Pass the CSI Canadian Securities Course CSC2 Questions and answers with CertsForce

To reduce a national deficit, governments canincrease taxationto generate more revenue. This measure, combined with controlled spending, helps reduce the shortfall between revenues and expenditures.

B. Increase government spending: This would increase the deficit further unless matched by revenue increases.

C. Decrease taxation: This would reduce revenue and worsen the deficit.

D. Increase interest rates: This impacts monetary policy and borrowing costs but does not directly reduce a fiscal deficit.

Anestate freezeis a strategy used to minimize future tax liability by freezing the value of an individual's assets at their current level and transferring future growth to others (e.g., family members). This helps lock in the current value for taxation purposes while passing on potential growth to the next generation without incurring immediate taxes.

Key Benefits of an Estate Freeze:

Ensures that future appreciation in asset value is taxed in the hands of beneficiaries rather than the original owner, typically at lower tax rates.

Facilitates succession planning by transferring control of assets to heirs.

Limits tax exposure while maintaining flexibility in estate planning.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A: An estate freeze does not eliminate probate fees, though it may reduce taxable estate value.

B: Asset price volatility is unrelated to the purpose of an estate freeze.

C: While asset control may change, this is not the primary reason for an estate freeze.

References:

CSC Volume 2, Chapter 24: Estate Planning and Tax Strategies​.

The return on a security held for a specific period, such as 18 months, without adjusting for time or compounding, is referred to as theholding period return (HPR). This straightforward calculation assesses total returns over the period of ownership.

1. Definition of Holding Period Return:The HPR is calculated as:

HPR=(Ending Value - Initial Value) + Dividends ReceivedInitial ValueHPR = \frac{{\text{(Ending Value - Initial Value) + Dividends Received}}}{{\text{Initial Value}}}HPR=Initial Value(Ending Value - Initial Value) + Dividends Received​

This measure evaluates total growth, disregarding compounding or annualization.

2. Other Return Types (Incorrect Answers):

Effective Rate of Return:Reflects annualized returns considering compounding within a year. It is not applicable to non-annualized periods like 18 months.

Nominal Rate of Return:The unadjusted rate of return without accounting for inflation. While related, it does not specifically refer to the holding period concept.

Annualized Total Return:This adjusts returns to reflect an annual basis, assuming constant performance throughout the period. It is unsuitable for raw, unadjusted returns like the HPR.

References from CSC Study Documents:

Chapter 15, Volume 2: Covers the calculation of different return metrics, with detailed examples of HPR and its application​.

Portfolio Return Analysis inSection 15explains the non-compounded nature of holding period calculations​.

Let me know if further details or clarifications are needed!

Thecash flow-to-total debt ratioassesses a company's ability to repay its debts using cash generated from its operating activities. It is calculated by dividing operating cash flow by total debt. A higher ratio indicates better capacity to cover debts. This metric is crucial for evaluating financial health and understanding a firm's liquidity position. Other ratios listed have different focuses:

Interest coverage(B) measures a company’s ability to pay interest with operating income.

Asset coverage(C) measures the protection provided to creditors.

Debt-to-equity(D) evaluates capital structure but not immediate debt repayment ability.

References

CSC Volume 2, Chapter 14:Company Analysis - Risk Analysis Ratios, p. 14-12 to 14-16​.

For an emerging company with limited assets and innovative goals,crowdfundingis an excellent option to maximize public exposure and raise capital. Crowdfunding involves soliciting small investments from a large number of people, typically through online platforms, making it ideal for startups or innovative ventures like the use of hot water springs for clean energy.

Other options:

Escrowing shares: Typically used to restrict the sale of shares for a certain period, not for raising capital.

Offering a greenshoe option: Applies to stabilizing stock prices in an IPO or follow-on offering, not raising initial capital.

Filing disclosure documents with SEDAR+: Necessary for public companies but does not directly raise capital or increase exposure.

References:

Volume 1, Chapter 12:Financing and Listing Securities, section on "Capital Raising Options" covers crowdfunding as a method for startups to raise funds​.

TheCanadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO)is responsible for overseeing trading and market-related activities of participants on Canadian equity marketplaces. CIRO conducts surveillance to ensure compliance with rules, regulations, and fair market practices.

Other options:

OBSI (Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments): Handles disputes between financial institutions and their clients but does not conduct trading surveillance.

OSFI (Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions): Regulates and supervises federally regulated financial institutions, focusing on their solvency.

CSA (Canadian Securities Administrators): Coordinates securities regulation across Canada but does not directly monitor trading activities.

References:

Volume 1, Chapter 3:The Canadian Regulatory Environment, section on "Market Surveillance and Trading Oversight" explains CIRO's role​.

Theex-post real rate of returnis a backward-looking measure calculated after the fact, using historical data. It reflects the actual nominal rate of return adjusted for the actual rate of inflation over the same period. The formula is:

Ex-post real return=Nominal return−Inflation rate\text{Ex-post real return} = \text{Nominal return} - \text{Inflation rate}Ex-post real return=Nominal return−Inflation rate

This measure helps assess the purchasing power of returns after accounting for inflation.

Other options are incorrect:

A and Cdescribeex-antemeasures (forward-looking expectations).

Bcalculates the nominal excess return above the risk-free rate, not the real return​​.

Provincial savings bondsare available for purchase only during specific periods, often during annual campaigns. They are a secure investment option backed by the issuing provincial government and are available only to residents of the issuing province. They are not issued internationally and do not mature every six months.

References:

Volume 1, Chapter 6:Fixed-Income Securities, section on "Provincial and Municipal Securities" discusses the features and issuance timing of provincial savings bonds​.

Investment objectives are critical components of a financial plan, guiding both the client and the advisor in creating strategies to achieve desired financial outcomes. These objectives generally fall into primary categories that reflect the investor's goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

Growth of Capital:This objective focuses on increasing the principal value of the investment over time. It is particularly important for investors with long-term goals, such as retirement or funding a child's education. Growth-oriented investments typically include equities, equity mutual funds, and growth-oriented ETFs.

Preservation of Capital:This objective ensures that the invested principal remains safe from loss, emphasizing lower-risk investments like government bonds, GICs (Guaranteed Investment Certificates), or money market instruments. Investors prioritizing this objective often have a low tolerance for risk and a shorter time horizon.

Growth and Preservation of CapitalRelevance to Financial PlanningBy combining growth with preservation, the portfolio aims to strike a balance between generating returns and maintaining the invested capital. This dual objective is well-suited for individuals in different life stages:

Young Investors: Tend to emphasize growth more, leveraging their long time horizons.

Older Investors: Place greater emphasis on preservation as they near or enter retirement, prioritizing capital safety to fund living expenses.

Why A is CorrectOption A explicitly combines both these objectives, aligning with a widely recognized approach to investing that balances risk and reward depending on the investor's profile and needs.

References:

Volume 2, Section 15: Portfolio Management Process—Investment Objectives and Constraints​.

Volume 1, Section 4: Overview of Economics—Principles of Risk and Return​.

When submitting a trade ticket for a short sale, an investment advisor mustmark the sell-order ticket as a short sale. This ensures compliance with regulatory requirements and informs the broker and exchange that the sale involves borrowed shares. Marking the order appropriately helps maintain transparency and enables monitoring for potential market manipulation.

A. Verify the client can borrow the shares: The responsibility for ensuring share availability lies with the broker, not the advisor.

C. Obtain minimum margin amount from client: This is done separately as part of the account setup and transaction process, not when submitting the trade ticket.

D. Mark it as a margin order: Short sales involve margin, but the ticket must specifically indicate "short sale" rather than just "margin."