Rice Financial Group Inc. has finalized an agreement to purchase the right to service and the revenues generated from clients in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan of Victoria-based life insurance provider Sawyer & Sawyer Ltd.

This move complements two companies with like-minded philosophies, where the focus is on delivering superior client service. Sawyer & Sawyer clients will now have access to an advisor with a closer proximity to them to serve all their financial needs.

Mal Anderson, Rice Financial president and CEO, is pleased with the further expansion into life insurance products.

“We look forward to enhancing the financial services these clients have depended on Sawyer & Sawyer to deliver. Rice Financial has branches in various communities in the provinces we are talking about. This is a win for the clients,” said Anderson, in a news release.

Sawyer & Sawyer president David Sawyer said it was a desire to ensure his clients had the best financial service possible, plus a trust in members of Rice Financial’s management team, that made the decision an easy one. Rice Financial also recognized and appreciated Sawyer’s desire to maintain his high standard of client service and incorporate a transition where clients will each be contacted personally by their new Rice Financial representative.

“The well-established distribution system in these provinces reassured me that client needs will be met by advisors who are in closer proximity to them,” said Sawyer. “I know my clients will continue to receive top-notch service on their life insurance and segregated funds.”

Rice Financial serves more than 85,000 clients and administers assets in excess of $3.9 billion.