Guardian Capital Group Profile
Guardian Capital Group Limited operates as a financial services company.
The company serves the wealth management needs of a range of clients through its various business segments. The areas in which the company operates are institutional and private wealth investment management; financial advisory; and corporate activities and investments.
The company operates its institutional investment management business through Guardian Capital LP (GCLP) based in Canada; GuardCap Asset Management Limited (GuardCap) based in the United Kingdom (U.K.); and Alta Capital Management, LLC (Alta) and Agincourt Capital Management, LLC (Agincourt) based in the United States (U.S.).
Other investment management businesses are operated through Guardian Capital Advisors LP’s Canadian private wealth business; Modern Advisor Canada Inc. (Modern Advisor), a Canadian robo-advisory business; and Alexandria Bancorp a Caribbean-based international private bank.
The financial advisory business is operated through IDC Worldsource Insurance Network Inc. (IDCWIN), an insurance managing general agency (MGA); Worldsource Financial Management Inc. (WFM), a mutual fund dealer; and Worldsource Securities Inc., a securities dealer.
Segments
The company operates through three segments: Investment Management, Financial Advisory, and Corporate Activities and Investments.
Investment Management segment
This segment provides institutional investment management services that are provided by GCLP; GuardCap; Alta; Agincourt, a Virginia-based U.S. fixed-income firm acquired in October 2020; and Guardian Capital Real Estate Inc. (GCREI).
The company serves pension plan sponsors, broker-dealer third-party platforms, insurance company segregated funds, exchange-traded funds and mutual funds, endowment funds, and foundations. Its capabilities span a range of asset classes, geographic region, and specialty mandates.
Private Wealth Management
Guardian Capital Advisors LP (GCA) provides wealth management services to high-net-worth families, foundations, and charities, primarily in Canada. As the advisor to the company’s private clients, it manages discretionary portfolios consistent with their investment goals and objectives. The company’s continuing focus on expansion in the U.S. and international markets strategies.
International Private Banking
As an extension of the company’s Private Wealth Management business, its International Private Banking division services the wealth management needs of its international clients.
Alexandria Bancorp Limited (ABL) is a well-capitalized private bank based in the Cayman Islands. ABL is licensed and regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority to provide investment, fiduciary and banking services. Alexandria Trust Corporation is licensed with the Barbados Ministry of International Business and Industry as a Corporate and Trust Service Provider.
Robo-Advisory
In February 2020, the company acquired a 71% interest in Modern Advisor, a leading Canadian digital advisory platform. The platform provides investors with digital investment management services.
Financial Advisory segment
This segment includes Worldsource Wealth Management Inc. (Worldsource), an integrated financial advisory platform, with independent financial advisors offering mutual funds, securities and life insurance products to Canadians from coast to coast.
Worldsource operates two businesses, one offering insurance advisory services and the other offering financial planning and investment advisory services. The insurance advisory services are provided through IDCWIN, a major national life insurance MGA, which is 82.2% owned and provides sales, marketing and administrative support to licensed insurance advisors. The financial planning and investment advisory services are provided through WFM, a mutual fund dealer; and Worldsource Securities Inc., a securities dealer. Worldsource promotes an open architecture, and thus provides advisors with the independence to choose the available solutions for their clients. The advisors are further supported with quality reporting and administration, and a professional approach to sales compliance and product suitability.
Corporate Activities and Investments segment
This segment relates to the investment of the company’s securities holdings, as well as corporate management and development activities.
Acquisitions
In October 2020, the company acquired Copoloff Insurance Agencies (Canada) Ltd., a managing general agency.
History
Guardian Capital Group Limited was founded in 1962. The company was incorporated under the laws of the province of Ontario in 1962.
