Commonwealth Launches Virtual Administration Program

The new offering pairs advisers, who need support in a range of operational areas, with practice support professionals who are trained and employed by Commonwealth.

Commonwealth Financial Network, a firm dedicated to providing adviser-focused business solutions, has announced the launch of its Virtual Administration Program.

The offering pairs advisers, who may need support in a range of operational areas, with professionals who are trained and employed by Commonwealth. According to Commonwealth, the team of specialists, part of a larger operations department, aims to seamlessly collaborate across business functions to provide “prompt, accurate support” to the advisers and clients they serve.

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Commonwealth says the solution offers advisers an alternative to hiring part-time staff and can eliminate the need to spend time and money on training, human resources management, technology and setup.

“This program takes the time-consuming, day-to-day tasks off an adviser’s plate,” says Jon Bohs, senior vice president of brokerage operations. “And it’s one-on-one support, not a pooled service. By gaining an intimate knowledge of the firm they’re working with, our virtual administrators recognize their advisers’ needs and work to maximize efficiencies, so the adviser can focus on growing their business and training their staff for more client-facing work.”

Bohs says the VA program has been tested in a beta format, based on the idea that some advisers needed help for one or two days a week.

“But what we found was that, by getting back more time, advisers were able to identify growth opportunities or impediments and take action to make improvements,” he says. “It’s exciting to see how our program has not only provided operational support but has also been a springboard for helping advisors evolve their practices.”

Advisers participating in the program are matched with a dedicated virtual administrator, who acts as a part-time staff member for the duration of a six-month agreement, which can be automatically renewed. The Commonwealth professionals work for their advisors in eight-hour segments, up to 24 hours per week.

The tasks handled by Commonwealth’s team include document preparation, opening and updating accounts, transferring assets, pulling reports and providing direct support to an adviser’s clients. They have access to Commonwealth’s customer relationship management system and an email address at the adviser’s domain.

Aura’s Digital Protection Solutions Added to MetLife Group Benefits Platform

The solution will safeguard employees' digital identities.

MetLife, Inc. and Aura, a provider of all-in-one digital protection for consumers, announced a collaboration in which MetLife will be the exclusive distributor of Aura’s digital security solutions in the employer channel.

MetLife’s U.S. Group Benefits platform reaches more than 50,000 employers and approximately 55 million eligible employees and their families. According to MetLife’s 2021 U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study, 51% of employees say employers should play a greater role in the safety and protection of employees and their families.

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As cybersecurity risks continue to rise for individuals, the companies have seen growing demand from employers looking to offer digital security benefits to their workforces, according to the announcement. New data from the Identity Theft Resource Center shows the overall number of data compromises in 2021 was up more than 68% compared to 2020. This comes after a record year in 2020 for cyberattacks, with consumers losing more money to cybercrime than they did to home burglary.

“We know employees want more benefits geared toward prevention and wellness. When we expand our portfolio of benefit offerings, we look for best-in-class providers who will help us protect the finances, wellness and now the digital health and safety of our customers and their families,” says Meredith Ryan-Reid, senior vice president, financial wellness and innovation at MetLife. “Aura’s solution will help safeguard employees’ digital identity and provide peace of mind that what matters most is protected.”

“Over the last two years, we have seen surging demand for digital security solutions in response to a drastic increase in cybercrime,” says Hari Ravichandran, founder and CEO of Aura. “By working with MetLife, Aura will be able to rapidly scale our operations and keep millions of Americans safe.”

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