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Financial Advisor Magazine
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December 2010 issue |
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Advisor Emporium |
Mutual Of Omaha Provides Coaching
Mutual of Omaha is aligning with the 401(k) Coach Program to offer
training that helps retirement plan producers and advisors build and
refine their practices.
The program will be offered in select markets across the country and
will start with an intensive full-day “boot camp” designed to give
advisors the clarity, confidence and capabilities to enhance their
service model and build business.
After the boot camp, advisors will have access to a 12-month
educational program including newsletters and Webinars. They will also
be able to use tools from the 401(k) Coach Program, including the
Retirement Plan Solution, the “5500 and Beyond” speaking course and the
Wealth Care Manual.
And they will have access to online resources, as well as support from
both Mutual of Omaha and the 401(k) Coach team.
“Offering the 401(k) Coach Program is one way we can actively partner
with retirement plan advisors to help them strengthen relationships
with their clients while building their respective businesses,” says
Chuck Lombardo, president of Retirement Marketing Solutions, a
subsidiary of Mutual of Omaha.
Information on boot camps scheduled for 2011 can be found at www.mutualofomaha.com/401kbootcamp.
Estate Planning Sites For Advisors
MyEstateManager LLC in Denver has created a Web starter version of its
EstateManagerPro software that allows advisors to create private label
Web portals under their own brand names offering estate manager
assistance for clients. The site offers clients several steps through
the different problems facing them when a loved one dies and leaves
behind an estate.
The new program, EstateManagerWEB, allows advisors to present their own
basic information, their history and their specialties, without having
to maintain their own sites.
“As many as 90% of small and medium-size businesses do not have or are
not satisfied with their current Web site, citing deficiencies in
promoting differentiation, revenue growth or service to existing
clients,” says Hank Carabelli, co-founder of MyEstateManager LLC.
“Not all businesses can afford the time and resources to implement a
full-scale Internet-based solution. EstateManagerWEB is a turnkey Web
site that also uniquely provides the depth and breadth of tools
required for estate administration.”
Additional information can be found at www.estatemanagerpro.com.
USAA Expands Mutual Funds
USAA in San Antonio, Texas, is making 18 of its mutual funds available
through the online E*Trade Securities investment platform.These include
12 USAA fixed-income funds that have, according to fund
tracker Lipper Analytical, outperformed their averages for the past ten
years. Included is the USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund, the
best-performing fund of the group.
The funds will also still be accessible through www.usaa.com.
MFS Expands Target-Date Funds
MFS Investment Management in Boston, is expanding its line of Lifetime
target date mutual funds with a new offering, the MFS Lifetime 2050
Fund. The fund is managed by Joseph Flaherty, the portfolio manager for
MFS’ Lifetime funds.
The launch of the new fund is part of an overall effort by MFS to
enhance its target-date fund line, both by launching new funds and,
within those funds, beefing up exposure to non-correlated asset
classes. The firm earlier this year christened new global bond and
commodity strategies for its mutual fund roster that will become part
of the underlying Lifetime strategies. The target-date funds have also
been reducing their exposure to cash and increasing their exposure to
non-U.S. equities, fixed-income securities and global real estate.
Vanguard Creates Real Estate Fund
Vanguard has introduced an international real estate index fund with
ETF shares based on the S&P Global ex-U.S. Property Index.The fund
will invest in real estate investment trusts and real estate
operating companies in emerging and developed markets outside the
United States. The fund will complement the Vanguard REIT Index Fund,
which holds domestic real estate securities.
“Modest exposure to real estate investments in a broadly diversified
investment portfolio can help moderate overall portfolio volatility and
serve as a hedge against inflation,” says Gus Sauter, Vanguard’s chief
investment officer. |
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