monitor money Currency fluctuations influence returns What a strong Canadian dollar can mean to your investments

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1 Newsletter for Canada Life s segregated fund investors Summer 2011 monitor money Currency fluctuations influence returns In this issue > Currency fluctuations influence returns > Segregated funds address financial worries > Globalization changing the landscape of professional investment management > Segregated fund rates of return > Money Monitor notes What a strong Canadian dollar can mean to your investments Recently, headlines were filled with loonierelated news, driven by the increasing value of the Canadian dollar relative to its American counterpart. A rising dollar is more than just headlines in the news; it can affect your investment portfolio. With the focus on the Canadian dollar and its behaviour, it may be helpful to take a closer look at how currency fluctuations can affect investment returns. Considerations when the dollar is strong Since Canada Life segregated funds are valued in Canadian dollars, a fund that buys a foreign security must exchange its Canadian dollars for the appropriate foreign currency. For instance, U.S. stocks trade in U.S. dollars. Therefore, a Canadian dollar fund that invests in a U.S. stock must first exchange its Canadian dollars for U.S. dollars. When the fund sells those stocks, it exchanges the foreign currency back to Canadian dollars. Continued on back page The Canada Life Assurance Company Newsletter for segregated fund investors: Summer 2011

2 Segregated funds address financial worries It s hard to think long-term when you open your statement and see a decline in the value of your investments. Although it s disconcerting to see the value of your portfolio shift significantly, remember your segregated fund policies come with some guarantees. With a segregated fund policy, you have some protection from market downturns. Product features and guarantees vary based on the product, but the good news is that with a segregated fund policy you are protected: On death Even in a down market between 75 per cent and 100 per cent (depending on the policy) of your principal investment, less a proportional reduction for any redemptions, will be returned to your beneficiary. On maturity If markets don t recover before your policy matures, you are guaranteed to receive between 75 per cent and 100 per cent (depending on the policy) of your principal investment less a proportional reduction for any redemptions. With flexible investment options within one policy If investment weights in certain assets need to be managed, transfers between funds can be done simply within your policies. You maintain the protection on maturity and death. Ride out market volatility and stay on track You can take steps to ride out market volatility and be more confident you re still on track to achieving your investment goals. Reaffirm your risk Your advisor can reaffirm your tolerance for risk and help you verify your overall portfolio is correctly aligned with your investment needs. Realign expectations Working with your advisor to find a conservative rate of return assumption can provide a level of security and help keep short-term fluctuations in perspective. Rebalance your portfolio Depending on your tolerance for risk you may need to change some of the investments within your portfolio to become more aggressive (using more equities) or more conservative (using more fixed income products) to maintain the best combination of investments for you. Reinvest in your plan Don t wait to invest. Down markets may provide buying opportunities consider the adage buy low, sell high because some investments prices drop below their perceived value. STEP 5 Reinvest in your plan STEP 4 Rebalance and rebuild STEP 1 Reaffi rm your risk tolerance 5 easy steps to review your plan and refresh your investment portfolio Your advisor can help STEP 3 Reassess your investment options STEP 2 Realign your return expectations Volatility is part of any normal market cycle. Historically, the markets have always bounced back and performed better. During uncertain markets, the advice of your advisor is more important than before. He or she can provide you with a long-term perspective and help you take advantage of down-market opportunities for your portfolio. For more information about markets, current opportunities or your investment plan, contact your advisor. The Canada Life Assurance Company Newsletter for segregated fund investors: Summer 2011

3 Globalization changing the landscape of professional investment management Italian shoes. Colombian coffee. Japanese electronics. Once considered luxury items, access to foreign goods is now a part of everyday life for Canadians. Globalization has changed the way we work, live and shop. It s also changed the landscape for professional investment managers creating a whole new set of unique challenges to consider, and a world of opportunity to take advantage of. Companies are increasingly competing across borders Major industry players and key competitive pressures can come from anywhere. Canada s Blackberry giant, Research in Motion (RIM), competes for smartphone sales around the world with Apple s iphone from the U.S. The fortunes of U.S. auto giants are directly tied to the competitive forces of Japanese automakers Toyota and Honda, regardless of the fact that the U.S. remains one of the largest auto markets on the globe. It s no longer sufficient to solely analyze and compare a company s financial position and outlook against its national peers. Where a company is headquartered matters less than where a company s market resides. Accessing global growth right from home The Canadian stock market heavily weighted in commodity-based companies has performed well during the global economic recovery, in part because rapid economic expansion in China and emerging markets has created a tremendous demand for oil and other commodities. In effect, the globalization trend of the last few decades has allowed Canadian investors to invest at home, while reaping the rewards of demographic and socio-economic progress a half a world away. The end-demand ultimately drives exports and a company s profits be it China for oil, India for gold, or the U.S. for manufactured goods. The new economic risks and rewards of globalization Not that long ago, an earthquake in Japan or political unrest in North Africa and the Middle East would have caused humanitarian worry and concern, but little economic disruption here in Canada. Today, the economic impact of such events can be farther reaching. An earthquake in Japan (a major auto parts exporter) caused layoffs in Ontario, while unrest in North Africa and the Middle East (a region that supplies much of the world s oil) created large swings in Canadian energy companies stock values. A major event (political, natural or otherwise) no longer has to be in your backyard before it significantly affects the businesses and economic situation close to home. Yet with these risks come new-found opportunities. A tremendous amount of flexibility and innovation is developing within the business world. Globalization means the production of goods and services from one country or region can be quickly diverted to another. When political concerns shut down a call centre in one part of the world, that same service can quickly be provided in a completely different part of the world with little or no disruption for the user. A company s ability to adjust to changing economic circumstances is a significant sign of resilience in today s marketplace and something that professional investment managers consider in their day-to-day analysis of a company s financial stability. Finding the best opportunities wherever they are To determine the financial strength and outlook of a company, professional investment managers have broadened the scope of their analysis wider than in the past to understand risks, driving forces and opportunities that are offered by each potential investment. For investors, in an increasingly complex and integrated world, the benefits, insight and expertise of professional investment management offers a unique edge in today s globalized world. The views expressed in this commentary are those of GLC Asset Management Group Ltd. (GLC) as at the date of publication and are subject to change without notice. This commentary is presented only as a general source of information and is not intended as a solicitation to buy or sell specific investments, nor is it intended to provide tax or legal advice.

4 75/75 guarantee policy segregated funds rates of return At May 31, 2011 Fund Number Unit value ($) Inception date 1-month 3-month Compounded annual rates of return as of month-end YTD 1-year 2-year 3-year 5-year From inception Asset allocation funds Conservative Allocation S Oct n/a n/a n/a 3.24 Moderate Allocation S Oct n/a n/a n/a 4.76 Balanced Allocation S Oct n/a n/a n/a 7.72 Advanced Allocation S Oct n/a n/a n/a Aggressive Allocation S Oct n/a n/a n/a Income allocation funds Income Focus S Oct n/a n/a n/a 3.43 Income Growth S Oct n/a n/a n/a 4.83 Income Growth Plus S Oct n/a n/a n/a 6.47 Managed fund solutions Core Conservative Growth S Oct n/a n/a n/a 5.54 Fidelity Moderate Income S Oct n/a n/a n/a 5.82 Franklin Templeton Moderate Income S Oct n/a n/a n/a 5.55 Mackenzie Moderate Income S Oct n/a n/a n/a 6.24 Core Moderate S Oct n/a n/a n/a 6.21 Franklin Templeton Moderate Growth S Oct n/a n/a n/a 6.46 Mackenzie Moderate Growth S Oct n/a n/a n/a 6.80 Core Moderate Growth Plus S Oct n/a n/a n/a 6.99 Fidelity Moderate Growth Plus S Oct n/a n/a n/a 6.66 CI Balanced Income S Oct n/a n/a n/a 7.28 Franklin Templeton Balanced Income S Oct n/a n/a n/a 7.43 Mackenzie Balanced Income S Oct n/a n/a n/a 7.34 Core Balanced S Oct n/a n/a n/a 7.75 Fidelity Balanced S Oct n/a n/a n/a 7.24 Mackenzie Balanced S Oct n/a n/a n/a 7.59 Core Balanced Growth Plus S Oct n/a n/a n/a 8.46 Fixed income funds Money Market Fund (Laketon) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 0.13 Government Bond (GWLIM) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 1.23 Fixed Income (Laketon) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 3.14 International Bond (Laketon) S Oct n/a n/a n/a Income Opportunity (London Capital) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 6.24 Indexed Canadian Bond (TDAM) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 2.91 Balanced funds Canadian Growth & Income (AGF) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 4.66 Balanced (Bissett) S Oct n/a n/a n/a Harbour Growth & Income (CI) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 7.23 Canadian Asset Allocation (Fidelity) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 7.74 Managed (Laketon) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 6.70 Balanced (Invesco Trimark) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 7.51 Balanced (Greystone) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 7.76 Maxxum Canadian Balanced (Mackenzie) 2 S Dec-10 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Saxon Balanced (Mackenzie) 2 S Dec-10 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Sentinel Income (Mackenzie) 2 S Dec-10 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Global Balanced (Mackenzie) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 6.26 Canadian equity funds Canadian Growth (Invesco Trimark) S Oct n/a n/a n/a Canadian Equity (Bissett) S Oct n/a n/a n/a Small Cap Equity (Bissett) S Oct n/a n/a n/a Harbour Canadian (CI) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 9.41 Canada Life Fidelity True North S Oct n/a n/a n/a Mid Cap Canada (GWLIM) S Oct n/a n/a n/a Canadian Equity (Howson Tattersall) S Oct n/a n/a n/a Enhanced Dividend (Laketon) S Oct n/a n/a n/a The Canada Life Assurance Company Newsletter for segregated fund investors: Summer 2011

5 75/75 guarantee policy segregated funds rates of return At May 31, 2011 Fund Number Unit value ($) Inception date 1-month 3-month Compounded annual rates of return as of month-end YTD 1-year 2-year 3-year 5-year From inception Canadian equity funds Canadian Equity (Laketon) S Oct n/a n/a n/a Canadian Equity Value (Laketon) S Oct n/a n/a n/a Dividend (London Capital) S Oct n/a n/a n/a Canadian Equity (London Capital) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 9.97 Canadian Equity Growth (Mackenzie) S Oct n/a n/a n/a Canadian Equity (Invesco Trimark) S Oct n/a n/a n/a Canadian specialty funds Canadian Equity (AGF) S Oct n/a n/a n/a Real Estate (GWLRA) 1 S Oct n/a n/a n/a 3.26 Canadian Resource (Mackenzie) S Oct n/a n/a n/a Foreign equity funds American Growth (AGF) S Oct n/a n/a n/a International Equity (CI) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 5.91 Global Equity (Fidelity) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 6.47 Canada Life Fidelity American Disciplined Equity S Oct n/a n/a n/a 8.85 U.S. Value (London Capital) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 9.61 U.S. Growth Leaders (Mackenzie) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 8.26 Global Future (Mackenzie) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 8.11 Global Equity (Setanta) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 6.08 International Equity (Templeton) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 2.04 Global Equity (Invesco Trimark) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 7.34 Cundill Global Value (Mackenzie) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 8.88 Foreign specialty funds Canada Life Fidelity NorthStar S Oct n/a n/a n/a 9.44 Far East Equity (Mackenzie) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 5.58 European Equity (Setanta) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 2.45 Global Infrastructure Equity (London Capital) S Oct n/a n/a n/a 3.42 Any amount that is allocated to a segregated fund is invested at the risk of the policyholder and may increase or decrease in value. A description of the key features of Canada Life s individual variable insurance contract is contained in the information folder, available from your advisor. The indicated rates of return for one, two, three, and five years columns, as well as the From inception column, are annual compounded returns for the period ending May 31, 2011 including changes in the unit values but does not take into account redemption fees or other applicable charges payable by the policy owner. The stated returns are net of the segregated fund management fees and operating expenses, but does not reflect redemption fees or other charges. Therefore actual returns will be less than illustrated. Please note that unit values and investment returns will fluctuate and past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. Canada Life is currently waiving fees for direct expenses and/or a portion of the investment management fee for the Canada Life Money Market (Laketon) Fund. Returns of the fund would be negative without the waiver of these fees. We anticipate negative returns will continue for the foreseeable future. Canada Life is not obligated to continue waiving these fees and it may cease to do so at any time without notice. The amount of the waiver is disclosed every month at approximately mid-month and will be disclosed directly below once available. The annualized current yield and effective yield for the Canada Life Money Market (Laketon) Fund for the seven day period ending May 31, 2011 are and per cent respectively. These are annualized historical yields based on the seven day period ending on May 31, 2011, and does not represent an actual one year return. 1 The Fund is currently subject to a temporary suspension on withdrawals and transfers.

6 Continued from page 1 If the Canadian dollar rises during the time the fund holds the foreign investment, the fund will receive less in Canadian dollars when it sells it, which may reduce the value of foreign investments. However, the rise of the Canadian dollar doesn t mean it s time to sell your global investments. The loonie s strength can be an opportunity to further diversify your portfolio beyond Canada. Investments in other markets may still be performing well within their own currencies even if the gains may be lowered because of our strong dollar. On the other hand, if you are thinking about increasing your exposure to Canadian investments to avoid potential losses when converting currency, keep in mind that some Canadian companies that export to the U.S. may not benefit from the higher dollar. A rise in the value of the Canadian dollar increases the price of Canadian exports to the United States, which make up a large part of the economy. This can affect the value of certain Canadian holdings within your investments. The best course of action Stick to your investment plans Predicting the direction of the Canadian dollar and investing accordingly is difficult. While currencies fluctuate in the short term, holding a welldiversified portfolio created according to your risk tolerance and time horizon can help smooth those effects over the long term. Contact your advisor to help you better understand how the different elements of your portfolio work together to meet your needs. The opposite effect is true when the Canadian dollar decreases. Money Monitor notes GLC: New leading investment manager Effective Jan. 1, 2011, GWL Investment Management Ltd. (GWLIM), London Capital Management Ltd. and Laketon Investment Management Ltd., have been continued under the umbrella of a new Canadian investment management company called GLC Asset Management Group Ltd. (GLC). GLC is a leading Canadian investment manager, managing over $30 billion* in assets for investors. GWLIM, London Capital and Laketon are now separate investment management divisions of GLC, retaining their distinct investment management teams, processes and styles of investment management. *At March 31, A description of the key features of the segregated fund policy is contained in the information folder. Any amount that is allocated to a segregated fund is invested at the risk of the policyowner and may increase or decrease in value. * In Quebec, advisor refers to a financial security advisor for individual insurance and segregated fund policies; and to an advisor in group insurance/annuity plans for group products. For more information about Canada Life and its products visit or talk to your advisor. The Canada Life Assurance Company, 330 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1R8 Helping people achieve more Canada Life and design, Helping people achieve more and Canada Life Generations are trademarks of The Canada Life Assurance Company B-6/11