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CSI will be performing system maintenance on Saturday May 11th from 5 a.m. until 1 p.m. ET. You will not have access to your “myCSI” student account, nor will you be able to book, cancel or reschedule exams during this time. You can still access your online course materials by visiting connect.csi.ca then connecting to “Blackboard Learn”.

What will you learn about?

  • Section 1: Investment Fundamentals
    • Financial Asset Classes
    • Risk
    • Return
    • Risk and Return Trade-Off
    • Money Market Instruments
    • Fixed Income Instruments
    • Equity
    • Mutual Funds

  • Section 2 – Personal Taxation Fundamentals
    • Introduction to Personal Tax Planning
    • Calculating Total Income
    • Maximizing Deductions
    • Calculating Income Taxes
    • Deferred Income Plans

What is the course syllabus?

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Chapter 1 - Financial Asset Classes

Topics covered in this chapter are:

  • Money Market Asset Classes
  • Fixed-income Capital Market Asset Classes
  • Equity Instruments
  • Rights and Warrants
  • Options, Futures and Forward Contracts
  • Mutual Funds
  • Other Investment Funds
  • Real Estate
  • Collectibles
  • Precious Metals
  • Basic Investment Attributes of the Various Asset Classes

Chapter 2 - Risk

Topics covered in this chapter are:

  • Sources of Risk
  • Measures of Risk
  • Interpretation of the Standard Deviation
  • Stand-Alone Risk versus Portfolio Risk of an Asset

Chapter 3 - Return

Topics covered in this chapter are:

  • Accounting Rate of Return
  • Calculating Investment Rates of Return
  • Bond Yields
  • Stock Yields
  • Mutual Funds Yields

Chapter 4 - Risk and Return Trade-off

Topics covered in this chapter are:

  • Relationship between Risk and Return
  • Expected Return-Variance (E-V) Rule
  • Ratios

Chapter 5 - Money Market Instruments

Topics covered in this chapter are:

  • Treasury Bills (T-bills)
  • Bankers’ Acceptances (BAs)
  • Commercial Paper

Chapter 6 - Fixed Income Instruments

Topics covered in this chapter are:

  • Bond Registration and Trading
  • Bonds Issuers
  • Characteristics of Bonds
  • Rights and Privileges of Bonds
  • Valuation of Bonds
  • Bond Yields
  • Elements of Bond Risk
  • Elements of Expected Bond Yields
  • Risk and Bond Rating Agencies
  • Duration
  • Bond Mutual Funds
  • Mortgage-backed Securities (MBS)
  • Preferred Shares

Chapter 7 - Equity

Topics covered in this chapter are:

  • Equities
  • Common Shares
  • Classification of Common Shares Companies
  • Valuation of Common Stock
  • Yield Measures for Common Stock
  • Stock Indices
  • Tax Implications
  • TFSA, RRSP and RRIF Eligibility
  • Purchasing Securities
  • Cash versus Margin Accounts
  • Equity Mutual Funds

Chapter 8 - Mutual Funds

Topics covered in this chapter are:

  • Definition of Mutual Funds
  • Closed-end and Open-end Mutual Funds
  • Advantages of Investing in Mutual Funds
  • Types of Mutual Funds in Canada
  • Fees and Expenses in Mutual Funds
  • Taxation Implications of Mutual Funds for Individuals

Chapter 9 - Introduction to Personal Tax Planning

Topics covered in this chapter are:

  • Tax Planning
  • Ethics and the Financial Planner’s Role
  • Canadian Federal Income Tax
  • Provincial Income Tax
  • Legislation and Availability of Interpretive Sources
  • Canadian Individual Income Tax Return

Chapter 10 - Calculating Total Income

Topics covered in this chapter are:

  • Employment Income
  • Business Income
  • Investment Income
  • Capital Cost Allowance (CCA)
  • Capital Gains
  • Miscellaneous Income

Chapter 11 - Maximizing Deductions

Topics covered in this chapter are:

  • Computing Net Income for Tax Purposes
  • Deductions
  • Computing Taxable Income for Individuals
  • Other Deductions

Chapter 12 - Calculating Income Taxes

Topics covered in this chapter are:

  • Overall Tax Calculation
  • Federal and Quebec Taxes
  • Effective and Marginal Tax Rates
  • Tax Deductions and Tax Credits
  • Non-Refundable Tax Credits
  • Refundable Tax Credits

Chapter 13 - Deferred Income Plans

Topics covered in this chapter are:

  • Registered Pension Plans (RPPs)
  • Pooled Registered Pension Plan (PRPP)
  • Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs)
  • Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs)
  • Individual Pension Plans (IPPs)
  • Retirement Compensation Arrangements (RCAs)
  • Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans (SERPs)
  • Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs)
  • Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSPs)
  • Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs)
  • Deferred Profit Sharing Plan (DPSP)

How will you learn?

CSI’s online learning system helps you meet your study goals. You’ll benefit from:

  • Textbook readings available in PDF and printed format
  • Learning objectives that keep you focused
  • End of chapter activities including review questions to help you reinforce your learning and identify topics that may need to be revisited during exam preparation
  • Two self-assessments and practice questions so that you can assess your progress
  • Online assistance from CSI’s academic support specialists