Products January 3, 2007

Boston Firm Releases Financial Planning Package

New Frontier Advisors (NFA), LLC has unveiled an enterprise-wide version of the firm’s LifeCycle financial planning software.
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A news release from the Boston-based company said the customizable LifeCycle software features mathematical and statistical technology in a framework for estimating the likelihood of achieving an individual’s goals relative to available assets for investment, time horizon, investment plan, and risk preferences. The technology also provides a view of the impact that the choice of risk level has on meeting objectives over time.

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According to the announcement, LifeCycle integrates into adviser platforms and stand-alone applications.

The first company to make this software available to its advisers is AssetMark Financial Services Inc., which is offering it to over 2,000 advisers through its Web-based Financial Independence Calculator, the release said.

More information about the new software version can be found at www.newfrontieradvisors.com.

Products January 3, 2007

Commonwealth Financial Network Introduces Fee-Based 401(k) Platform

Commonwealth Financial Network has released a fee-based 401(k) platform, giving advisers access to about 12,000 funds, including no-transaction fee funds, load-waived funds, institutional funds and exchange-traded funds.
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The new product, Preferred Portfolio Services Retirement Solutions (PPS), satisfies the fiduciary requirements mandated by the Pension Protection Act of 2006, and provides full fee disclosure, the company said in a press release.

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The Massachusetts-based broker dealer expects that operating on a fee transparent platform will help it compete in an environment where compensation is flattened and conflicts-of-interest are reduced or eliminated, and fees paid to plan sponsors and advisers are out in the open.

“Not only does this platform allow advisors to capture additional assets under management, but with full integration into Commonwealth’s technology, including our rollover retention tools, it will strengthen and cultivate relationships with their business-owner clientele,” said Timothy Nihill, manager of retirement products and services at Commonwealth, in the release.

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