Fidelity Enhances RIA Management Platform
Fidelity Investments is launching an enhanced practice management platform for registered investment advisors that includes one-on-one consultation services and online access to discounted services and customized offers.
The new program will include access to nearly 50 providers and includes Fidelity Marketing Consulting and Fidelity Practice Perks.
"Firms want counsel from industry experts and access to proven products and services that will allow them to quickly and confidently build their business," says Gail Graham, Fidelity Institutional Wealth Services executive vice president. "That‚s why we‚ve taken the time to create a comprehensive practice management platform that draws upon Fidelity‚s own in-house professionals, while also providing access to highly credentialed industry service providers."
Fidelity in-house professionals will provide help for developing marketing initiatives. Third-party marketing service providers will help create branding and positioning strategies. Advisors also can use Fidelity‚s online marketing program, PracticeMark.
Fidelity‚s Practice Management Program also will provide practice transition services, office management assistance, financial educational resources, market research tools and help with compliance and legal issues, including regulatory compliance, e-mail compliance, liability coverage, fiduciary services and disaster recovery.
Additional information can be found at http://fiws.fidelity.com.

Vanguard Changes Investment Advisory Teams
Vanguard is adding M&G Investment Management Ltd. to its advisory team for the Vanguard International Growth Fund and the Vanguard Variable Insurance Fund–International Portfolio. M&G joins Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. and Baillie Gifford Overseas Ltd. in managing the fund.
Vanguard Quantitative Equity Group is now managing the portions of the Vanguard U.S. Value Fund and the Vanguard Variable Insurance Fund–Small Company Growth Portfolio previously managed by Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. LLC (GMO). Vanguard also is assuming primary responsibility for the assets previously managed by GMO for the Vanguard Explorer Fund.

New ETF Revenue-Based Index Launched
RevenueShares Investor Services LLC is creating a new series of ETFs indexed by revenue, rather than capitalization, and made up of the same stocks as the corresponding S&P benchmarks.
Through an agreement with Standard & Poor‚s, RevenueShares is launching large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap ETFs weighted solely by revenue. The focus on revenue is designed to provide investors with a complementary method of accessing S&P Indexes.

Lehman Brothers Creates An ETN Platform
Lehman Brothers has launched Opta, an exchange-traded notes platform that includes debt securities issued by Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., which will track the performance of specific indexes, minus investor fees, and trade on major U.S. exchanges.
Three Opta ETNs will be available, including a private equity index, a second-generation diversified commodity index and an agricultural component. Additional information is available at http://www.lehman.com.

RCB Small Cap Value Re-Opens
Reed Conner & Birdwell is re-opening its Small Cap Value strategy to new investors, after being closed for three years because of questions about the strategy‚s ability to invest new capital. RCB portfolio managers now believe new capital can be added without diluting returns to existing shareholders. RCB managers say they feel the current atmosphere has created opportunities for generating performance in companies priced at a discount compared to true value.
Additional information can be found at http://www.rcbinvest.com.

NPH Introduces Paper-Free Processing
The independent broker-dealer network National Planning Holdings Inc. has created a Web-based business processing system for mutual funds, known as Electronic Order Entry, that is paper-free and operates in real time.
The new system will allow affiliated representatives at the network‚s four firms to electronically conduct mutual fund transactions in real time with an electronic signature system. As part of the new paper-free system, representatives also will be able to view and update client account information in real time.