AGF Introduces Full Suite of Retirement and Income Solutions

Builds on Comprehensive Sound Choices Program

TORONTO, Feb. 15, 2012 /CNW/ - AGF Investments Inc. has launched an all-inclusive retirement and income online program, Retire Smart™, designed to address the needs of Canada's baby boomers.

As part of AGF's practical Sound Choices Program these new retirement and income solutions provide advisors with the tools they need to help their clients transition from the pre-retirement phase to the post-retirement phase with a focus on planning for retirement, income and tax and estate planning.

"Today a growing number of investors are turning to their advisors for help with the challenges of planning for retirement," said Gordon Forrester, Executive Vice-President, Product and Marketing and Head of Retail. "With this in mind, the next phase of our Sound Choices Program was developed to give advisors timely information and useful content to help their clients make informed decisions about retirement."

Retire Smart™ was developed in partnership with the Knowledge Bureau. Led by best-selling author and award-winning entrepreneur Evelyn Jacks, the Knowledge Bureau is a national educational institute providing certificate training and professional development at a post-secondary level for advisors in the tax and financial services industry.

While not intended by AGF to provide investors with financial or tax advice, Retire Smart™ offers a client-centric approach to planning for tax-efficient accumulation, growth, capital preservation and transition of wealth. It includes online calculators and advisor and investor tools:

• Tax-Efficient Income Accumulation - Understanding Cash Flow and the Taxation of Dividends
• Tax-Deferred Capital Growth - Maximizing Growth Inside and Outside the RRSP
• Tax-Efficient Capital Preservation - Return of Capital
• Tax-Efficient Transitions - Estate Planning
• Canada Pension Plan Income Calculator and Tax Efficient Retirement Income projector

The tools are divided into three categories:

• Obtain - Resources to help gather information about clients' needs with a link back to appropriate solutions.
• Explain - Tools to clarify a range of concepts from investment basics to drawing income in a tax-efficient manner with a connection back to AGF product categories and funds.
• Retain - Materials to help clients stay invested and transitional wealth planning.

"As demographics change, we need to be able to change our business," explained Rose Cammareri, Executive Vice-President, Retail Distribution. "At AGF we continue to listen to advisors to help them meet the changing needs of their clients. When they told us they were looking for solutions to help transition into retirement we responded with Retire Smart™."

To learn more about Retire Smart™ and these exclusive solutions and tools for advisors visit AGFadvisor.com or contact your AGF Sales Representative.                        

About AGF Management Limited

AGF Management Limited is one of Canada's premier independent investment management firms with offices across Canada and subsidiaries around the world. AGF's products include a diversified family of award-winning mutual funds, mutual fund wrap programs and pooled funds. AGF also manages assets on behalf of institutional investors including pension plans, foundations and endowments as well as for private clients. In addition, AGF Trust is a complementary business that offers GICs, loans and mortgages through the financial advisor and mortgage broker channels. With over $47 billion in total assets under management, AGF serves more than one million investors. AGF trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AGF.B.

For media inquiries, contact AGF Public Relations & Public Affairs: 

Amanda Marchment
Manager, Public Relations & Public Affairs
416-865-4160
[email protected]