JPMorgan Launches Namesake Active Growth ETF
J.P. Morgan Asset Management in New York City has launched the JPMorgan Active Growth ETF (JGRO), an actively managed, style pure growth exchange-traded fund that seeks to outperform the Russell 1000 Growth index. The fund aims to identify companies with growth potential that are underappreciated by the market.

The fund uses two strategies on the J.P. Morgan growth platform: a large-cap growth, style pure approach that employs price momentum, and “JPMorgan Growth Advantage,” which is anchored in large cap, but has the flexibility to invest down cap. The expense ratio is 0.44%

RIA In A Box Announces LinkedIn Compliance Partnership
RIA in a Box, a Cleveland-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) providing compliance, cybersecurity and operational software to the wealth management industry, has partnered with LinkedIn to enhance the company’s MyRIACompliance record archiving solution.

The Investment Advisers Act of 1940 requires RIAs to monitor and maintain their records and individual social media communications. The new LinkedIn partnership simplifies the review process for RIA in a Box’s archiving users by allowing them to store, review and filter communications from their websites, email and social media within the same platform where they conduct their overall compliance program. The solution also monitors communications from Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

FPA Partners With Behavioral Finance Pros
The Denver-based Financial Planning Association has partnered with Financial Behavior Keynote Group LLC in Nokesville, Va., to offer qualified speakers at discounted prices for events and educational programs run by FPA chapters.

The partnership enables all FPA chapters to secure a speaker at a 20% discount for in-person or virtual presentations. FPA chapters with fewer than 400 paid members can secure a speaker for a virtual presentation for an additional 20% discount off.

The Financial Behavior Keynote Group was established in 2022 by four behavioral finance experts. To request a specific speaker, FPA chapters should visit www.keynote.financial/contact-us.

New Jersey University To Offer Live Online CFP Certificate Program
Seton Hall University, located in South Orange, N.J., has received approval from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (the CFP Board) to offer a new financial planning professional certificate program.

Seton Hall University’s Stillman School of Business will offer the Certified Financial Planner professional certificate program online from October 2022 to August 2023 with live, synchronous instruction by CFP-certified experts. The program curriculum consists of six required courses, including insurance, investment and retirement planning. 

The cost of the program, which is open to the public and is designed for working professionals, is $850 per class, at a total cost of $5,950 for the entire program. Materials are included in the price. Students can complete the program in a 10-month period, and are then eligible to sit for the CFP certification examination in November 2023.

For further information, go to shu.edu/academics/certified-financial-planner-professional-certificate-program.cfm.

Aquinas Wealth Launches Faith-Based AI Solution
Aquinas Wealth Advisors, a Pittsburgh-based wealth management firm specializing in Catholic faith-based investing, has introduced a hybrid robo-advisor program that can inform clients how publicly traded companies use their funds.

The service is provided free of charge on the Aquinas Wealth website and does not require any long-term commitment from users. Website visitors are invited to submit sample information about their holdings and portfolio for an analysis by the site’s program. 

After a quick review, the artificial intelligence provides an outline of causes and organizations being supported by companies within an investor’s portfolio. The resulting “Faith & Finance Score” includes a letter grade based on a portfolio’s adherence to Catholic principles and values. Users are then invited to a consultation with an Aquinas advisor on how to adjust their holdings (or they can use the information on their own). For additional information, please visit aquinaswealth.com.

Bluerock Introduces High Income Institutional Credit Fund
Bluerock, a New York City-based alternative asset manager, has launched an income-focused fund with a portfolio comprising actively managed pools of diversified collateralized loan obligations, or CLOs.

The Bluerock High Income Credit Fund is designed to provide investors with high current income targeting approximately 8% annually; attractive risk-adjusted total returns; diversification potential through its low correlation to broader markets; and access to an investment class traditionally available only to institutions. Bluerock said it believes that access to senior secured loans via CLOs is attractive because of the general focus of CLOs on large-cap, broadly syndicated loans to companies with higher revenues and EBITDA, qualities that set them apart from middle-market loans.

WhiteStar Asset Management, an arm of Clearlake Capital Group, serves as subadvisor.