(April 4 – 12:30 ET) – Compared with skyrocketing executive compensation packages at other firms, Investors Group is proving rather frugal with its executive pay.

According to the firm’s proxy circular, IG CEO Sandy Riley received a raise in salary in 2000, from $611,250 to $710,173. He also saw his cash bonus rise from $540,000 in 1999 to $725,000 in 2000. However, Riley didn’t receive any options in 2000, after picking up 200,000 options in 1999.

An earlier version of IG’s proxy circular indicated that Riley’s 2000 salary was $680,000, and the bonus portion was left blank.

IG says its philosophy is to include “a bonus to provide superior annual remuneration if specified performance objectives are met. A portion of each executive’s annual incentive is based on corporate performance goals which are established annually. The balance of an executive’s annual incentive is based on individual performance objectives, which are designed to be closely integrated with overall corporate goals and initiatives.”

Little wonder then that Riley cashed out more than $700,000 in IG options, and another $3.5 million in Power Financial options in 2000. Before the industry passes the hat for Riley, it should be noted that he has another $9 million or so in options gains, most of it exercisable.

Riley wasn’t the only one facing a comparatively lean year in 2000. While the firm’s other top executives were all paid bonuses in 2000, most of them are little changed from their 1999 levels. Only executive vice president Greg Tretiak saw his bonus jump appreciably, from $85,750 in 1999 to $151,000 in 2000. IG’s executive salaries generally held the line, too.