Service Helps Advisors Analyze 401(k) Plans

PlanAnalytics Inc. in Mendota Heights, Minn., has launched SearchPerformance, an online service that allows advisors to customize 401(k) fund performance criteria and compare a selected fund against others in its peer group.

SearchPeformance includes an "Investment Dashboard," which offers 401(k) plan investment analysis that can be reviewed with clients. With it advisors can help their clients manage fiduciary risk and demonstrate responsible plan management. It provides a concise and current assessment of a 401(k) plan‚s investment portfolio against a customizable set of benchmarks.

SearchPerformance‚s next enhancement will be an investment policy report, which will be available early this year. It will provide plan sponsors with an analysis and documentation of the due diligence performed on their 401(k) investments. The report will be transmitted electronically for local printing or as five professionally bound copies delivered overnight. The reports will contain an executive summary, the Investment Dashboard, an asset allocation summary, detailed fund fact sheets and a glossary of terms.

To find out more about SearchPerformance or to subscribe to the service, visit www.search401k.com/htm/adv/adv_rpt.asp.

Philanthropic Program Introduced

SEI Investments in Oaks, Pa., has introduced a program to help financial advisors maximize their clients‚ philanthropic goals. SEI‚s Philanthropic Program offers donor educational materials, philanthropic assessment tools and charitable giving vehicles including charitable trusts, private foundations and a donor-advised fund. SEI Investments is a leading provider of asset management and investment technology solutions. For more information, visit www.seic.com.

CPA Succession Planning

Business Transitions LLC in Portland, Ore., has launched an online succession-planning program for accountants.

CPA Transitions is the third online succession-planning site by Business Transitions. Others include FP Transitions, which addresses the succession planning needs of securities reps, and Insurance Transitions, for insurance professionals.

CPA Transitions was built recognizing the growing interest in the securities industry from accounting practitioners and CPAs. According to the firm, approximately 190,000 independent CPAs nationwide could become licensed securities reps or acquire securities practices. CPA Transitions hopes to create a central marketplace for the industries to come together. For more information, visit www.cpatransitions.com.

Unified Managed Accounts Platform

Boston-based PFPC Inc., a member of The PNC Financial Services Group Inc., is offering managed account sponsors a private-label service for separate accounts, multi-discipline accounts, variable annuities and mutual fund wrap programs. The new platform also offers services for fee-based brokerage accounts.

The new service customizes and private-labels PFPC‚s managed account program, AssetDirections, for managed account sponsors. It provides a common, Web-based point of entry for sponsors, advisors and investors to access accounts, make transactions and check the performance of all separate account, variable annuity and mutual fund wrap products, individually or in aggregate. For more information, contact PFPC by e-mail at [email protected].

Nuveen Income Fund

Nuveen Investments in Chicago raised more than $360 million from the recent launch of the Nuveen Quality Preferred Income Fund 3. The fund invests primarily in investment-grade quality, taxable preferred securities. In addition to the common share offering, Nuveen expects to issue preferred shares.

For a prospectus, log on to www.nuveen.com/etf.

No. 1 Investment Newsletter

The Hulbert Financial Digest in Annandale, Va., has named The Prudent Speculator the No. 1 investment newsletter for the past 10-, 15- and 20-year periods, based on return performance (not adjusted for risk) through October 31. The digest says The Prudent Speculator returned 21%, 17.5% and 15.1%, respectively. The Prudent Speculator is edited by Al Frank Asset Management in Laguna Beach, Calif. John Buckingham is research director, chief portfolio manager and editor.