The objective of the DeGroote Finance & Investment Council (DFIC) Balanced Fund will be to achieve a 12-month rolling return (net of fees and taxes) in excess of the benchmark defined below through sustainable long-term investment in North American listed companies. The Fund’s philosophy is in alignment with the investing principles taught at McMaster focused on creativity, innovation, and excellence. The DFIC Balanced Fund aims to provide returns via a combination of investments in public equities and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).