September. Falling leaves and back to school. A fresh start–and even fresher weather. Okay, colder weather!

But don’t hibernate just yet. There’s a whole world out there–albeit a rather dangerous one, according to Ian Bremmer, President of Eurasia Group, who spoke at CFA Institute’s annual conference.

Contributor Camilla Sutton chatted with Bremmer about the rise of global disruption in geopolitics. The global dynamic, he explains, has shifted from unstable and safe to unstable and dangerous.

Here at home, some Canadian defined benefit (“DB”) pension plans could do with a little “disruption” in the form of a global macro strategy. Unfortunately, pension plan boards are usually wary of these strategies because of their complex investment process and lack of transparency. But Irfan Chaudhry explains why they should really have a place in a DB plan.

While a DB plan is a good savings tool, so too is a tax-free savings account (“TFSA”). But make sure you’re following the rules–if not, you may receive a visit from the taxman. Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) suspects that not all Canadians are using TFSAs to save money.

Along with these stories, there are also our regulars. This month’s charterholder profile is new CFA Society Toronto Secretary/Treasurer Pamela Steer, who shares how she creates “order out of chaos.” And Books for Business offers a few notables for your fall reading list so you can feel like a student again.

And feel even more like a student with a few cocktails at Toronto charterholders’ favourite downtown patio.

Though crisp mornings and darker days await us–not to mention a dangerous global dynamic–don’t fret. We still have a few good patio days left.

Enjoy this issue of The Analyst. And, as always, we welcome your ideas, feedback, and contributions.