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TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 15, 2011) - This BMO Financial Group quick reference guide lists leading fund managers who can offer in-depth sector analysis, investment trends and strategies, and insightful market commentary.

If you would like to arrange an interview with any of BMO's fund managers, please contact:

Amanda Robinson

416-867-3996

amanda.robinson@bmo.com

Lesley Marks, CFA, MBA

Vice President & Portfolio Manager, Canadian Equities, BMO Asset Management Inc.

Lesley is the lead portfolio manager for small cap investing at BMO Asset Management Inc. She joined the firm in 1998 and has 16 years of investment industry experience. Previously, Lesley was a portfolio manager with a major investment management firm and was responsible for the management of Canadian equities for mutual fund and pension fund clients. Lesley has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen's University, an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business and is a CFA charter holder.

Lesley manages, and can speak to, the following:

• BMO Special Equity Fund

Lesley is also available to discuss:

• The Canadian economy with respect to its impact on the small cap environment and what investors can expect
• Which small-to-mid cap Canadian companies to watch

Mark McMahon, CFA

Senior Vice President & Director of Fixed Income, BMO Asset Management Inc.

With more than 23 years of experience in the Canadian fixed income markets, Mark is the lead portfolio manager for most of BMO Asset Management's fixed income mandates. Mark has also managed discretionary bond portfolios for BMO Asset Management clients. Before joining the firm in 1999, Mark was managing the retail trading desk of a major brokerage firm and was the fixed income strategist for their private client division. Mark graduated from Simon Fraser University with majors in Economics and Finance and is a CFA charter holder.

Mark manages, and can speak to, the following funds:

• BMO T-Bill Fund
• BMO Money Market Fund
• BMO Canadian Money Market Fund
• BMO Premium Money Market Fund
• BMO Short-Term Income Class
• BMO Mortgage & Short-Term Income Fund
• BMO Monthly Income Fund
• BMO Bond Fund
• BMO Asset Allocation Fund

Mark is also available to discuss:

• The value of stable income in uncertain times
• How interest rates are related to bond values
• Comparing corporate bonds to government bonds

Serge Pépin, CIMA

Head of Investments, BMO Investments Inc.

Serge oversees the family of BMO and BMO Guardian mutual funds, including fund selection, monitoring, performance and risk evaluation. Prior to joining BMO, he spent eight years at a Canadian investment firm as head of the Investment Management Services group. Serge is fluently bilingual and is a regular media commentator on financial markets and investments. He is a member of the CFA Institute, a chartered member of the Investment Management Consultants Association and a member of the CFA Atlantic Canada Society of Financial Analysts. Serge is a graduate of the University of British Columbia, and has a Chartered Investment Management Analyst designation.

Serge is available to discuss:

• How to navigate through the ups and downs of the market
• Mutual funds and the role they can play in an investment portfolio
• How to manage investment risk

Mark Serdan, CFA, CA

Vice President & Portfolio Manager, Canadian Equities, BMO Asset Management Inc.

Mark joined BMO Asset Management Inc. in the fall of 2009 and has more than 13 years of investment industry experience. He is the portfolio manager of a precious metals fund and a resource fund, and has research responsibilities for the materials sector. Mark has spent the past eight years exclusively focused on the materials sector with a concentration on precious metals. Prior to joining the firm, he was responsible for all investment decisions related to the Canadian materials sector at a major international investment management firm. Mark holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Windsor, received his CA from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario and is a CFA charter holder.

Mark manages, and can speak to, the following funds:

• BMO Precious Metals Fund
• BMO Resource Fund

Mark is also available to discuss:

• The role of gold and metals in today's market
• How the debt crisis is affecting commodity prices

Michael Stanley, CFA, MBA

President & Chief Investment Officer, BMO Asset Management Inc.

Michael joined the organization in 1994. He has oversight responsibilities for all of the firm's fundamental active Canadian equity and fixed income strategies. In addition, he has direct portfolio management responsibilities for a number of Canadian equity mandates and provides research coverage of several non-financial sectors. Michael completed his MBA at the University of Toronto and is a CFA charter holder.

Michael manages, and can speak to, the following funds:

• BMO Dividend Fund
• BMO Monthly Income Fund
• BMO Equity Fund

Michael is also available to discuss:

• Using dividends to stabilize investments in volatile times
• How to identify dividend stocks that have value
• Canadian large cap companies: who to watch

Robert J. Taylor, CFA, CA

Vice President & Portfolio Manager, Canadian Equities, BMO Asset Management Inc.

Robert joined BMO Asset Management Inc. in 2002 after several years at a Canadian-based investment dealer, where he worked in the equity research department. He is responsible for the management of Canadian equities and has research responsibilities for the energy sector. Robert holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, received his CA from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario and is a CFA charter holder.

Robert manages, and can speak to, the following funds:

• BMO Asset Allocation Fund
• BMO Canadian Tactical ETF Class
• BMO Global Energy Class
• BMO Resource Fund

Robert is also available to discuss:

• How to incorporate energy and other commodity-based stocks into a portfolio

John Young, MBA

Vice President & Portfolio Manager, Canadian Equities, BMO Asset Management Inc.

John joined BMO Asset Management Inc. in 2009 and brings more than 18 years of investment industry experience. He is a portfolio manager for large cap Canadian equities and has research responsibilities for the financials sector. Prior to joining the firm, John was a portfolio manager and was responsible for the management of a $5-billion Canadian large cap portfolio. John also served as managing director and head of equity research for a major Canadian dealer. John holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto and an MBA from McMaster University.

John manages, and can speak to the following funds:

• BMO Asset Allocation Fund
• BMO Canadian Tactical ETF Class

John is also available to discuss:

• Stocks versus bonds: how to determine the most appropriate allocation in a portfolio
• Top strategies for capital preservation

Sadhana Valia, CFA

Senior Portfolio Manager & Managing Director, HIM Monegy Inc.

Sadhana heads the High Yield team and is lead portfolio manager for the firm's high yield portfolios. She has 27 years of experience managing credit risk assets, focusing on high yield markets for the past 13 years. Previously she held senior positions in BMO's Corporate & Investment Banking Group, including origination, structuring and syndication of corporate financings across geographies. She also spent three years as an executive in the Bank's Credit Department. Sadhana has an MBA from the University of Chicago, an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from Carleton University and is a CFA charter holder.

Sadhana manages, and can speak to:

• BMO U.S. High Yield Bond Fund.

Sadhana is also available to discuss:

• How to effectively manage high-yield bond portfolios
• Strategies for navigating volatility in credit markets
• Adding high yield bonds to core fixed income portfolios