In organizational partnerships, the partners who initiated the alliance should be responsible to all the stakeholders who must make it work. The leaders who put together a merger of two companies, for instance, should keep selling the benefits of the partnership to their companies. They can do this by cheerleading, by providing financial resources for the transitions required, and by ensuring communication to the rest of the stakeholders.Most of all, leaders can send a supportive message by continuing their personal participation in efforts to ensure the success of the merger. Their participation must be visible so that everyone in the partnership understands that the leaders support the changes they are asking others to make.

I once consulted with an organization in which the top executives only paid lip service to the partnership. Although they spent no energy on developing it, they did stage a public relations campaign and received recognition for being innovative. What they didn’t do was show support for and participate in the changes they had instituted. Consequently, the partnership dissolved. Leadership’s enthusiasm must be authentic; otherwise, people will feel exploited and withdraw their support.

Seeking to take emotion out of investing, stock analysts have invented many systems of technical analysis. Technical analysts look only at numbers.

Most believe a thorough study of stock price and volume patterns alone should allow the prediction of future prices. Some technical analysts study more factors than price and volume. All build elaborate charts and read them for clues to the future. Often, extensive computer modeling and game playing systems are employed. Economic factors, stockbroker pressure, the brother-in-law’s inside information, the CEO’s cold, and other factors are ignored.

Technical analysis is great for number people. You can play with endless formulas to analyze past trends hoping to predict the future. However, technical analysis is best employed on other people’s money. Then you can remain objective and emotionless. All the studies of technical analysis show that it is ineffective. Used on your own money, you are likely to have strong feelings as losses mount.

Before coming to market, initial public offerings (IPOs) must issue a  prospectus describing the company and its risks. Virtually every prospectus  I’ve ever seen is written in unreadable legalese. I doubt any analysts not  associated with the investment banks that wrote them bother to even glance  at them. The investment banks are paid unbelievable sums to underwrite  IPOs. Underwriters can make as much as $20 billion a year issuing IPOs.

After reading the prospectus, the analyst produces reports promoting the  issue. The report gets picked up in the chat rooms and the hype is on.  IPO prices can be manipulated in many ways by the issuers and the  underwriters. In addition to analyst reports, popular IPOs are sold by allocation  only to those willing to either buy additional shares after the IPO or  give additional business to the underwriters. With buyers in place before the  initial offering, the offering price can be raised increasing returns to the  issuer and the underwriter. When the price pops on the opening, insiders are  given the opportunity to unload shares at tremendous profits.

The only non-insiders who are happy with IPOs are volatility junkies. In  a bull market, many IPOs double and triple in price the day of the offering.  When their popularity wanes, they drop back to the initial price or lower. In  a bear market, new IPOs are rare. The few that come to market often  collapse below the IPO price. However, the investment bankers retain their  billions of profits.

IPOs can be thrilling and depressing. The winners make great chat on  the Internet and conversation at parties. Every once in a while, a winner  will grow into a great company such as Microsoft. The losers are just part  of the gamble for real speculators. Most investors will find IPOs outside  their comfort zone.

You must immediately notify your school’s financial aid office if you:
- Reduce your enrollment status to less than half-time.
- Withdraw from school.
- Stop attending classes.
- Fail to re-enroll at the end of a term.
- Change your name, local or permanent address, or e-mail address while enrolled.

You must make on-time, monthly loan payments. You must repay the total amount of your loan, including any interest that accrues, even if you:
- Don’t complete your education.
- Are dissatisfied with your education.
- Don’t find a job in your field.

You must notify your loan holder if you:
- Change your address, telephone number or e-mail address.
- Change your name (for example, maiden name to married name).
- Fail to enroll at least half-time for the loan period certified or at the school that certified your Master Promissory Note.
- Withdraw from school or attend school less than half-time.
- Transfer to another school.
- Graduate.
- Change employers, employment address or employment status.
- Experience any change that affects your ability to repay your student loan.

Repaying Your Canada Student Loan You must continue to make interest payments on your Canada Student Loan once you have completed your studies or have stopped being a part-time student, but you are not required to make any payments on the principal until six months after your postsecondary end date.

As a borrower, you have certain responsibilities, and it is important that you understand the terms and conditions of your loan agreement so that you fulfill your obligations.

Make sure to keep your loan in good standing so that your future credit rating is not affected. Canada Student Loans received before August 1, 2000, are repaid to the financial institution holding the loans.

Canada Student Loans received on or after August 1, 2000, are repaid to the Government of Canada through the NSLSC

Defaults

It is your responsibility to ensure your loan is in good standing. Failure to repay your loan as established in your Part-time Loan Agreement will result in your defaulting on your student loan. If you default on your loan, action will be taken to recover the debt, which may include reporting you to a credit agency, recovering monies through your income tax return, referring your loan to a private collection agency, and/or taking
legal action. It is important to note that while you are in default, the interest on your Canada Student Loan will continue to accrue.

If you qualify for a Canada Student Loan, you (or the school you plan to attend) will receive a letter of assessment, a Certificate of Eligibility (Schedule1A), an instruction sheet, and a loan agreement within four to six weeks of your application.

Complete your loan documents and have your post-secondary institution complete the Confirmation of Enrolment section of your Certificate of Eligibility. (Note: in some cases, enrolment may have already been confirmed electronically — contact the financial assistance office at your post-secondary institution for more information.)

Submit your completed loan documents in person to a designated Canada Post outlet within 30 days of the day your school signed your Certificate of Eligibility.

If you provide a void cheque, your funds will be deposited directly into your bank account within a week of the NSLSC receiving your properly completed loan documents or within a week of the disbursement date
on your Certificate of Eligibility, whichever is later. Allow an additional week to receive your funds if a cheque is being mailed to you.

Important Deadlines

Since final deadlines can vary among provinces and territories, check with your provincial or territorial Student Financial Assistance Office for deadline information.

Determine your educational needs. Understanding your goals will help narrow the list of programs and institutions you may want to attend.

Assess your financial situation.

A full review of your finances and financing options may help you decide what type and length of program to pursue. It may also reveal that there are other financing options open to you. For help in considering your financial options, including available scholarships and bursaries, visit the “Financing” section of CanLearn.

The Canada Student Loans

Program (CSLP) is only one part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to Canada Student

Financial Assistance

The CSLP helps to make postsecondary education affordable for many Canadians by providing loans and grants to eligible full- and parttime students with demonstrated financial need. Its purpose is to supplement, not to replace, the financial resources that you (and your family, where applicable) are expected to contribute.

Since August 1, 2001, the Government of Canada and the governments of Ontario and Saskatchewan have partnered their respective full-time loans to create Canada–Ontario Integrated Student Loans and Canada–Saskatchewan Integrated Student Loans.

If you decide a Canada Student Loan is the right option for you, consider the following:
A. Is your chosen school designated for the Canada Student Loans Program? Ensure that it is by checking with your provincial or territorial Student Financial Assistance Office.
B. Are you eligible? The CSLP works in partnership with the provinces/territories to deliver financial assistance to parttime students. Quebec, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories do not directly participate in the CSLP and operate their own student financial assistance programs.