Building your retirement planning dream team

A group can often accomplish what an individual alone can’t — even when it comes to saving for retirement. The fact is, financial security doesn’t just happen, especially given today’s uncertain economic and market environment; you need a solid plan and good people to help you along the way.

This issue of Educated Investor is dedicated to building your retirement planning dream team. You’ll find tools and tips that demonstrate how the power of partnership can help you achieve a truly great retirement.

BMO Financial GroupEstablished in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is one of the oldest and largest financial services providers in North America. In fact, BMO has been serving the Midwest for more than 150 years. BMO Financial Group serves more than 12 million personal, commercial, corporate and institutional customers domestically and internationally.

BMO Financial Group offers an array of financial services and solutions that extend well beyond traditional bank accounts. We work hard to make these financial products work together, so you can start thinking about the big picture and identify the steps that will bring you closer to your life goals.

BMO Financial Group (NYSE: BMO) is a fully diversified financial services firm with $525 billion total assets and more than 46,000 employees as of October 31, 2012.

BMO Global Asset ManagementBMO Global Asset Management provides holistic, solution-driven services to our clients. With a goal of promoting retirement readiness, our clients have access to the expertise of investment teams located around the globe. BMO Global Asset Management’s commitment to service excellence has led us to be recognized by Pensions & Investments as one of the Top 100 largest asset managers.

About our services

Educated

Getting to the retirement of your dreams takes planning — and work.

And as with any significant life event, such as choosing a college, buying a home or getting married, you want all the information, resources and expertise in order to do it right.

Most everyone accepts the concept of planning, saving and investing for retirement — and wants to be financially prepared for those later years of life. It is also true that most everyone struggles with how to accomplish this task. Sometimes, it seems there are so many obstacles to overcome. BMO Retirement Services understands and is committed to improving your retirement years — regardless of how near or far away.

Relationships are important, like the one BMO Retirement Services has with your plan sponsor. We’re committed to providing you, your co-workers,

and more than 500,000 participants in more than 1,500 other retirement plans with opportunities to build a strong financial future and achieve a dream retirement.

From enrolling in the plan, to evaluating your investment choices at various points in your life, to helping you understand your options when retirement is on the horizon, our more than 340 Retirement Services Specialists and Educators are among the best trained and most knowledgeable in the industry, and they’re available to help you every step of the way.

As a member of your retirement dream team, you can count on BMO Retirement Services to give you the information and guidance that will help you clearly understand the part your retirement plan plays in your financial future — and what you can do to ensure you are taking full advantage of this significant benefit at every stage of your life.

BMO Retirement Services:We’re with you, every step of the way

Your retirement plan provider, BMO Retirement Services, is an integral part of BMO Global Asset Management and an award-winning provider of retirement, trust and custody services.

BMO Harris Bank N.A.With a commitment to being the bank that defines a great customer experience, BMO Harris Bank N.A. (BMO Harris) delivers a broad range of personal and commercial banking products, solutions and expertise through 600 branches and 1,300 ATMs in eight states, including Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Arizona and Florida.

We know you want to accomplish more with your money, and we are the financial partner to help you make those decisions with confidence and clarity. We work with you to help you make a plan, set priorities and achieve your financial goals. And we do that by providing great service, expertise, helpful guidance and smart advice.

Our BMO Harris professionals always keep in mind that your financial success is our success. We are there for you each and every day as a trusted partner, building and deepening the kind of relationships that last.

Here are some things you may not know about us. They tell you something about how your employer feels about our people, our service and the way we do business.

97 percent of our clients stay with us year after year.

99 percent of our clients would recommend us to other companies.

We received “Exceptional” ratings from PLANSPONSOR magazine’s annual survey of retirement plan providers for eight years in a row.

And, in that same survey, our clients ranked us the No. 1 retirement plan provider for the sixth consecutive year.

Wherever you are. Wherever you are going.