Al and Mark Rosen, Advisor.ca

In his new book, Thieves of Bay Street, author Bruce Livesey describes income trusts as a clear case of "the Canadian financial industry marketing Ponzi scheme-like investments." He minces few words in describing how banks marketed the trusts to retail clients and investment advisors using a "turbo-charged hype machine."

With Target's arrival just around the corner and Wal-Mart ramping up its grocery offerings, Accountability Research analyst Kevin Chu warns Loblaw Cos. Ltd. is in precarious shape.

Al and Mark Rosen, Advisor.ca

People are questioning the auditor's role in the wake of engineering firm SNC Lavalin's recent missteps. Its CEO resigned in March and its board is reviewing $35 million of potentially inappropriate payments it made to construction projects.The company has also been accused of ties to former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

Al and Mark Rosen, Advisor.ca

The words "accounting manipulation" usually conjure up images of executives inflating income to pump up their company's share price, or to earn a bonus based on higher profits. What investors often forget are the other reasons for fudging the numbers: to keep earnings as low as possible.

Al and Mark Rosen, Advisor.ca

Displeasure with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is on the rise, and will likely gain steam as annual results are issued in the first quarter of 2012. As investors begin to digest some of the quarterly numbers from last year, more have started expressing unease with the new accounting rules.

Al and Mark Rosen, Advisor.ca

Changes planned for IFRS rules could impact capital moves in 2012.

Accountability Research Co-Founder and Professor Emeritus of Accounting Dr. Al Rosen, will be one of the chosen faculty members for The Masters Certificate in Risk Management & Business Performance at the Schulich Business School, York University

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Al and Mark Rosen, Advisor.ca

The German philosopher Friedrich Schiller said, "It is rascally to steal a purse, daring to steal a million, and a proof of greatness to steal a crown. The blame diminishes as the guilt increases."

Al and Mark Rosen, Advisor.ca

Are securities regulators in Canada finally pulling up their socks? Don’t count on it

Dr. Al Rosen and Mark Rosen, Advisor.ca

When the Canadian life insurers reported their third quarter results, billions of dollars in red ink flowed. Investors and executives alike were blaming the accounting rules. Frankly, we had to smile.

David Pett, Financial Post

Accountability Research Corp. initiated coverage on Target Corp. on Wednesday, becoming the newest, if not the only Canadian-based firm to cover the popular U.S. retailer as it's much-anticipated debut north of the border in 2013 draws nearer.

Al and Mark Rosen, Advisor.ca

If you've never read the income tax note in a company's annual report, you're not alone. Many portfolio managers and sell-side analysts don't bother, either. It's a mundane and comainducing part of the financial statements. So you won’t like this advice: read the tax note.

Al Rosen, co-founder, Accountability Research Corp., comments on Sino Forrest and provides his insight on how to protect your portfolio from accounting blowups.

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Jonathan Ratner, Financial Post

With Shaw Communications Inc. facing intensified competition from Telus Corp.'s IPTV offering, a new report suggests the Calgary-based telecom company could partner with Rogers Communications Inc. to offer wireless services.

Al and Mark Rosen, Advisor.ca

It's a question we get a lot from advisors: Can you trust the cash flow statement? The answer is no.

The question usually arises after a discussion of how untrustworthy the income statement and balance sheet are. What follows is an even longer discussion about how untrustworthy the cash flow statement is.

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Al and Mark Rosen, Advisor.ca

Advisors in the proprietary and HNW segments often tell us they need more than just the research and marketing support their in-house analysts provide. They’re looking for approaches that will give them a leg up.

Al and Mark Rosen, Advisor.ca

It’s certainly no easy task for advisors to avoid portfolio bombs like Sino-Forest Corp. and Armtec Infrastructure Inc., both of which lost over 80% of their value recently. The reasons for the losses are different, but the pain is still the same.

Euan Rocha and Allison Martell, Reuters

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian regulators are under fire for their disappearing act as shares of Chinese forestry company Sino-Forest melted down, raising new questions about a regulatory regime that's long been criticized for lacking teeth.

Jonathan Chevreau  Jun 10, 2011

Whether Sino-Forest Corp. turns out to be a solid investment or goes down in the annals of great Canadian stock flameouts, the saga of the Toronto-listed, China-based forest products company raises broader questions about how well Canadian investors can protect themselves from potential fraud.

Joe Castaldo, Canadian Business Magazine

As Canada moves from GAAP to IFRS, some see it as a licence to swindle

Simon Avery, The Globe And Mail

Some experts say effects 'will make life miserable for investors,' but standards board asserts problems will be short-term

Jonathan Chevreau Wealthy Boomer

The risks investors take investing in Canada have never been greater and will get even worse in January, when new accounting and auditing standards come in effect

James Daw, Toronto Star

Al Rosen is the angry man of Canadian accounting.

He is ferocious in his defence of investor interests, a harsh critic of complacency and fearless in his use of free speech. Yet the doctor of forensic bean counting is generous when trying to educate the public and ink-stained business writers.

Gerald Gauthier, Lethbridge Herald

If you want to protect your investment portfolio from corporate fraudsters, you'd best not rely on the authorities responsible for policing Canada's investment industry.

David Baines, The Vancouver Sun

Toronto-based forensic accountant Al Rosen is 75 years old, but he still hasn't lost any of his capacity for indignation.

Gary Lamphier, Edmonton Journal

So you think Canada is a nice, safe place to invest your hard-earned money, do you?