After rigorously testing 17 Canadian mutual fund companies during 2002, DALBAR has announced that Altamira Investment Services Ltd. has captured the 2002 Mutual Fund Service Award for service to English-speaking clients. Altamira also received the Award in 2001.

According to DALBAR, Altamira’s top-down commitment to customer service combined with the courtesy and knowledge of its investment representatives remain a cut above in a very competitive industry.

Other companies ranking in the top quartile were AIC Ltd., BMO Mutual Funds, and Royal Mutual Funds.

Altamira was also tops among companies regarding service to French-speaking clients, followed by BMO Mutual Funds, Royal Mutual Funds, and Franklin Templeton Investments.

Altamira has won the English award in four of the five years since it was first established and the French award in all four years of its existence.

“We are committed to providing the best client service possible and winning the DALBAR award again is a testament to that commitment” said Jason Grieve, Vice President of Investor Services at Altamira. “Our teams across the country should be proud of this achievement.”

DALBAR’s Award is based on evaluations made over a calendar year in four main categories: service quality delivered by live telephone representatives; effectiveness of mail and e-mail communication; ease of access to live representatives; and mail delivery times.

By playing the role of the investor, DALBAR actively experiences the service that the average Canadian mutual fund investor would receive.

DALBAR’s ratings and rankings are industry standards relied on by mutual fund companies, insurance firms, annuity providers, brokers/dealers and financial professionals across North America. Founded in 1976, DALBAR has offices in Boston and Toronto.