First Allied Launches Women's Impact Network
San Diego-based broker-dealer First Allied Securities has introduced a new organization, called the Women's Impact Network, to help its affiliated female advisors expand their professional skill sets and grow their businesses.
To that end, the network offers a national conference track designed specifically for woman advisors, including networking and business development opportunities. The network will also sponsor quarterly continuing education-eligible conference calls specific to women. In addition the network will offer a peer directory, an events calendar, information on best practices and other resources.
Members in the program will enjoy support from other female advisors who have successfully overcome common obstacles, as well as business-building tools and strategies and a mentoring program.
"Our mission is to help advisors grow their businesses," says First Allied President Adam Antoniades. "It only makes sense to tap into the collective wisdom of a group of people who have achieved success against the odds."
Geraldine Cunningham, a First Allied advisor located in Westerly, R.I., is co-chair of the Women's Advisory Council. The council directs the network's activities and comprises female advisors as well as female members of the senior leadership team at First Allied.
"Women advisors are in a position to truly understand how women relate to money and wealth both from a professional and a personal standpoint," Cunningham says. "Creating a formal network of women advisors enables us to achieve two key strategic goals: advance professionally and promote greater understanding of women clients."
Fidelity Starts Global Equity Income Funds
Fidelity Investments is launching a global equity income fund strategy designed to give investors a portfolio of larger, less-volatile stocks that also pay dividends.
The two Global Equity Income funds, one available directly to investors, the other through financial advisors, seek reasonable income, though the fund's managers will also consider buying shares with the potential for capital appreciation.
Clients nearing retirement are looking for investments that fluctuate less, and equity income funds tend to produce steadier returns over time than other stock funds, says the funds' manager, Ramona Persaud.
ProShares Launches Covered Bond Fund
ProShares, a Bethesda, Md., provider of alternative exchange-traded funds, has launched a new corporate bond ETF-the ProShares USD Covered Bond fund (NYSE: COBO). This is the only corporate bond fund-mutual fund or ETF-in the U.S. with almost all of its assets rated "AAA."