Edward Jones launches new managed investment program

Edward Jones Portfolio Program™ provides all-inclusive service for clients

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Sept. 14 /CNW/ - Financial services firm Edward Jones recently launched a fee-based managed investment program called the Edward Jones Portfolio Program, which was developed for individual investors who want to step back from active day-to-day trading and still have the diversification* benefits of holding multiple mutual funds.

"We are pleased to provide our clients with this comprehensive program to help achieve their long-term financial goals," says Mary Chan, principal, Mutual Funds and Managed Account Program, Edward Jones. "We strongly value feedback from our most important audience - our clients. By listening to what they have asked for, we've built a flexible program that allows investors one more option in developing a diversified and balanced investment portfolio."

The program allows investors to choose from 11 Portfolio Models managed by SEI (NASDAQ: SEIC), a leading global provider of outsourced wealth management solutions. The Portfolio Models are designed to meet a range of investors' goals, timeframe and risk tolerance and are built on the principles of asset allocation and active investment management. The program uses a "manager-of-managers" investment strategy of hiring the best-in-class global money managers to execute specific mandates based on their area of expertise.

The announcement of the program is a result of Edward Jones conducting an extensive year-long search to collaborate with an investment manager who excelled in asset allocation, portfolio construction, objective manager selection and rigorous due diligence processes.

"We are honoured to be awarded the opportunity to manage the new Edward Jones Portfolio Program," says Janesse McPhillips, managing director, Global Wealth Services, SEI Canada. "From the outset, Edward Jones wanted a client-focused approach and we believe the program offers clients a highly comprehensive and robust service."

The minimum investment in the Edward Jones Portfolio Program is $50,000 and investors pay an annual fee, based on the value of the investment, rather than pay a commission each time they buy or sell an investment. 

"The program has been structured in a way that provides investors with a compelling combination of benefits," says Chan. "The automatic rebalancing of the Portfolio Models means that investors can focus on other things in life and step back from the investment decision-making emotional rollercoaster of oft-changing market movements, plus have the expertise of professional money mangers traditionally available only to large institutional clients."

* Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss.

About Edward Jones
Edward Jones is a full-service investment dealer with one of the largest branch networks in Canada. It is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund, and a participating organization of the Toronto Stock Exchange. Including its affiliate, Edward Jones serves nearly 7 million individual investors in Canada and the U.S. from more than 11,000 locations.

Edward Jones is a limited partnership in Canada and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Edward D. Jones & Co., LP, a Missouri limited partnership. Edward D. Jones & Co., LP is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Jones Financial Companies, LLLP, a Missouri limited liability limited partnership.

About SEI
SEI (NASDAQ:SEIC) is a leading global provider of outsourced asset management, investment processing and investment operations solutions. The company's innovative solutions help corporations, financial institutions, financial advisors, and affluent families create and manage wealth. As of June 30, 2010, through its subsidiaries and partnerships in which the company has a significant interest, SEI administers US$380 billion in mutual fund and pooled assets and manages US$149 billion in assets. SEI serves clients, conducts or is registered to conduct business and/or operations, from numerous offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.seic.com.

For further information:

For more information about Edward Jones contact: Jessica Davidson, [email protected], 416-969-2735 or Katie O'Dell, [email protected], 416-969-2725.

For more information about SEI  contact: Sarah Hanson, [email protected], 416-847-6368 or Debra Chan, [email protected], 416-968-7311 ext. 229.