For many, ringing in the new year represents goal setting and a new chance to revisit existing objectives. 

Often, these goals can be achieved within the year, like traveling, completing a course, looking for a new job, or finding a new home. 

Now that the New Year has come and gone, it's time to start thinking about how you are going to improve yourself in 2017. Maybe you want to return to a regular gym habit or start eating healthier, but have you considered making a commitment to improving your finances first? 

Last year, regulators announced the Client Relationship Model - Version 2 (CRM2), which included a key requirement that financial advisors explicitly disclose all investment fees charged to clients. The regulation, which went into force in July 2016, is required to be implemented by all financial advisors by January 2017. 

2016 was a year shaped by surprises and drastic changes in sentiment. How investors feel about the economy is what’s reflected in prices. While major equity markets had a generally positive 2016 – driven by strong US economic data and improving conditions in Europe – there was a lot of global negativity for equities going into the year, fueled by China’s slowing economy, dropping oil prices, and geo-political uncertainty. Investors had more cash parked on the sidelines than ever before. However, major equity markets had a positive 2016 climbing the walls of worry, mainly driven by strong economic data out of the US (jobs, in particular) and improving economic conditions in Europe.