Toronto-based BlackRock Asset Management Canada Ltd. Tuesday launched a suite of seven balanced mutual funds.

The BlackRock Strategic Portfolio Series, built with iShares exchange traded funds (ETFs), is now available for purchase in Canada through advisors.

Leveraging the firm’s iShares ETF platform, the new fund series is designed to provide both advisors and investors with alternative investment strategies during a time of ever changing market conditions.

Mutual funds are not new territory for the firm. Internationally, BlackRock currently manages mutual fund platforms in over 35 countries with more than US$420 billion in assets under management.

“We are doing what many of our institutional clients are already doing — combining our asset management strength with that of our iShares ETF platform,” said Mary Anne Wiley, managing director, head of iShares, BlackRock Canada, in a release. “This new suite of mutual funds will change the way people think about investing and put the emphasis on the asset allocation mix versus that of single stock or manager selection.”

The new funds are competitively priced, with management expense ratios (MERs) anywhere from 0.09 – 0.75% lower than the respective fund’s corresponding category asset-weighted average.

Each of the seven funds invests primarily in iShares ETFs, or mutual funds, that are managed by BlackRock Canada or an affiliate. They may also invest directly in securities.

BlackRock Diversified Monthly Income Portfolio seeks to provide its investors with a consistent monthly cash distribution and modest long-term capital growth by providing exposure to fixed income and equity securities.

BlackRock All Bond Portfolio seeks to preserve capital and provide income through exposure to fixed income securities.

BlackRock Defensive Portfolio seeks to provide investors with income and modest long-term capital growth by providing exposure to fixed income securities.

BlackRock Conservative Portfolio seeks to provide investors with a balance of income and long-term capital growth by provide exposure to fixed income and equity securities.

BlackRock Balanced Portfolio seeks to provide its investors with a balance of long-term capital growth and income through exposure to equity and fixed income securities.

BlackRock Growth Portfolio seeks to provide investors with long-term capital growth and modest current income by providinf exposure to equity and fixed income securities.

BlackRock Max Growth Portfolio seeks to provide investors with long-term capital growth through exposure to equity securities.

BlackRock Asset Management Canada Ltd. is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of New York-based BlackRock, Inc.