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TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 15, 2012) - With Saint Patrick's Day just around the corner, BMO Financial Group reminds Canadians that they do not have to have the "luck of the Irish" to have successful investment portfolios if they follow some simple, practical advice.

A BMO study has found that 70 per cent of Canadians are concerned about the performance of their investments, given the current state of the economy and volatility of financial markets.

"Managing your investments during times of market volatility doesn't have to be stressful if you follow some basic guidelines," said Serge Pépin, Head of Investments, BMO Investments Inc. "It's important that your portfolio is well-diversified in order to manage risk and that you re-evaluate your investments periodically to make sure that they're on track to meet your short- and long-term goals. Take the time to sit down with a financial professional who can work with you to ensure that your investments are best suited for you and the market conditions."

To help manage risk, Mr. Pépin recommends investors consider investments such as BMO Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) Portfolios, which are mutual funds made up of ETFs. BMO offers four risk differentiated portfolios that give investors access to many of the benefits of ETFs through easy-to-use mutual fund classes. Investors have the option to choose a portfolio with a risk level that is suitable to them.

BMO's Serge Pépin offers the following investment portfolio management advice for investors to consider:

• Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket - Make sure you are well diversified. Consider both conservative and aggressive investments in order to balance risk. Diversification will make your portfolio less susceptible to market fluctuations.

• Invest Year-Round - Establishing a pattern of regular contributions is easier than coming up with a lump sum once a year. Consider pre-authorized contributions: they provide an easy and effective way to contribute and alleviate the stress of those last-minute contributions.

• Consolidate Your Assets - Keeping your assets in one place or in one institution makes it easier to keep track of things, and can save on fees.

• Read the headlines - Stay aware of the current events that may have the potential to move financial markets. Ask your financial advisor how the make-up of your portfolio might be affected by increased volatility.

• Talk To A Financial Advisor - Sitting down with a financial advisor can help you save money and time by providing you with options that you did not know were available. An advisor can also ensure your portfolio is meeting your financial goals and reflecting your risk tolerance.

To learn more about saving and investing wisely, please visit www.bmo.com/smartinvesting.

Get the latest BMO press releases via Twitter by following @BMOmedia.

About BMO Financial Group

Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is a highly-diversified North American financial services organization. With total assets of $538 billion as at January 31, 2012, and more than 47,000 employees, BMO Financial Group provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions.