BMO Guardian Asian Growth & Income Fund
The BMO Guardian Asian Growth & Income Fund is a great way for investors to access this growth story without taking on excessive volatility risk. While technically classified as an Asia Pacific Equity Fund, it is more of a balanced fund. As of July 31, it held 85% stocks, 13% bonds and 2% in cash.
Read MorePH&N Total Return Bond Fund
The PH&N Total Return Bond Fund has significant exposure to corporate bonds, holding nearly 49% of the fund in corporate bonds and 6% in Government of Canada bonds. The fund also has a healthy 32% exposure to provincial bonds, which offer high yields than Canada’s and should outperform in a rising rate environment. It has a shorter average term to maturity than the benchmark DEX Bond Universe, and nearly half the fund is in bonds with maturities of less than 5 years. It is a very high quality portfolio, with nearly 85% rated “A” or better.
Read MoreTD Short Term Bond Fund
With the current low interest rate environment, short term bond funds have become a great alternative to money market funds and GICs. Investing in diversified portfolio of bonds that mature in less than five years, these funds offer modest returns with very low risk. One of our favourites in the category is the TD Short Term Bond Fund.
Read MoreChou Associates Fund
Most mutual funds are pretty easy to classify. They typically have a relatively narrow mandate and tend to stick to it. The same cannot be said for many of the funds offered by Chou Associates. For example, the Chou Associates Fund is definitely hard to classify. If we look strictly at its holdings, it would be a global small cap fund. The reality of it is that manager Francis Chou runs it as a global equity fund with a go anywhere mandate and the ability to invest in companies of any size.
Read MoreCIBC Canadian Real Estate Fund
Many view real estate as an attractive asset class that can provide diversification within a portfolio due to its relatively low correlation to the equity markets. With real estate funds however, the diversification benefits may not be quite as high as many expect given that most will have significant holdings in REITs, which are often traded on the equity markets. Because of this, the correlation benefits may not be as high as investors may anticipate.
Read MoreBlack Creek Global Leaders Fund
Managed by Bill Kanko and Richard Jenkins, this fund was known as the Castlerock Global Leaders Fund until July 2012. Both Mr. Kanko and Mr. Jenkins made their names at Trimark and that footprint is evident in the investment process they use.
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