CSI FP2 Actual Questions

Charles is the candidate whose methodology represents fundamental analysis. Fundamental analysis attempts to determine the intrinsic or underlying value of a security by examining economic, industry, and company-specific information.

The analyst may evaluate economic growth, interest rates, competitive conditions, industry trends, corporate revenue, profitability, cash flow, balance-sheet strength, management quality, and prospective earnings. These factors are then used to assess whether a security appears undervalued or overvalued relative to its market price.

Charles is specifically described as estimating stock value using economic factors, which is consistent with this approach.

Boris and Dakota are using methodologies associated with technical analysis. Studying historical stock prices and trading volume, together with examining charts, patterns, and trends, focuses on market behaviour rather than the underlying economic value of the business.

Annabelle's emphasis on investor behaviour is more closely associated with behavioural finance, which examines psychological influences and biases affecting investment decisions and market behaviour.

Fundamental analysis therefore differs from technical analysis by focusing primarily on the issuer's economic and financial characteristics rather than patterns contained in historical market-price data.

FPII reference/topic: Investment and Tax Planning — fundamental analysis; technical analysis; behavioural finance; intrinsic value.

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A capital-gains-oriented equity portfolio is the most tax-efficient choice among the alternatives because of the Canadian attribution rules applying to property transferred to a related minor.

Where a parent transfers money or other property directly or indirectly to a minor child, including through a trust in which the minor is beneficially interested, income from the transferred property, such as interest and dividends, is generally attributed back to the transferor. The transferor therefore reports that income at his or her own marginal tax rate. CRA's trust guidance expressly recognizes this attribution treatment for property transferred for a related minor.

Capital gains are treated differently under the ordinary minor-child attribution rule. CRA's longstanding interpretation confirms that subsection 74.1(2) does not generally attribute a subsequent capital gain on transferred property back to the transferor.

A GIC or Government of Canada bond primarily produces interest, while mature dividend-paying stocks generate dividends; both would tend to create attributed investment income for Xavier. An equity mutual fund emphasizing capital appreciation minimizes current income distributions and places more of the return in capital gains.

FPII reference/topic: Investment and Tax Planning — informal trusts; attribution rules; taxation of minors; investment income versus capital gains.

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The applicable maximum is 50% of the payor's net amount under the ordinary support-deduction framework.

Ontario's Family Responsibility and Support Arrears Enforcement Act provides that the total amount deducted by an income source and remitted under a support deduction order generally must not exceed 50% of the net amount owed by the income source to the payor.

The “net amount” concept is important because the statutory limit does not simply mean 50% of gross salary. Required statutory deductions are taken into account in determining the amount available for enforcement.

The support obligation itself continues to exist even where enforcement through a particular income source is limited. Arrears can accumulate and other enforcement measures may become available. There are also specific statutory exceptions applying to certain lump-sum amounts and enforcement circumstances, so the 50% figure should be understood as the standard deduction limit tested by the question rather than an absolute limit in every possible enforcement proceeding.

Accordingly, among the four alternatives, 50% correctly represents the general maximum deduction against the payor's net income source for support enforcement.

FPII reference/topic: Family Law — child-support enforcement; support deduction orders; garnishment; limits on deductions from income.

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The person who receives authority under a power of attorney is the donee, commonly referred to simply as the attorney. Ontario's Powers of Attorney Act expressly defines an attorney as the “donee of a power of attorney.”

The distinction between the parties is important. The donor is the individual granting the authority. The donee or attorney is the person authorized to act on the donor's behalf within the scope established by the power of attorney. Depending on the document and applicable legislation, the authority may relate to property, financial affairs, or personal-care decisions.

A settlor is associated with trust law. The settlor establishes a trust and transfers property into it for administration by a trustee. A testator is an individual who makes a will. Neither term identifies the person exercising authority under a power of attorney.

The donee's authority is fiduciary in character. The attorney must exercise the granted powers for the benefit of the donor and within the restrictions imposed by the document and applicable legislation.

FPII reference/topic: Estate Planning — powers of attorney; donor and donee; substitute decision-making; fiduciary responsibilities.

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