Investors Diversified Services

Investors Diversified Services (IDS) was a financial services company offering personal financial planning, life insurance, mutual fund shares, investment certificates, annuities, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), limited partnerships, unit trusts, and management and fiduciary services for pension and employee benefit plans.

The company was established in Minneapolis in 1894 as Investors Syndicate. The name was changed to Investors Diversified Services, Inc. (IDS), on March 30, 1949. IDS became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alleghany Corporation in May 1979. American Express Company, New York, acquired IDS from Alleghany in January 1984 and the corporate name became IDS/American Express Inc. The name was subsequently changed to IDS Financial Services Inc.

In the late 1980s IDS Financial Corporation managed, and its subsidiary IDS Financial Services distributed, 26 publicly offered mutual funds of the IDS Mutual Fund Group. Other IDS Financial Corporation subsidiaries at that time included IDS Life Insurance Company, IDS Life Insurance Company of New York, IDS Certificate Company, IDS Advisory Group Inc., and Advisory Bank & Trust Company.

From the guide to the Company records., 1894-1988 (bulk 1971-1984)., (Minnesota Historical Society)