Hartford Investments, the Canadian mutual fund arm of U.S. based The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has surpassed $1 billion in assets under management as of April 1.

The company weighed in with strong positive sales of $64 million during the 2008 RRSP season, amid volatile markets.

“We’ve been steadily building the structure needed to reach this milestone, which in the Canadian fund market is a key watermark both psychologically and in business terms,” says Laurie Davis, president of Hartford Investments, who joined the firm in 2005.

“We’ve ramped up our sales staff and brought Bill Kanko of Black Creek Investment Management on board to run Hartford Global Leaders Fund, which is now our top selling fund. Bill has an outstanding track record earned over 25 years as an investment manager. Advisors and their clients really appreciate the value of that experience and Black Creek is only available through Hartford Investments.”

Currently Black Creek manages Hartford Global Leaders Fund, and the equity component of Hartford Global Balanced Fund. Black Creek announced in March that Richard Jenkins, a 13 year veteran of AIM Trimark, would be joining the firm on July 1.

Hartford Investments currently offers 12 core investment funds managed by Black Creek, Beutel Goodman Investment Counsel, Greystone Managed Investments, as well as Hartford Investment Management Co. and Wellington Management Co.