ADVISOR EMPORIUM

"iShares bond ETFs offer investors one of the best value propositions among bond investments today," said Lee Kranefuss, CEO of BGI‚s Individual Investor Business. "The fact is that the range of potential returns of bond funds is narrower than the range of potential returns of stock funds. By providing low-expense ratios, investors in iShares bond ETFs will have more capital working for them.

"Fixed-income iShares will also allow individual investors to see for the first time intra-day pricing of groups of bonds that have similar maturities or quality. Unlike stocks where prices are widely disseminated, the fair market value of bonds that trade on the secondary market is difficult for individual investors to access."

For more information on iShares, call (800) 474-2737 or visit www.ishares.com.

Nuveen To Launch Second Preferred-Stock ETF

Nuveen Investments plans to launch a second closed-end exchange-traded fund specializing in investment-grade taxable preferred securities. The new fund–called the Nuveen Quality Preferred Income Fund 2–will seek high current income, with a secondary objective of enhancing the portfolio‚s value relative to the market for preferred securities.

The registration statement was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 2. In June, Nuveen raised more than $960 million with the launch of the Nuveen Quality Preferred Income Fund (ticker JTP)–the first U.S. closed-end exchange-traded fund invested primarily in investment-grade quality taxable preferred securities, according to Lipper Inc.

"Taxable preferred securities historically have had a low correlation to other asset classes, and may add the conservative diversification strategy investors are seeking to balance their overall portfolio," says Paul Williams, Vice President for Closed-End Exchange-Traded Fund Development.

Stamford, Conn.-based Spectrum Asset Management Inc., a leading manager of preferred securities with approximately $2.3 billion in assets under management, will sub-advise the fund.

For more information, contact your securities representative or Nuveen Investments, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Ill. 60606, for a prospectus.

Fidelity Enhances 401(k) Product

Fidelity Investments Institutional Brokerage Group has enhanced its Premiere Select 401(k)/Profit Sharing Plan, which is tailored for small businesses and available exclusively through the company‚s correspondent broker-dealer clients.

Premiere Select‚s enhancements include an expanded menu of mutual funds, new sales support and marketing materials, and upgraded Web and telephone functionality for plan sponsors, participants and investment professionals.

Premier Select is designed for plans with less than $3 million in assets and up to 250 participants. For more information about Fidelity Investments, visit www.fidelity.com.

New Book By Bachrach

A new book co-authored by Bill Bachrach provides insight for advisors on how to fine tune their listening skills.

It‚s All About Them: How Trusted Advisors Listen for Success, (Aim High Publishing, $14.95, paperback) written by Bachrach and Steve Shapiro, explains the importance of listening and what it really means, as well as how to be a better listener and benefit your practice. For more information or to request copies of Bachrach‚s books, please contact Lisa Pomerleau at (800) 347-3707, ext. 202, or [email protected], or visit the Web sites www.bachrachvbs.com or www.valuesbasedfinancialplanning.com.

Fremont Names Manager

Fremont Investment Advisors of San Francisco has named Canadian firm Jarislowsky Fraser Limited (JFL) to manage the Fremont International Growth Fund.

JFL, founded in Montreal in 1955 as an investment research firm, has $19.6 billion in assets under management. A team of four investment professionals will oversee the fund, with $30 million in assets. JFL succeeds Capital Guardian Trust, which had managed the fund since 1998. Investors interested in more information may call (800) 548-4539 or visit www.fremontfunds.com.