INVESTING REMAINS BRISK AS ASSETS MANAGED BY SUN LIFE UNIT GROWS 60%

Despite the coronavirus pandemic that caused massive job losses and a steep economic contraction last year, the fund management arm of Sun Life of Canada reported a 60-percent growth in assets under management.

This allowed Sun Life Asset Management Co. Inc. (SLAMCI) to begin this year with P127 billion in assets under management for its suite of mutual funds called Sun Life Prosperity Funds. As such, SLAMCI remains the largest nonbank asset management company in the country.

Clients continued invested despite the asset price declines and volatility caused by the pandemic, SLAMCI reported in a press statement on Wednesday.

Among the top performers in SLAMCI’s peso-denominated funds are the Sun Life ProsperProsperity ity World Equity Index Fund, with a return of 11.33 percent since its launch last July 2020.

The Sun Life Prosperity Bond Fund, on the other hand, saw a full-year return of 4.24 percent, while the Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund saw a fullyear return of 2.49 percent.

The SLAMCI dollar-denominated funds likewise fared well, with the Sun Life Prosperity Voyager Fund marking a 21.03-percent full year return. Sun Life

Dollar Advantage posted a 15-percent return while the Sun Life Dollar Wellspring Fund recorded 8.28 percent in full-year return.

SLAMCI president Gerald Bautista said these were achieved through efforts to keep clients informed and reassured. The company devoted much of its time communicating with clients through different distribution channels and digital touch-points, keeping clients informed on market performance along with opportunities investing in Sun Life Prosperity Funds, reexamining clients’ portfolio and advising them on the best steps to take, Bautista said.

“It was our way of letting them know that we remain on their side in their financial journey,” he said.

These efforts were complemented by digital solutions, which allowed SLAMCI to continue serving clients despite the heightened safety measures mandated by the government. SLAMCI was among the few financial service companies that remained operational amid the lockdowns.

“We were able to assist clients who wanted to invest in both onshore or offshore market opportunities, as well as those who wished to liquidate their investment for emergency situations,” Bautista added.