BMO Financial Group and LINK Investment Management Inc. have launched a digital platform that enables employees to invest in BMO exchange-traded funds (ETFs) through employer-sponsored group savings plans — marking what it calls a first among major Canadian financial institutions.
The BMO-LINK Workplace Savings Platform allows contributions to a range of plans, including Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs), Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs), and Deferred Profit-Sharing Plans (DPSPs). Employees can construct diversified, low-fee portfolios using BMO ETFs based on their personal investment goals and risk tolerance.
“The BMO-LINK Workplace Savings Platform makes it easier for businesses of any size to support their employees’ savings and retirement goals,” said Trevor Philp, managing director and head of group investment plans at BMO Global Asset Management. “We are excited to break new ground by offering BMO ETFs to give participants more control over their savings and retirement planning.”
Digital-first enrolment and admin tools for employers
The platform uses an online enrolment process to guide employees through a questionnaire that assesses risk profile, investment objectives and time horizon. Based on the results, the system recommends a personalized investment mix made up of BMO ETFs.
Additional features include payroll integration with automatic deductions, employer matching options, portfolio rebalancing, and an employer portal for administrative tasks like reporting and employee updates.
For employers, the platform is designed to streamline operations and reduce paperwork, while enhancing the overall benefits package offered to workers.
A growing partnership
The new platform builds on BMO’s 2023 acquisition of a minority stake in LINK, a fintech firm that specializes in workplace savings technology.
“BMO’s minority investment and collaboration with LINK enables us to continue developing best-in-class B2B SaaS platform technology that will help more Canadians save for retirement, while providing employers with a differentiated benefit to attract, reward and retain top talent,” said Brian McClennon, CEO and co-founder of LINK.
BMO and LINK are positioning the offering as a modern solution for both established and emerging employers seeking to enhance their employee value proposition in a competitive labour market.
About the companies
BMO Financial Group, with $1.5 trillion in assets as of Jan. 31, 2025, is one of the largest banks in North America. The bank provides services to 13 million customers across Canada, the U.S. and global markets.
LINK is a Canadian-based digital platform provider specializing in workplace savings and pension plan administration through licensed partners.
