With the recent in-troduction of a new line of guaranteed invest-ment funds, IA Claring-ton Investments Inc. of Toronto is combining the investment expertise of its stable of fund managers and subadvisors with the financial strength and insurance expertise of its parent company, Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.

IA Clarington GIFs are a family of 10 segregated funds that offer clients access to a handful of Canadian and global money-management firms, including ABN-AMRO Asset Management Canada Ltd. of Toronto, Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC of Philadelphia, Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. of Toronto, Leon Frazer & Associates Inc. of Montreal, Oppenheimer Funds Inc. of New York and QVGD Investors Inc. of Calgary.

The GIFs are modelled on existing IA Claring-ton mutual funds but offer the benefits of seg funds, such as principal guarantees of up to 100% at death or maturity, an annual reset of the death benefit guarantee, potential creditor protection and estate planning benefits, such as the ability to transfer assets directly to a named beneficiary and bypass probate. The GIFs cover most major asset classes and investment styles. The lineup includes funds investing in money markets, bonds, dividend-paying companies, global equities, U.S. dividend-paying companies and Canadian small-cap stocks. —–JADE HEMEON