Guide Developed To Prevent Elder Financial Abuse
La Vista, Neb.-based Securities America has developed a new guide that addresses two challenges facing the financial services industry: clients with diminished capacity and elder financial abuse.

The independent broker-dealer created the “Working with Clients Displaying Diminished Capacity and Recognizing Elder Financial Abuse Guide” to help its advisors be better prepared to meet the needs of an aging population.

The guide is the result of conversations with advisors who shared their experiences with these difficult situations and discussed their concerns about being able to assist clients while protecting their practice.

“Raising awareness on this topic for all our advisors addresses risk management issues, and provides a platform to offer a higher level of client engagement,” says Kirk Hulett, executive vice president of strategy and practice management for Securities America. “We interviewed several advisors and then had our team of experts build out a comprehensive resource designed for protecting both the advisor and the client.”

The guide includes signs that may show a client’s diminished capacity, as well as steps to take to protect everyone involved. It also addresses how to recognize elder financial abuse and steps that can be taken if it is suspected.



eMoney Advisor Releases emX
Conshohocken, Pa.-based eMoney Advisor has released emX, its new digital wealth management platform. Some of the software’s features include advanced planning tools, mobile access, live financial feeds and a Social Security analyzer.

According to Edmond Walters, founder and CEO of the firm, as advisor and client expectations continue to change, advisors who combine their expertise with leading technology will provide the best client experience and be the most successful. “We believe this is the new norm for doing business,” he says. “If you’re not implementing an integrated technology solution today, you’ll be out of business in a few years.”


361 Capital Launches Equity Fund
361 Capital, a Denver.-based alternative investments firm, has launched the 361 Global Long/Short Equity Fund. The fund is subadvised by Analytic Investors and launched with an existing 11-month track record following the reorganization of the Analytic Global Long/Short Equity Fund, a limited partnership that began in January 2014.

“Long/short equity is the largest category in Morningstar’s classification of alternative mutual funds, but there is currently a shortage of quality funds with track records,” said Tom Florence, president and CEO of 361 Capital. “By partnering with a proven manager like Analytic Investors, we are able to meet a real need in the marketplace.”


Beacon Pointe Advisors Launches ‘The Sense’
Intended to educate and empower women of all ages and all levels of financial knowledge, Beacon Pointe’s “The Sense” is a weekly e-mail that provides practical financial tips on topics from financial planning to investment education.

“By packaging our educational information in a fun, fresh and often sassy way, we are providing a more accessible and relatable option than is currently available,” said Karen Sarten, part of the collaborative group behind The Sense.


Outsourced CIO Services Offered
Circle Squared Alternative Investments, a provider of outsourced chief investment officer services specializing in alternative assets, has partnered with Strategic Capital Alternatives (SCA).

Through the new partnership, the management team at Circle Squared will serve as coaches and mentors to help SCA independent advisors better understand and communicate to their clients the role and advantages of alternative investments in a portfolio.

“Partnering with an outsourced firm devoted entirely to alternatives allows us to immediately take advantage of their deep knowledge in building an alternative slice into individual portfolios,” says Timothy Feehan, CEO of SCA.


Vanguard’s First Municipal Bond/ETF Fund
Vanguard has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to offer its first national municipal bond index fund with an ETF share class.

The Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond Index Fund’s target benchmark is the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index. The fund will offer investors exposure to investment-grade municipal bonds and is intended to provide a sustainable level of current income that is exempt from federal personal income taxes.  

The fund, which is expected to be available in the second quarter of 2015, will offer three share classes: Investor Shares, Admiral Shares and ETF Shares.