Ontario-based wealth manager Investment Planning Counsel (IPC) has introduced the IPC Essentials, a family of three actively managed ETF-based portfolios, each designed to meet a specific goal for investors.
Kevin Hurlburt, Executive Vice President, Products and Services for Investment Planning Counsel.
“While low-cost investing tends to be associated with younger investors, or those with smaller portfolios, IPC Essentials are intended for investors across the wealth spectrum,” said Kevin Hurlburt, Executive Vice President, Products and Services for Investment Planning Counsel.
“IPC Essentials provide many of the benefits that come from working with an advisor including important elements investors aren’t receiving through other lower-cost investment options.”
Each portfolio provides globally diversified exposure through a mixture of both local and global equity and fixed income ETFs. To construct the portfolios, the managers primarily use ETFs from iShares, Charles Schwab, and Mackenzie Investments.
Key features of each portfolio include downside risk protection through dynamic asset allocation to lower-risk holdings during times of market stress, and currency hedging against the US dollar when the Canadian dollar is expected to rise.
The IPC Income Essentials Portfolio provides investors with a monthly income stream while emphasizing capital preservation. It has a target asset allocation of 75% fixed income and 25% equity.
The IPC Balanced Essentials Portfolio provides long-term capital appreciation from a blend of stocks and bonds. It has a target asset allocation of 40% fixed income and 60% equity.
The IPC Growth Essentials Portfolio is higher risk with the potential for higher rewards, providing a means for investors to capture the potential growth of global markets over the long term. It has a target asset allocation of 20% fixed income and 80% equity.
“These portfolios represent the essentials of what investors need: well-diversified, regularly rebalanced portfolios with important risk-reduction strategies not normally found in lower-cost solutions,” said Sam Febbraro, President & CEO of Counsel Portfolio Services, the investment management arm of IPC. “We believe this is a great choice for investors who are not only motivated by cost savings, but also value the guidance of a financial advisor.”
Each portfolio charges a management fee of 0.55% and an administration fee of 0.15%. They require a minimum $500 initial investment.