You don't need a crystal ball to select a sound investment offering.
But you do need the next best thing: a diverse selection of quality investment options and managers to choose from, with an experienced team there for you every step of the way. Allow us to introduce our Quality & Choice Investment ProgramTM.
The Quality & Choice Investment Program makes it simple for plan sponsors and their advisors to create and maintain a sound customized selection of investment funds for any group savings and retirement plan.
Our Quality & Choice Governance Committee is made up of senior management from the Group Savings & Retirement division of
Their main role is to:
- select and monitor the funds we offer.
- ensure that the best interests of our plan sponsors and their members are met.
- lead the ongoing development of our Quality & Choice Investment Program.
- ensure compliance with the Statement of Pooled Funds Investment Policies and Goals applicable to the investment funds offered by the Quality & Choice Investment Program.
The Committee is also supported by an Investment Services Team devoted exclusively to the ongoing monitoring, reporting and development of information tools.
The Investment services team:
- conducts regular interviews with fund managers.
- provides timely and relevant communications on manager and fund-related issues for plan sponsors and advisors.
- develops and maintains tools to assist plan sponsors and their advisors in their fund selection.
- actively participates in pension committee meetings when specialized investment knowledge, reporting and support is required.
The Quality & Choice Investment Program
The
- Balanced funds
- Portfolio funds
- Equity funds
- Fixed income funds
- Domestic and foreign income funds
- Value and growth style funds
- Actively and passively managed funds
Supplemental investment options
We also offer an Omnibus agreement, whereby plan sponsors and their advisors can select from funds that are not part of our Quality & Choice Investment options, but have been selected by other plan sponsors. Desired funds can also be added to our offering through the Omnibus agreement.
Quality & Choice Funds
We offer more than 90 funds from more than 20 managers within our Quality & Choice Investment Program.
Our Quality & Choice investment options offer diversification by asset class, geographic region and investment style and are supported by some of the best fund managers in the business. We promote good governance, including CAP compliance, through a rigorous approach to selecting and monitoring the funds and fund managers in the Quality & Choice Investment Program.
Selection of funds and fund managers
To be part of the program, a manager must be able to offer funds that bring quality, choice and value to our clients. They must:
- adhere to the high standards of practice that will enable them to provide consistent service on an ongoing basis.
- offer funds that expand and complement our existing roster of investment options.
- respond to a demand or need from our plan sponsors, advisors and members.
For superior results:
- Returns are appraised from their risk perspective and management style.
- The investment process is diligently reviewed with rigor and consistency.
- Research capabilities and team synergies are assessed.
- Ethical conduct and values are examined, and fee level is considered with brand recognition and investment management industry reputation in mind.
Monitoring of funds and fund managers
As part of our monitoring process, our Governance Committee meets on a regular basis and holds regular meetings with investment managers throughout the year.
We also meet with investment managers that do not necessarily offer funds under the Quality & Choice Investment Program in order to keep abreast of new developments within the investment industry.
The annual Quality & Choice Investment Management Report is designed to provide comprehensive and consistent information arranged in an easy to use and understand format available in paper or CD-ROM, as well as online.
The report covers:
- the governance process.
- updates on each fund manager.
- quantitative data on all investment options.
The section on investment options includes the following reporting tools, designed to provide you the best comparative information for constructing balanced, risk-adjusted portfolios:
Performance and Style Summary
Produced semi-annually, it provides an overview of historical rates of return by asset category and investment style, making it easier to compare investment options.
Correlation Matrix
Produced semi-annually and used in conjunction with the Performance and Style Summary, the Correlation Matrix indicates which investments show strong track records but low correlation, to help create a diversified portfolio with reduced risk.
Fund Summaries
Updated quarterly, these fund summaries are prepared in conjunction with Morningstar Canada, in an easy to understand format that provides comprehensive information.
Additional client and member-specific reporting is available daily on our VIP Room website for plan sponsors and advisors.
