AND PROMOTE INDEPENDENT ADVICE PEAK Financial Group caters to Financial Advisors wishing to build their brand, with-in their market place in the areas of wealth management, mutual funds, securities, insurance and financial planning. OUR VALUES Supporting Independent Financial Advisors requires know-how and first class service. We believe that only a long-term relationship based on high-calibre professionalism, in an environment of trust and integrity, can bring about personalized and efficient solutions. PEAK CORPORATE BROCHURE 3
150,000 INVESTORS ADVISORS/EMPLOYEE RATIO OF 15 One of the best ratios in the industry A NETWORK OF 1,500 INDEPENDENT ADVISORS AND REGISTERED PROFESSIONALS VANCOUVER WEYBURN MONTREAL QUEBEC PEAK S ADVISOR SUPPORT CENTERS ARE LOCATED ACROSS CANADA 4 ASSETS UNDER ADMINISTRATION OF OVER $7.5 BILLION
IMAGINE A PARTNER TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS GROWTH AND PERSEVERANCE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS 1990 FINANCIAL SERVICES Robert Frances founded PEAK Financial Services Inc., the original company of the group in 1990. Its mission was to assist employers by providing financial advice to employees nearing retirement. Its reputation for quality service and innovative use of technology soon attracted top financial planners. 1998 PEAK INSURANCE SERVICES INC. Advisors had expressed the need for a full-service outlet for insurance policies, segregated funds and mutual funds. PEAK Insurance Services Inc. was established to provide access to all major insurance companies and offer estate and tax advice. 2002 ACQUISITION PEAK acquired insurance service provider Greater Montreal Financial Services, an established Master General Agent in Westmount, Quebec. 2009 ACQUISITION PEAK Financial Group acquired Promutuel Capital Financial Services Firm, a mutual fund dealer and subsidiary of the Promutuel Group. 2013 PRIVATE WEALTH PEAK Financial Group enhanced its offering with the addition of portfolio managers and the creation of the PEAK Private Wealth division. 1992 PEAK INVESTMENT SERVICES INC. A mutual fund dealer registered with the AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers) and the MFDA (Mutual Fund Dealers Association). 1999 ACQUISITION PEAK acquired certain divisions of Geoffrion, Leclerc, Marcoux et Associés Inc. (GLM), a mutual fund and insurance dealer in Quebec City. 2000 PEAK SECURITIES INC. A full-service securities dealer registered with IIROC (Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada) and a member of the CIPF (Canadian Investor Protection Fund). 2007 ACQUISITION PEAK Investment Services Inc. acquired AXA Financial Services Inc., the mutual fund dealer of AXA Group Canada Inc. 2013 ALLIANCE Customplan Financial Advisors Inc., one of the largest and most established MGAs in Western Canada, joins forces with PEAK. 2015 ACQUISITION PEAK Financial Group acquired HBO Financial Services, an established Montreal MGA. PEAK CORPORATE BROCHURE 5
IMAGINE A PARTNER THAT SHARES AND SUPPORTS YOUR DEFINITION OF INDEPENDENCE AT PEAK, ADVISORS ARE NOT CLIENTS. THEY ARE BUSINESS MODELS. Because each Advisor has different expectations, PEAK tailors services to suit their needs. PEAK s idea of Independence offers ample options and opportunities for Independent Financial Advisors to operate according to their objectives, requirements and expectations. VISION 6
IMAGINE A PARTNER THAT SHARES AND SUPPORTS YOUR DEFINITION OF INDEPENDENCE OUR VISION INDEPENDENCE: OUR CHOICE, OUR STRENGTH PEAK Financial Group is a private and completely independent company. The independence of the company was a discerning choice that has enabled PEAK to grow freely over the years while preserving the culture and core values it established close to twenty years ago. Through its financial strength and perseverance, PEAK has cemented itself as the leader in independent advice within the financial services industry. It is one of the rare companies to have remained truly independent in the Canadian market. PEAK has turned independence into its strength and brand image. PEAK CORPORATE BROCHURE 7
INDEPENDENCE ACCORDING TO PEAK: AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVISORS OUR INDEPENDENCE IS AS DEAR TO US AS IT IS TO OUR ADVISORS The independence of PEAK Financial Group s member companies provides great flexibility. Unlike other financial institutions, PEAK does not hold or market any in-house products and does not impose any sales quotas on Advisors. PEAK s business model provides full access to all available financial products that have been approved for sale in Canada, through an open structure. OPPORTUNITIES ADVISORS WHERE INDEPENDENCE MEETS INTEGRITY Independence gives rise to another core value: integrity. We offer Independent Financial Advisors the possibility of providing unbiased advice and recommendations, as well as tailored services to properly attend to their clients needs, within the framework of strict ethical and prudential standards. 1 ACCESS THE BEST SOLUTIONS WITHOUT IN-HOUSE PRODUCTS. PROVIDE UNBIASED ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 2 BUILD A CUSTOMIZED BUSINESS MODEL AND SELECT AREAS OF EXPERTISE. 3 WORK WITHOUT SALES QUOTAS. 4 BENEFIT FROM PEAK S SOLUTIONS TO DEVELOP THE BUSINESS PRACTICE. 8
IMAGINE A PARTNER THAT SHARES AND SUPPORTS YOUR DEFINITION OF INDEPENDENCE INDEPENDENCE FOR INVESTORS: THE RIGHT CHOICE INVESTOR PROTECTION The member companies of PEAK Financial Group are subject to annual audits by the regulatory bodies of Canada. Moreover, our book of accounts and registers are verified by an external auditing firm, on an annual basis. Mutual Fund Dealers and Advisors subscribe to professional liability insurance, a regulatory requirement, to remain registered with the regulatory bodies. Furthermore, financial institutions are covered against investment losses, and internal computer fraud. CAPITAL PROTECTION TD Canada Trust acts as Trustee for all registered plans; accordingly, the cash amounts held in these accounts are protected by the CDIC (Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation). All amounts entrusted to us on behalf of clients are therefore immediately transferred to our Trustee to settle the transactions. PEAK FINANCIAL GROUP PEAK INDEPENDENT ADVISORS PEAK INDEPENDENT ADVISORS CLIENTS INVESTORS PEAK INDEPENDENT ADVISORS PEAK FINANCIAL GROUP PEAK FINANCIAL GROUP PEAK FINANCIAL GROUP PEAK INDEPENDENT ADVISORS PEAK FINANCIAL GROUP BENEFITS Objective and quality advice One-on-one exchanges with Advisors Fees are consistent and known in advance according to services rendered FRAUD PROTECTION AND REGULATIONS PEAK INVESTMENT SERVICES INC. AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers) Mutual Fund Dealers Association (MFDA) Registered Deposit Brokers Association (RDBA) Elimination of ethical or integrity concerns Stability and long-term engagement of Advisors PEAK SECURITIES INC. Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) PEAK INSURANCE SERVICES INC. AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers) PEAK CORPORATE BROCHURE 9
OPPORTUNITIES IMAGINE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXCEL Doing business with a full-service dealer like PEAK will assure peace of mind as Advisors develop their Independent practice by seizing the best opportunities to meet and exceed their clients expectations. 10
IMAGINE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXCEL PEAK, A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITIES Thanks to its diverse scope, PEAK can open doors to new business opportunities by providing Advisors with access to many disciplines. PEAK is able to fully meet their changing needs, regardless of the direction they take. We guarantee flexibility for their business models. These factors have contributed to the success of PEAK through the years and will continue to do so, as we innovate and generate new opportunities for Advisors and their clients. PEAK CORPORATE BROCHURE 11
MUTUAL FUNDS Over 3,000 mutual funds GICs Multi-manager investment programs Investment contracts SECURITIES Access to all major financial markets Stocks Tradable securities Bond markets Over 3,000 mutual funds LIFE INSURANCE AND LIVING BENEFITS Access to life insurance and living benefits products from over 20 major insurance companies DAILY SOLUTIONS Cash accounts Margin accounts Joint accounts Corporate accounts Registered accounts Multi-manager investment programs Independent discretionary portfolio management through PEAK Private Wealth and external wealth management firms ALL YOUR NEEDS UNDER ONE ROOF We draw on our expertise and vision of independent advice to create a perfect environment to develop holistic wealth management pratices. One of our key assets is that we have gathered under one roof a global offering as well as all the skills required to optimally respond to the needs of Independent Advisors and their clients. Through the multidisciplinary businesses of PEAK, our global offering offers Advisors peace of mind to operate as an Independent Financial Advisor under the best conditions. 12
IMAGINE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXCEL SOLUTION FOR A FEE-BASED PRACTICE Prospera : for a fee based practice solution SAVINGS PRODUCT SOLUTIONS PEAK All-in-One solutions (self-directed accounts: RRSP, LIRA, LIF, etc.) TFSA SEGREGATED FUNDS AND OTHER PRODUCTS Access to over 20 major insurance companies Consolidated statements (segregated funds and mutual funds) WEALTH MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS Integrated financial planning Tax planning and income tax preparation Investment policy review Consolidated account reporting Succession planning Risk management Retirement incentive programs Fee-based financial counselling Savings solutions Independent discretionary portfolio management PEAK CORPORATE BROCHURE 13
IMAGINE SOLUTIONS THAT WORK We have engineered solutions that work for Advisors and their clients. SOLUTIONS 14
IMAGINE SOLUTIONS THAT WORK QUALITY, SERVICE AND EXPERTISE A QUALITY CHOICE FOR CLIENTS Detached from all in-house products, we exercise our activities without favouring any investments or sponsors. At PEAK, Advisors are able to make quality choices for their clients without pressure and in all integrity. With over 3,000 mutual funds and countless financial products on the market, finding investments that meet ethical standards is an intricate task. This is why PEAK Financial Group s Compliance Department carries out in-depth product analyses in the search for excellence, before approving any product and making it available to Advisors and their clients. This guarantees a secure and compliant offering. OUR EXPERTISE TO MEET ADVISORS REQUIREMENTS PEAK s Operations Department processes over 720,000 transactions annually. This wealth of experience means that our team is well-equipped to provide the support that Independent Financial Advisors require to carry out their clients transactions under the best conditions. OUR BACK-OFFICE TEAM AT YOUR SERVICE Our operations agents provide processing support that is responsive and relevant to the practice application at the Advisors desk. PEAK CORPORATE BROCHURE 15
ALL-IN-ONE SOLUTIONS SIMPLICITY All-in-One solutions are aimed at offering registered and non-registered self-directed accounts. All accounts held by clients with different institutions are gathered in a single master account. All transactions are then processed through this All-in-One account. This solution provides a triple layer of client protection. All transactions pass through Advisors, PEAK and clients. DIVERSIFICATION AND FLEXIBILITY All-in-One solutions enable to offer a full suite of diversified investments to clients. Flexibility is a key advantage that enables a transfer from one investment to another with any financial institution. REDUCED ADMINISTRATION By centralizing all the transactions within a single master account, administration is reduced for the Advisor and their clients. A SINGLE MASTER ACCOUNT FOR ALL INVESTMENTS A SINGLE FORM TO COMPLETE TRIPLE LAYER PROTECTION WARNING AGAINST FRAUD 16INVESTMENTS PROSPERA, A SOLUTION FOR A FEE-BASED PRACTICE The Prospera solution promotes the value of advice by orchestrating a platform that gives clients an optional payment method. The fees are based on a fixed percentage defined by the Advisors and the clients. Payments are available in a variety of methods customized to the specific needs of each client. The Prospera platform provides automatic administration fees creating a seamless process for clients and Advisors.
IMAGINE SOLUTIONS THAT WORK OUR COMMITMENT We are committed to establishing long-term mutually beneficial relationships based on trust. We are committed to sustainable dialogue to ensure continuous support in order to respond and anticipate the needs of Advisors and their clients. We are committed to creating an environment that supports compliant, ethical and integrity-based financial services practices. OUR TEAM OF EXPERTS Our teams of specialists have considerable expertise in investments, securities and insurance. They understand the challenges, opportunities and needs of Independent Advisors. They are available for personal meetings, calls or any method that assists the Advisor in managing his practice and meeting or exceeding the client s goals. Advice and solutions in wealth management Life insurance Life Benefits Regulations Compliance and supervision Products and sales Technological tools Practice Management OUR UNIQUE ABILITY IN TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION Through its acquisitions, PEAK Financial Group has developed an expertise in a number of operational platforms.this unique ability to offer Advisors a choice of platform reaffirms our commitment to support the Independent Advisors practice. Our PEAK portfolio includes innovative tools that provide portfolio analytics, direct feed rates and quotes, client friendly visuals and reporting and much more! We provide Advisors with leading technological tools to help them provide the best possible services to their clients, while increasing the profitability of their firm. PEAK CORPORATE BROCHURE 17
IMAGINE INDEPENDENCE AT THE CORE OF A SOLID NETWORK Since its inception, PEAK was founded to gather Advisors interested in working in a completely independent environment with other professionals sharing similar specialized areas of interest within a single network. NETWORK The PEAK network s mandate is to help and support Independent Advisors in developing new business relations and improving their professional quality of life. PEAK also acts as an intermediary to help build the PEAK network to create new opportunities for Advisors and to promote Independent Advice. 18
IMAGINE INDEPENDENCE AT THE CORE OF A SOLID NETWORK NETWORK EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING TO GUIDE ADVISORS IN THEIR PRATICE To guide Advisors on a basis daily, we offer training on our transactional platforms, operations, and technological tools, at the time of integration and throughout the year. PEAK Financial Group also offers a series of in-person and online training opportunities aimed at Advisors through PEAK University. These training sessions enable Advisors to make the best decisions for their firm and benefit from a continuing education program. SUMMITS ACROSS CANADA ALL THROUGH THE YEAR Targeted gatherings are organized across Canada throughout the year, offering meeting opportunities and educational programs to satisfy the needs of each group of Advisors. PEAK FINANCIAL GROUP S NATIONAL CONFERENCE Our National conference is our most important educational program. It features up-to-date information on the economy and the industry, expert speakers, highly pertinent workshops on the challenges, opportunities faced by Independent Financial Advisors, incredible soirées and networking possibilities. We are committed to offering the most complete educational experience in the industry, while contributing to the continuing education of PEAK Advisors. REGULAR AND PERTINENT COMMUNICATION FOR A CLEARER PERSPECTIVE PEAK Network Newsletters are sent regularly to update PEAK Advisors on the PEAK network: PEAK services, Compliance, Operations, Media, Financial Services Industry, classified ads, etc. The Advisor website contains all the documents, tools, information and news required by Independent Financial Advisors on a daily basis. THE FORUM An online forum which offers the most efficient way of leveraging the knowledge and experience of hundreds of other Advisors in the PEAK network, as well as the expertise of PEAK s employees and management. The PEAK discussion forum remains a key tool to remain informed, benefit from good practices, communicate, network, and find references. RECOGNITION PROGRAM Qualified Advisors benefit from a recognition program offering a perfect balance between unique educational experiences and leisure activities. PEAK CORPORATE BROCHURE 19
WE MEASURE OUR SUCCESS THROUGH THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISORS INDEPENDENT ADVICE FULL-SERVICE DEALER WEALTH MANAGEMENT From coast to coast, PEAK Financial Group has captured the trust of over 1,500 Independent Advisors, registered professionals and employees across Canada. PEAK brings its expertise and support to a network of Independent Financial Advisors attentive to the needs of over 150,000 investors. With over $7.5 billion in assets under administration, PEAK is a leading independent full-service dealer. Established in 1992, PEAK Financial Group is proud to represent and promote Independent Advice.