Firm Bulletins

Firm Bulletin: 2024 Fees for Participating Firms

How OBSI fees are determined

As a not-for-profit organization, OBSI recovers all of its budgeted operating expenses from its participating firms each year. OBSI's budget and the allocation of this budget between the different industry sectors that use OBSI's services is approved by OBSI's Board of Directors each September. Our board also considers fairness and the impact of fee changes on member firms when setting fees. A guiding principle is that no sector or registrant category should...

Consider including a link to OBSI’s website in your firm’s complaint guidance for your clients

Have you considered the benefits of incorporating a link to our website in your complaint process guidance for your clients? If you haven’t already, the top three reasons to include a live OBSI link are:

1. Transparency: By prominently displaying a link to OBSI in your complaint guidance, you demonstrate a commitment to transparency and accountability that helps to build trust with your clients. Your clients will appreciate knowing that in the event they encounter any issues or disputes there is an...

Firm Bulletin: 2023 Fees for Participating Firms

How OBSI fees are determined

Participating firm fees are set annually by the OBSI Board of Directors in accordance with our corporate Bylaw. As a not-for-profit organization, participating firm fees fund all our operations and are set on a cost-recovery basis.

Each year, we establish a fee target based on our budget for the coming year and divide that fee target between the sectors of firms that use our service. The division of fees among the different sectors is based on the proportion of OBSI resources...

Firm Bulletin: 2022 Fees for Participating Firms

How OBSI fees are determined
Participating firm fees are set annually by the OBSI Board of Directors in accordance with our corporate Bylaw. As a not-for-profit organization, participating firm fees fund all our operations and are set on a cost-recovery basis.

Each year, we establish a fee target based on our budget for the coming year and divide that fee target between the sectors of firms that use our service. The division of fees among the different sectors is based on the proportion of OBSI resources...

Firm Bulletin: OBSI firm fee outlook for 2022

While final fees will not be determined until approved by our board in late September and will not be invoiced until November 1, the purpose of this bulletin is to assist firms in their annual planning by sharing the likely direction of OBSI fees for 2022.

2020 and 2021 have been exceptional years for many reasons. From OBSI’s perspective, one of the biggest impacts of the pandemic has been a significant and ongoing increase in consumer and investor complaints. Complaint volumes in late 2020 and throughout...