Products March 18, 2008

401kDIRECT and EPIC Advisors Team up to Offer CIFs

401kDIRECT, founder of the CIF Marketplace, and EPIC Advisors, Inc. have introduced an expanded service offering combining back office administration with the ability to access multiple collective investment funds (CIFs).
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The offering will help banks recapture retirement plan market share lost to large mutual fund companies and insurance firms. CIFs are transparent in pricing and have lower net costs, are priced and traded in a daily environment, and are not subject to many of the restrictions of mutual funds, a press release said.

“CIFs are a natural evolution of regional bank movement to open architecture in the retirement plan area. Many of the institutional managers that they are using with high net worth clients can now be accessed in their corporate clients’ 401ks,” said Lance Roberts, Senior Vice President of 401kDIRECT, in the release.

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The CIF Marketplace includes collective investment funds from major national trust companies and consulting firms, as well as “under-the-radar sub-advisors with unique investment talents.” Funds that are actively managed, that are directly invested in passive index strategies, and that combine both strategies are represented.

For additional information on administration or for a list of CIFs available, contact Lance M. Roberts at 740.927.3553, lroberts@401kDIRECT.com, or George Curry with EPIC Advisors, Inc. at 402.614.4113, gcurry@epic1st.com.

Products March 17, 2008

Nationwide Helps Advisers Grow Retirement Plan Business

Nationwide Financial has launched a new Web site to provide investment professionals with tools and resources they can use to help build their retirement plan business.
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According to the announcement, www.nationwide.com/rpsales features:

  • Sales ideas to help advisers use the power of the Pension Protection Act to enhance their business,
  • Simple product packages, such as the new Retirement Innovator solution, Nationwide’s package for small businesses to offer quality retirement plans with fiduciary protection, and a white-paper from ERISA attorney Fred Reish about the fiduciary benefits of this solution, and
  • Fiduciary tools that advisers can use to help clients meet their fiduciary obligations.

For those not currently in the retirement plans business, the site explains how Nationwide can support them and provide information to help them get started. The site will be regularly updated to offer new tools and sales ideas.

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“There are no gimmicks or games on this site. We’ve created a resource where [investment professionals] can quickly access actionable sales ideas to help them better meet their clients’ needs and be more effective in the retirement plan business,’ said Joe Frustaglio, national sales manager for Nationwide Retirement Plans, in the announcement.

Those wanting to learn more can visit the site or call Nationwide toll free at 800-626-3112.

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