MFS Investment Management is keen on getting the word out to its key adviser sales channel and to the marketplace in general on diversification through sound asset allocation strategies.

The fund pioneer's initiative is partly driven by increasing demand for four of its more recently launched fund of funds branded under the MFS Asset Allocation label. The Conservative version features fixed-income investments; while the Moderate and Aggressive funds have some bond components. The Aggressive Growth fund is all equity.

Bruce Harrington, vice president and product manager at MFS, told the MutualFundWire.com that sales of the four asset allocation funds have surpassed the $500 million mark so far. He noted that demand for the funds, which were officially launched last summer, is heating up in the 529 college savings, 401(k) and advisor-sold retail marketplaces.

In the retail space, MFS distributes through its 100,000 affiliated-advisor network, which includes brokers from Merrill Lynch, Prudential and other large brokerages, in addition to independent advisors. MFS also sells through the fund supermarkets, including those run by Schwab and Fidelity.

Moreover, earlier this year, MFS tapped Morningstar Associates to offer the Chicago firm's Advisor Workstation product to its Affiliated Advisers. The fund firm was especially interested in the online investment planning system's asset allocation planning tools, in addition to its research and hypothetical modeling features, said Harrington. 

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