MONTREAL, Dec. 12, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada ("Standard Life") today launched the Ideal Segregated Funds Signature 2.0 to replace the existing Ideal Segregated Funds - Signature Series. The new Signature 2.0 continues to offer the 75/100 Series and 100/100 Series and introduces a 75/75 Series. In addition to a new, more transparent fee structure, Signature 2.0 presents investors with more options to adapt their portfolios to evolving market conditions. The existing Ideal Segregated Funds - Signature Series closes to new contracts on January 8, 2013.
Signature 2.0 is suited for investors who want to grow, protect and diversify their savings and retirement income while managing market volatility. Funds are offered by in-house and third-party managers and cover all major asset classes: fixed income, balanced funds, and Canadian and global equities. The 75/75 Series targets investors who want to diversify their portfolio with a tactical income fund that has a "go anywhere" mandate designed to protect capital in down markets and capture returns in up markets.
"The Ideal Segregated Funds Signature 2.0 should build on the success we've had with our seg funds since 2009," said Michel Fortin, Senior Vice-President, Marketing and Customer Solutions. "The new fee structure clearly identifies management and insurance fees so investors will better understand what they are paying for and how their investments are performing."
Signature 2.0 maintains many of the same value-added features as the existing Ideal Segregated Funds - Signature Series, including choice of guarantees, choice of funds, choice of load options, a RRIF payout benefit guarantee with dollar-for-dollar reductions and a toll-free number investors can call for non-financial support.
Segregated funds have regained in popularity in recent years, as individual investors seek more guarantees. Standard Life has the fastest growing segregated fund sales in Canada. It captured 9% of all industry sales growth in the first nine months of 2012, despite the suspension of new sales of its guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit product in April 2012.
Note to editors
- An individual segregated fund is an insurance product with "built in" guarantees. The Ideal 75/75 and Ideal 75/100 Series guarantee 75% of the principal value at maturity and 75% and 100%, respectively, of the principal value at death. The Ideal 100/100 Series guarantees 100% of the principal value at both maturity and death. These guarantees are payable on certain conditions, such as an annuitant's age, the date of the first premium payment and, if applicable, the date of the last reset.
- For more information: Ideal Segregated Funds Signature 2.0.
About Standard Life
Standard Life plc is a leading long-term savings and investment company headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland. Standard Life has around six million customers worldwide and operates in the United Kingdom, Europe, North America and Asia, and globally with Standard Life Investments Ltd.
In Canada, Standard Life has been doing business for almost 180 years. It operates under Standard Life Financial Inc., which wholly owns The Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada and Standard Life Mutual Funds Ltd. It is Standard Life plc's largest operation outside the UK with about 2,000 employees. It provides long-term savings, investment and insurance solutions to more than 1.4 million Canadians, including group retirement and insurance plan members.
As of September 30, 2012, Standard Life plc had C$337 billion in assets under administration, including C$44 billion in Canada through Standard Life Financial.
SOURCE: STANDARD LIFE
Geoffrey King
514-499-7999, ext. 8150
[email protected]
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