News Releases

BMO Nesbitt Burns Creates First “Unified Investment Account” with Enhancements to its Architect Program

TORONTO, October 27, 2009 – With the enhancements announced today, Canadian Investors can now add their non-managed, traditionally self-directed equity and fixed income investments to their BMO Nesbitt Burns Architect Account.

The Architect Program already simplifies investing by allowing Investment Advisors to combine:

Separately managed accounts
Mutual funds
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) and;
Alternative investment products, into one Architect Program Account.

Through this significant account consolidation, the Program provides clients one complete investment solution:

One account
One performance report and;
One investment policy statement.

‘'We are thrilled to be able to provide our clients with a truly unique approach to investing with more freedom and flexibility than ever before” said Sarah Widmeyer, SVP and Managing Director, BMO Nesbitt Burns.

With the Architect Program, clients can now benefit from the professional management of separately managed accounts, mutual funds and ETFs and have the flexibility to hold individual stocks and bonds that they may own, all in one account. This simplifies the client's total investment picture and clarifies it like never before on one performance statement.

“So whether you have legacy blue chip shares or other investment ideas you would like to explore, these can now all be held together with your managed portfolios, in one single Architect account” added Widmeyer.

The Program is significantly enhancing personal investing and providing a whole new level of clarity with a simplified program to help achieve diversification, transparency and sophistication within a single account.

BMO Nesbitt Burns launched the Architect program in 2005 and was the first Canadian financial institution to offer its clients a Unified Managed Account (UMA). This enhancement of the Architect Program solidifies BMO Nesbitt Burns' position as the Canadian leader in creating sophisticated, transparent and most importantly, providing clear investment solutions for clients.

About BMO Nesbitt Burns

BMO Nesbitt Burns and its predecessor companies have been helping investors meet their financial goals since 1912. In August 1987, BMO Bank of
Montreal acquired Nesbitt Thomson-then one of Canada's oldest and most respected investment houses. In 1994, Nesbitt Thomson and Burns Fry—also recognized as one of the largest worldwide dealers of Canadian equities and debt securities—merged. BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. emerged as a member organization of BMO Financial Group, offering a broad range of wealth management and investment products and solutions.

Today, as one of Canada's leading full service investment firms, BMO Nesbitt Burns has an established reputation within the financial services industry. With over 75 branches and 1300 Investment Advisors (as of September 2009) BMO Nesbitt Burns is committed to helping clients meet their wealth management objectives in the same tradition of professionalism, integrity and innovation.

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