Products March 5, 2008

Envestnet Unveils Sustainability Product for Advisers

Chicago-based Envestnet has unveiled the Envestnet Sustainability Platform that integrates three major components to incorporate the tenets of sustainability into the process of constructing client portfolios.
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An Envestnet news release said advisers will have access to a Sustainable Unified Managed Account (UMA), a selection of sustainable portfolios and a two-tiered SRI overlay screening to traditional equity managers. To help in the sustainability effort, the company has partnered with Veris Wealth Partners and KLD Research & Analytics (KLD) that will provide the analytics, research and screening to the equity managers involved in the offering.

Also a part of the updated Envestnet platform is a refreshed marketing initiative that involves an expanded product set, a new look and feel for the firm’s marketing materials, enhanced content for adviser-based sales support tools, and a new Web site (envestnetadvisor.com) that is dedicated to serving the adviser community.

“Our core philosophies haven’t changed, but we have improved the way we deliver our services to the financial professional,’ said Bill Crager, President of Envestnet Asset Management, in the news release. “We have improved the technology interface that advisers use to access our platform, and we have expanded the programs that serve and inform our user base.’

Envestnet provides wealth advisory solutions to more than 10,000 financial advisers.

Products March 4, 2008

Transamerica IDEX Mutual Funds Shortens Name

Transamerica IDEX Mutual Funds has a new name: Transamerica Funds.
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According to a press release, the shortened name better leverages Transamerica’s strong brand recognition and is part of a recent company evolution as an asset manager. Transamerica Funds streamlined its lineup of open funds, increased the size and expertise of its sales force and joined Transamerica Asset Management Group, which had more than $50 billion in assets under management as of March 1.

In addition to these changes, Transamerica Funds simplified its fund names on March 1. All names now start with Transamerica instead of TA IDEX, making fund information easier to find on financial software and websites, and in financial publications.

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Other Changes

Transamerica Funds also made changes to its offerings and distribution. In March 2006, the company began to close several funds to new investors, and it now divides its offerings into the Morningstar Series of multi-manager funds-of-funds — with strategic allocation, fund selection, and portfolio construction by Morningstar Associates, LLC — and the Transamerica Investment Management Series.

Meanwhile, Transamerica Investments, an operating division of the funds’ distributor, grew its wholesaling team nationwide and now has wholesalers focused exclusively on asset management, according to the press release.

“The Transamerica brand has more than 100 years of history, and the shortened name is more identifiable as a Transamerica company,” said John Carter, President and CEO of Transamerica Funds, in the press release. “We also look forward to using the collective resources of Transamerica Asset Management Group, which offers a multitude of investment solutions.’

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