The wealth-management division of Montreal-based National Bank of Canada is pushing a suite of private-client products and services to investors with investable assets of at least $930,000 - that is, $1 million in Canadian funds.
National Bank's "Private Wealth 1859" line, available through the bank's 3,000 or so financial advisors, is a funnel for products such as investments, insurance and financial reports, and a range of services that include private-banking, trust, concierge and tax and estate planning.
The significance of 1859 is straightforward enough: in that year a group of Francophone businessmen founded National Bank - or Banque Nationale du Canada as they called it - as a foil to Anglo-dominated financial institutions.
National Bank says the Private Wealth 1859 platform is "based on the preferences expressed by affluent clients" and "prefers a conservative approach that aims to preserve principal and ensure its long-term growth."
