Securities America Offers New Portfolio Management Service
A new portfolio management service offering asset
allocation and fund identification models was launched in January by
Securities America, an independent broker-dealer with nearly 1,600
financial advisors nationwide.
Exchange Traded Funds/Alpha (E/A) portfolios are
"virtual baskets of stocks" that track established market indexes yet
trade like a single share of stock, says Scott Cross, director of
investment information services for Securities America, which is based
in Omaha, Neb. They typically have low expense ratios, offer a broad
diversification in investment, and are considered tax efficient because
they typically generate fewer capital gains distributions when compared
with actively managed mutual funds
E/A portfolios will be dynamically strategic,
through a flexible individual investment selection process, while
staying fairly strategic in their asset allocations. Scott says their
overall objective is to create better risk-adjusted returns compared
with Securities America's synthetic blends, and there will be policy
constraints and restrictions imposed on the development of these
portfolios in order to meet their objectives.
"These new portfolios offer our advisors more
guidance in selected funds and selected allocations they can utilize in
managing their client's assets in fee-based advisory accounts," Scott
says.
For more information contact Scott Cross, Securities America, (402) 399-9111, ext. 2873.
Principal Financial Adds Options To HSA Plan
The Principal Financial Group is offering more than
35 mutual fund options to employers and employees participating in its
combination high-deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings
account (HSA) program.
The funds are being offered through Princor
Financial Services Corp., a member of The Principal, based in Des
Moines, Iowa. Principal Bank plans to offer certificates of deposit for
the HDHP/HSA product during the first part of 2005. These will enable
members to invest funds for a set period of time at a higher rate of
interest than the traditional HSA checking account, yet still benefit
from backing by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
For more information about HDHPs and HSAs, visit www.principal.com/health.
Pareto Systems Offers Customized CRM Platform
Pareto Systems has combined its practice management
strategies with a Web-based client relationship management system that
offers a turnkey solution for financial advisors.
Pareto provides a customized platform for financial
advisors that can be upgraded and enhanced to meet each advisor‚s
needs. Pareto‚s Quickstart practice management process has been
integrated into the platform. The Pareto platform guides advisors to
implement proven best practices to help them attract more high-value
clients.
Initial registration and set-up for up to five team
members costs $495, plus a monthly fee of $95. For information, visit
paretosystems.com.
Pershing Providing Access To Morningstar Analytics
Pershing LLC is providing broker-dealer customers
access to Morningstar Fund Analytics through its NetExchange Pro
platform.
Investment professionals using the platform will be
able to access Morningstar‚s custom set of mutual fund analytical
tools, including research and comprehensive information for the 16,500
mutual fund share classes in Morningstar‚s database; fund commentaries;
and Morningstar Fund Hypotheticals, enabling illustration of investment
scenarios for clients, such as investments/withdrawals, custom fees and
rebalancing.
Pershing is a member of BNY Securities Group and a
subsidiary of The Bank of New York. For more information on Pershing,
visit www.pershing.com.
Companies Partner On Asset Management Services
Albridge Solutions (formerly StatementOne), is
providing American Portfolios Financial Services with data aggregation
services for accessing information on clients‚ held-away assets.
Using Albridge Data Aggregation, the companies will
bring American Portfolio‚s client‚s held-away asset information into
the Albridge Wealth Reporting Solution. Typical held-away asset
information includes self-directed brokerage accounts, away asset
management accounts, trust accounts, pension plans, 401(k)s and IRAs.
For more information on Albridge, visit www.albridge.com.
ADVISOR EMPORIUM
February 1, 2005
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