Sun Life Asset posts sales of P3B in 9 months

Sun Life Asset Management Co. Inc. (SLAMC) registered sales of P3 billion in the first nine months of the year, exceeding last year’s sales of P2.88 billion, on the growing popularity of its mutual funds.

SLAMC is the principal distributor of Sun Life Prosperity Funds, the biggest family of mutual funds in the Philippines which include Sun Life’s Prosperity Bond, Balanced, Equity, GS, Money Market, Dollar Advantage and Dollar Abundance Funds.

"Many investors are attracted to our mutual funds because of the good performance of our funds and the professionalism of our distributors in providing financial advice. In fact, our sales reached its peak in the month of May, at the time when our direct and indirect competitors were experiencing massive redemptions due to the temporary dip in the market at that particular time" said Sun Life president and chief executive officer Lorenzo V. Tan.

Investors of Sun Life Prosperity Balanced Fund, which invests in high-quality fixed income securities and stocks, enjoyed a net yield of 100.3 percent from January 2003 to August 2006. From only P0.8452 in 2003, the NAVPS (net asset value per share) of the balanced fund jumped to P1.6926.

"When we started, many people were hesitant to invest in a variable instrument like mutual funds. But then, we took pains in teaching our distributors and clients about the principle of balancing risk and reward. We taught them not to be deterred by temporary market dips and that mutual funds generally provide a higher rate of return over the long-term," Tan said.

The Prosperity Bond Fund, on the other hand, generated a net return of 38.2 percent. However, the best performing fund was the Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, which generated 121.5 percent net return.

A mutual fund is an investment company that pools money from numerous investors. These pooled funds are then invested by professional fund managers according to the investment objectives and policies of the company.

"In choosing the company or instrument for your long-term investment, opt for the one that provides truthful advice and professional service. Never invest based on projections and promises. Remember, not even the financial gurus can accurately predict how the market will behave the next day, the following week or after a year. Instead, look for the company’s track record in managing investments," said Tan.

SLAMC is a member of the Sun Life Financial group of companies, a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of wealth accumulation and protection products and services to individuals and corporate customers. – Zinnia dela Peña