News Releases

- Federal government agencies benefit from BMO's sophisticated controls and simplified spend analysis and MasterCard's best-in-class global acceptance

- More than 32,500 BMO-issued purchasing cards issued accounting for 90 per cent of the Canadian government purchasing card spend

- Contract renewal follows BMO and MasterCard's selection as the federal Government of Canada's official travel & entertainment (T&E) card provider in 2013

- Travel continues to take priority, while decreased spending on entertaining and gifts lead decline

- While 28 per cent took on debt as a result of spending in 2013, only 11 per cent expect to do the same this year

- Slower job growth, elevated debts and volatile stock market contributing to cautious consumer mindset, while lower gasoline prices offer a positive offset

- Other top concerns among the nation's business owners include identifying income options and paying too much tax

- Three-quarters of entrepreneurs are focused on making improvements in their business operations and more than half are seeking to grow their business aggressively

- Majority of entrepreneurs do not have a succession plan in place for their business

- Minimum assets required to open an adviceDirect account lowered to $50,000 (previously $100,000)

- Annual account fees reduced from 1 per cent to 0.75 per cent

- Clients with assets over $500,000 will not pay any incremental fees

- Thirty-nine per cent of small business owners have hired an employee with a disability, up from 29 per cent in 2013

- Almost 90 per cent of small business owners agree that workplace diversity is an asset but just 36 per cent report having a diversity program in place

- October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

- Canada leads G8 in proportion of residents born outside the country

- Almost half of new Canadians identified finding a job as the top challenge they face after arriving in the country

- More than 80 per cent of new Chinese-Canadians and South Asian-Canadians are focused on having enough money to cover daily expenses as their top financial priority

- Four in ten buyers have increased their price point by 21 per cent

- Preference for condos and detached houses fall, as semi-detached rises

- Ontario, B.C. and Alberta expect to spend more than national average

New offerings are ideal choices for younger Canadians looking for affordable, convenient insurance policies

- $818,000 is the Average Amount This Cohort Feels They Need to Have for Retirement, but the Average Amount They Have Saved to Date is Just $258,000

- More Than Half Are Currently Caring for Children, Aging Relatives, or Both

- Seventy-Six per cent Feel That the Stress of Everyday Living is Impacting Their Ability to Meet Long Term Financial Goals

- However, the Good News Is This Cohort Has Years to Make Up for the Shortfall

- Canadian ETF market currently stands at $70.1 billion in AUM, up more than 11 per cent from year end 2013

- International efficiencies, rise of smart beta ETFs, and increased competition have fueled industry in 2014

- Trends moving forward will include growth in ETF-based portfolios

- Webpage will help educate women who are considering a career in investment advisory to understand better what the role entails

- The site will also provide tools and a supportive platform to assist existing female investment advisors build successful practices

- Eighty-nine per cent of Canadian women feel that the financial services industry should be doing more to help female employees balance work/home lives

- More than half of Canadians have received an inheritance; two-thirds believe they will receive an inheritance in the future

- Ninety-one per cent plan to invest at least a portion of their inheritance

- Seventy-five per cent think it is important to leave money to the next generation

- Three-quarters expect to spend the same or more compared to last summer

- However, six-in-ten say they are more concerned with saving money than in 2013

- Impulse purchases account for nearly 20 per cent of summer spending

- First introduced in June 2009, BMO ETFs' AUM currently stands at $14.7 billion

- Suite of 58 ETFs, including innovative smart beta and specialty solutions, a wide array of fixed income strategies and strongly competitive broad market benchmarked funds

- Canadian ETF industry assets have increased 14 per cent in last year

- Individuals 18-35 who open a Self-Directed account will receive 35 free trades, waived fees, a free Globe and Mail eBook and a chance to win a $3,500 cash prize

- Eighty-one per cent of young Canadians plan to begin investing online within the next five years

- This offer follows BMO InvestorLine's introduction of $9.95 flat-fee trading in February