FPtransitions Signs New Clients

FPtransitions, a Portland, Ore.-based firm that helps advisors buy, sell or merge their practices, has signed Jefferson Pilot Securities Corp. and Brecek & Young Advisors Inc. as clients.

The agreements call for FPtransitions to provide its services to representatives of both companies. Jefferson Pilot, a Concord, N.H., broker-dealer, has 2,300 independent representatives. Brecek & Young, based in Folsom, Calif., has 57 employees that service approximately 500 registered representatives.

Through FPtransitions, advisors have access to a confidential e-mail notification system to contact each other and address transition needs. The company also offers financing services. Due diligence, practice valuation and consulting services are provided through the company by Moss Adams LLP.

Since its launch 18 months ago, FPtransitions has grown dramatically and has signed 47 broker-dealers for its services. It has had more than 975,000 hits to its Web site and more than 1,100 listings and "Instant Notify" transactions resulting in more than $1.4 billion in closed or pending transactions. For more information, visit www.fptransitions.com.

Family Business Planning

Family Enterprise Publishers of Chicago is offering the Family Business Evaluation Instrument, a product to help advisors survey and better understand family business clients. It includes a questionnaire to be completed by family business members and a professional guide that the advisor relies upon to interpret questionnaire answers. For more information, call (800) 551-0633 or visit the company‚s Web site at www.efamilybusiness.com.

Upgraded Software

Financial Profiles Inc. of San Diego and Ibbotson Associates, with offices in Chicago and New York, have released a new version of Financial Profiles‚ flagship product, Profiles+. It incorporates Ibbotson‚s Portfolio Strategist asset-allocation software, which includes risk-tolerance questionnaires, model portfolios, historical calculations and conceptual images with its existing modules.

Ibbotson also announced the release of version 8.0 of Portfolio Strategist. The new software includes Monte Carlo simulation and Roth IRA and variable-annuities modeling. For more information, call (800) 237-6335 or visit www.profiles.com.

Capital Trust Enhances Site

The Capital Trust Co. of Delaware, based in Wilmington, has added features to its Web site, www.ctcdelaware.com, to assist advisors. More information now is available on unitrusts, special-needs trusts, IRA distributions and stretch planning and fiduciary responsibility. The site also has added tools to help advisors improve client communication.

SEI Partners With Advent

Private banking and trust clients of SEI Investments of Oaks, Pa., soon will be able to integrate Advent Office, a suite of portfolio-management software, with SEI‚s Trust 3000 System, technology for investment and trust operations.

The company says the combination will create a single, seamless connection between middle- and back-office processing and improve accuracy and efficiency for investment managers.

The integrated product is expected to be available to clients by the end of the year. For more information, visit www.seic.com or call (800) SEI-1003.

SunAmerica Launches Annuity

SunAmerica Inc., based in Los Angeles, has introduced Polaris Platinum, a variable annuity with enhanced commission choices, including an all-upfront commission and three options that offer a combination of upfront and trail commissions.

Polaris Platinum offers access to 11 money managers, 34 variable investment options and seven fixed-rate choices. For more information, visit www.sunamerica.com or call (800) 445-SUN2.

Portfolio Lowers Minimum

The Marshall Tax Efficient Portfolio has lowered its minimum account size to $250,000. The portfolio, a strategy for separate accounts, starts each investor with 200 to 250 stocks and rebalances those securities monthly to track the S&P 500 Index. Any capital losses in the account can be used by investors to offset capital gains and improve their tax situation.

The portfolio was introduced in 1998 by Marshall & Isley Trust Co. of Milwaukee. For more information, call (800) 236-3500.

Broker-Dealer Selected

Strategic Legacy Advisors Inc., based in Lincoln, Neb., has chosen QA3 Financial Corp. in Omaha, Neb., as its broker-dealer and registered investment advisor. SLA consists of 14 licensed advisors who also are financial planners, attorneys and CPAs.