What Canadian Investors Want in a Modern SRO
These are the detailed findings of a Maru/Blue Public Opinion Poll conducted for the Mutual Funds Dealers Association of Canada (“MFDA”). The survey was of 2,000 respondents across Canada that have a mutual fund or investment accounts and included those with RRSPs or RRIFs (mutual funds, stocks, or other investments within a registered retirement savings plan or income fund), mutual funds not within a registered retirement savings / income plan, individual stocks not within a registered retirement savings / income plan, bonds not within a registered retirement savings / income plan, hedge funds / private equity. The findings were balanced to represent the entire Canadian retail investor population.
This research revealed that investors prefer comprehensive SRO review to a simple merger, and a model that emphasizes accountability, government oversight and investor protection. Ultimately, Canadians believe that such a comprehensive approach would increase public confidence.