New York-based investment advisory American Independence Financial Services, has entered into a strategic partnership with Cougar Global Investments, a Toronto-based investment manager specialising in global tactical exchange-traded fund portfolios.

Under the agreement, American Independence will provide separately-managed accounts and funds based on Cougar Global’s ETF-based "macroeconomic assessment of risk" strategy to address downside risk management. Meanwhile, American Independence will provide oversight, marketing, administration and execution.

The portfolios will be marketed to financial intermediaries and advisors in the US, said John Pileggi, managing partner of American Independence.

“Cougar Global’s leading investment methodology is focused on downside risk management, which is highly appealing to investors who have yet to meet their wealth accumulation and retirement income goals, but who may be concerned about equity market risk, or to investors who may have chosen to keep their money in cash,” added Pileggi.

Cougar Global’s investment team currently manages or advises some $2 billion in total assets. The firm has 300 clients in Canada, the US, UK and Europe.