Foundation Portfolio Series Mutual Funds

5 New Funds Launched

TORONTO, Oct. 16, 2013 /CNW/ - Portfolio Strategies Securities Inc. (PSSI) has launched five new mutual funds in its Foundation Portfolio Series. The funds will initially be available through Portfolio Strategies Securities Inc., the Investment Dealer regulated under IIROC, and Portfolio Strategies Corporation (PSC), the mutual fund dealer regulated under the MFDA.

The Foundation Funds are tactically balanced mutual funds primarily invested in Exchange Traded Funds or ETFs. PSSI will actively manage the portfolios to include both fixed income investments and equity oriented ETFs. ETFs will be selected based on their quality, size and cost effectiveness.

Neil Gilday, Chief Executive Officer, says, "We began developing an investment practice based on ETFs after identifying a shift in the investment spectrum. ETFs had been around for many decades but only became cost effective in building portfolios after their dramatic increase in popularity following the advent of online discount brokerage services. Our effort began with assembling data and data services on the over 1,400 ETFs offered across the various North American exchanges. After three and a half years of planning, researching, building, testing and investing, we are excited to be bringing our Foundation Series Funds to market."

Investing in indexes and enhanced index strategies has been common practice for decades in many of the largest investment management firms (pensions in particular). Historically, firms would enlist a trader and software to best track an index using a representative basket of securities. ETFs take the labour out of investing in index strategies. In addition, the ETF universe includes much more than just broad indexes.

John Poulter, Chief Investment Officer, explains, "PSSI's actively managed tactical program will adjust the fund's holdings to ensure that the portfolio allocation represents both the highest investment value and the best diversification potential. Our funds are invested globally and hold ETFs that track major equity and fixed income indexes around the world. We use a value seeking process to determine index expected returns which should also ensure that investors will enjoy superior long term results."

John Poulter expands on this further, "Our funds are different from other tactical ETF programs as we actively include targeted, specific securities to enhance our tactical mix.  Our objective is to both improve returns and balance risks that can be embedded in certain ETFs.  We like to think that investors are getting the best of both worlds of indexation and active securities selections."

Studies show that asset allocation provides a significant portion of any fund's long term returns. With an effective dynamic asset allocation program, investors should be confident that the Foundation Series Funds will provide highly risk-managed and cost effective investment solutions.

About Portfolio Strategies

Portfolio Strategies Securities Inc. is an investment dealer headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and registered from British Columbia to Quebec. PSSI has retail advisory, corporate finance and asset management divisions servicing individuals and corporate clients.

SOURCE: Portfolio Strategies Securities Inc.

Neil Gilday
CEO and UDP
Portfolio Strategies Securities Inc.