Launch Your Way is a new Web site from Prospera Financial Services, a step-by-step guide for financial advisors going independent for the first time. The goal of the site is to partner with advisors transitioning to independence and make that transition as straightforward as possible.

The site is founded on four key steps: “Plan, design, build and flourish.”

In the first step, “plan,” advisors lay a solid foundation for their new practice. This addresses the way advisors can hire employees and develop appropriate business structures for themselves.

The “design” step guides advisors through all the logistics of setting up a new office, from human resource issues to the actual physical layout of the new office space.

The “build” step takes the advisor through all the tactical steps of developing a new business, such as becoming familiar with product offerings and creating marketing materials.

The final step, “flourish,” assists advisors with the finishing touches of transitioning to independence, such as meeting with clients or hosting a client event.

Prospera also has a Launch team available to work with and guide advisors through each step toward independence.

Prospera Financial Services is an independent, privately owned broker-dealer headquartered in Dallas. More information about Launch Your Way can be found at www.joinprospera.com.

Citi Expands OpenWealth Platform
Global wealth managers can now use Citi’s expanded OpenWealth services to manage trust accounts and cross-border investments on a single platform. Citi Private Bank will use the expanded OpenWealth platform for trust administration, custody and mutual fund clearing services for its North American and Latin American businesses.

“We selected OpenWealth for its modern technology and its fully integrated global capabilities,” says Dena Brumpton, chief operating officer of Citi Private Bank. Citi’s full suite of investment services is delivered through Citi OpenInvestor.

Jefferson National Teams Up With CMG Capital
Jefferson National has launched three new tactically managed model portfolios with CMG Capital Management Group. Tactically managed portfolios have high turnover, which can produce short-term capital gains. Those, in turn, create a tax burden that can erode performance.

“Adding a tactical approach to a portion of the portfolio can help increase diversification, add greater risk management and the potential to enhance returns in the long run,” says Steve Blumenthal, the founder and chief executive officer of CMG Capital Management Group.

The new portfolios, available to RIAs and fee-based advisors working with Jefferson National, are the CMG Treasury Bond Program, the CMG Opportunistic All Asset portfolio and the CMG Scotia Partners Growth S&P Plus Program.

AppCrown Partners With 1st Global
AppCrown LLC, a Salesforce-based technology integration provider, has partnered with 1st Global. Located in Dallas, 1st Global is a research and consulting partner to approximately 400 CPA and wealth management firms.

Integration through AppCrown will provide 1st Global’s affiliated firms the ability to view all client data and information on a single screen.

Schwab Launches Schwab ETF OneSource
Schwab’s new platform, ETF OneSource, gives investors and advisors access to over 100 commission-free ETFs. The offering spans major asset classes, with funds from leading providers, including State Street SPDR ETFs, Guggenheim Investments, PowerShares, ETF Securities, United States Commodity Funds and Charles Schwab Investment Management.

Walt Bettinger, CEO of Charles Schwab, emphasizes that Schwab clients who buy ETFs online through Schwab ETF OneSource will pay exactly the same operating expense ratios they would elsewhere, but without paying a commission.

MAP Uncovers Clients’ Money Profile
Minneapolis-based Mindful Asset Programs has developed a financial assessment tool intended to help advisors determine their clients’ psychological money profiles.

The tool, called “Motivated Asset Pattern Assessment,” or “MAP” for short, gives financial advisors insights into their clients’ motivations for such factors as prestige, spontaneity, peace, simplicity, virtue, security, control and growth. MAP may help advisors discover what motivates their clients so the advisors can best determine how to guide them.

For more information go to www.MindfulAssetPrograms.com.