Canada Life Investment Management Revamps Mutual Funds

Canada Life Investment Management Ltd. (CLIML) has unveiled a comprehensive overhaul of its mutual fund offerings, affecting both Counsel Portfolios and Canada Life Mutual Funds^TM. These strategic adjustments, largely effective on August 17, 2026, with further changes in September and October 2026, signal a clear intent to enhance product competitiveness and client accessibility.

Key Strategic Enhancements

The firm’s initiative focuses on creating a more robust and accessible product shelf for both advisors and clients. This involves a multi-pronged approach to modernize its investment solutions, particularly strengthening the Visio and Essentials categories.

• Reduced management fees across various funds.
• Lowered investment minimums, notably for Counsel Visio Pools.
• Adjusted fund names to better align with investment strategies.
• Revised investment strategies for several portfolios.
• Changes in sub-advisors for specific funds.

Refining Investment Access

One notable change impacts the Counsel Visio Pools, where the minimum investment threshold has been significantly reduced. This move from $150,000 to just $25,000 aims to broaden investor access to these offerings.

• Counsel Essentials Portfolios are now renamed Counsel ETF Portfolios.
• Counsel Conservative Income Portfolio becomes Counsel Income ETF Portfolio, shifting to primarily invest in ETFs.
• Counsel Essentials Income Portfolio is now Counsel Conservative ETF Portfolio with an adjusted asset mix.
• Canada Life Global Equity and Income Fund transforms into Canada Life Visio Global Balanced Pool.
• Canada Life Global Balanced Fund becomes Canada Life Visio Global Growth Pool, both with amended strategies.

Portfolio and Sub-Advisor Adjustments

CLIML is also fine-tuning several stand-alone funds by updating their investment strategies and, in some cases, appointing new sub-advisors. This ensures alignment with current market dynamics and investor needs.

• Exclusionary investment criteria for conventional weapons revenue will be removed from most Counsel Portfolios by January 1, 2027.
• The Canada Life Strategic Income Fund will now allocate up to 49% to foreign securities for enhanced diversification.
• Sub-advisor changes affect Counsel High Yield Fixed Income, Counsel Canadian Dividend, Counsel Canadian Value, Counsel U.S. Growth Equity, and Canada Life Global Growth Equity Fund.

These updates collectively underscore CLIML’s commitment to refining its product lineup, ensuring a more competitive and client-centric investment environment in the coming years.