-   Scotiabank study finds many Canadians are reviewing their financial
        plans, prompting them to make changesTORONTO, July 29 /CNW/ - The current economic and market environment is
prompting many investors to review their financial portfolios to address
changes in their circumstances and/or risk tolerance, according to a recent
Scotiabank / Angus Reid Strategies study. Among the key findings:-   76 per cent of Canadians who follow a personalized financial plan say
        they have reviewed their plan within the last six months.
    -   49 per cent say the review prompted them to make adjustments to their
        plan."Considering the current economic environment and market activity, it's
not surprising to see so many Canadians reviewing their portfolios and making
adjustments to ensure their short and long term financial goals are met," says
Andrew Pyle, Wealth Advisor, ScotiaMcLeod. "People should review their
investment portfolio at least twice a year to ensure they have a good
understanding of their various holdings and exposure to risk.
    "With the summer holidays upon us, now is a perfect time for investors to
do a mid-year review if they haven't already done so," advises Mr. Pyle.According to Mr. Pyle, it all starts with investors asking themselves the
    right questions:
    -   Have you contacted your financial advisor lately? Have you updated
        your advisor about major life changes?
    -   Do you really understand the investments that make up your portfolio?
    -   Has market volatility affected your education, retirement and/or
        estate plans?"A financial plan should be a snap shot of an investor's current
financial situation. As a result, a big part of the review process is not only
looking at personal and financial changes since your last review, but also how
your views towards the market and risk tolerance have changed," adds Mr. Pyle.
"If investors get into the habit of doing a financial plan review, subsequent
review sessions get easier because they have already dealt with the big issues
such as insurance and wills."
    Mr. Pyle concludes, "The relationship between a client and their advisor
is an important one. It's surprising how often a relaxed conversation reveals
how non-financial issues, such as aging parents and children, may impact a
financial plan. The more the advisor knows about the client, and vice versa,
the better."

    Scotiabank is one of North America's premier financial institutions and
Canada's most international bank. With close to 69,000 employees, Scotiabank
Group and its affiliates serve approximately 12.8 million customers in some 50
countries around the world. Scotiabank offers a diverse range of products and
services including personal, commercial, corporate, and investment banking.
With more than $513 billion in assets (as at April 30, 2009), Scotiabank
trades on the Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS). For more information
please visit www.scotiabank.com.

    Angus Reid Strategies is a full-service polling and market research firm
which is a leader in the use of the Internet and rich media technology to
collect high-quality, in-depth insights for a wide array of clients. Dr. Angus
Reid and the Angus Reid Strategies team are pioneers in online research
methodologies, and have been conducting online surveys since 1995. Angus Reid
Strategies, along with its sister company, Vision Critical, is now the largest
Canadian-owned market research enterprise. Its team of specialists provides
solutions across every type and sector of research, and currently serves over
200 international clients. For more information please visit
www.angusreidstrategies.com.

    The study referenced above is an ongoing Investor Pulse conducted in July
among Canadian investors by Angus Reid Strategies and Scotiabank.