Seattle-based insurance and investment provider
The products, the U.S. Growth fund and the Small Company Growth fund, represent SAFECOs foray into growth investing and will be subadvised by growth manager
"Its a new cornerstone for us to have growth," said SAFECO spokesman LeRoi Brashears. "We havent had that. We, along with our clients, havent had the total package that wed like to have."
Growth funds have been especially hard hit during the markets protracted slump. Yet SAFECO is at least the second firm in recent weeks to dive for the first time into growth investing. Late last month
"This is a great time to get the fund started," Brashears said.
Jim Pirak, VP of marketing for SAFECOs investments unit, said the company currently offers 19 funds, including an international product, and oversees some $4 billion in mutual fund assets.
