Guardian Group of Funds (GGOF) has renamed its fund family BMO Guardian Funds and unveiled an expanded line-up of products and services that it says will help independent advisors to build wealth for their clients.

“Today’s announcement begins an exciting new chapter in the story of Guardian Group of Funds Ltd., which was purchased in 2001,” says Gilles Ouellette, president and CEO, private client group, BMO Financial Group.

“BMO Guardian Funds takes the best of GGOF while leveraging the strength and stability of BMO Financial Group to bring advisors a powerful partner to their business,” he says.

With the new name comes an expanded line-up of products and services including: more than 25 funds offering new series, including BMO Guardian ‘LifeStage Plus Advisor Series; a corporate class fund structure that includes 23 funds; high net-worth pricing; and an expanded range of investment options

Among the expanded range of investment options, advisors will find new regional funds, country specific opportunities, sector specialization and other focused mandates.

Included in the expanded line-up is a new series of life cycle funds, BMO Guardian LifeStage Plus Advisor Series, which allows clients to take advantage of diversified exposure to growth-oriented investments and downside protection. These funds are available with four maturity dates (2017, 2020, 2025 and 2030), and lock-in growth daily, guaranteeing the highest value attained provided the fund is held to maturity.

Tax planning is one of the value-added services that clients are seeking from their investment advisors. The fund family now boasts an extensive corporate class structure that includes 23 funds representing a range of major asset classes..

With the addition of these new funds, series and a corporate class structure also comes broader options within the series T and series F line-up, as well as 23 funds offering series H shares that provide advisors and their clients with a high net-worth pricing option.

As well, advisors now have access to six additional renowned investment management firms to complement the existing roster of world class firms.

The managers include:

  • Harris Investment Management Inc.;
  • Insight Investment Management (Global) Ltd.;
  • KBC Asset Management Inc.;
  • Martin Currie Inc.;
  • Pyrford International Ltd.; and
  • Sustainable Asset Management AG.

“The BMO Guardian Funds family now provides advisors and their clients with one of the most extensive selections of investment managers in the industry today,” says Gavin Graham, chief investment officer, BMO Asset Management.

BMO Guardian Funds refers to certain mutual funds and/or series of mutual funds offered by Guardian Group of Funds Ltd. or BMO Investments Inc., both financial services firms and separate entities from Bank of Montreal.

IE