Products October 27, 2011

TD Ameritrade Launches Options Market Center

The Options Market Center was developed to provide advisers with advanced trading software, options-related expertise and support, and an options education program. 
Reported by

TD Ameritrade’s Options Market Center features three foundational tools to assist advisers when identifying, applying and executing option strategies for their clients.

The first of these is an options education program, which includes online resources, Webcasts and live one-day workshops to be held across the country. The workshop series addresses topics ranging from the foundational concepts of trading options to advanced options strategies. The courses also include information about how advisers can utilize various technologies to implement options strategies. The workshops provide advisers with the opportunity to earn eight Certified Financial Planner (CFP) continuing education credits. In addition, online information modules that supplement the live workshops are available through the Adviser Education portal on Veo.

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The second feature will enable advisers to access “thinkpipes,” TD Ameritrade’s trading platform designed specifically for advisers looking to trade equities, exchange-traded funds, and options.

The third basic function of the Options Market Center will be based around expertise and support from a team of specialists at TD Ameritrade. Their purpose will be to help advisers manage risk, minimize portfolio volatility, and potentially help enhance returns within their clients’ portfolios.

“Options trades by advisers are up 58% year over year at TD Ameritrade. While many advisers have embraced options strategies, others have been hesitant,” said Jeff Chiappetta, managing director, institutional trading and fixed income at TD Ameritrade Institutional. “As investors become more sophisticated and competition among advisers grows, the need to differentiate and add value becomes even more important. The Option Market Center offers options educational workshops, as well as tools for advisers looking to grow their business with options strategies.”

The next Options Market Center Workshop will be hosted in Chicago Nov. 3 at the InterContinental Chicago. Additional workshops are scheduled throughout 2012. Advisers interested in registering for a workshop or learning more about the Options Market Center can visit www.tdainstitutional.com/options.

Diversions October 27, 2011

A Duo Without a Financial Adviser…

Superman is sure to be seen flying around this weekend, at least in the form of Halloween costumes, but a little known fact about the comic icon is how badly his creators were ripped off.   
Reported by

The comic book world is abuzz this week with the discovery of a check that DC Comics made out to the creators of Superman, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, buying exclusive rights to their newly created character. They were paid $130 – to be split between them.   

The physical document was released Monday by comic writer Gerry Duggan via Twitter, where it went viral in the comics industry. One observer noted that DC Comics publisher, Jack Liebowitz, who signed the check, misspelled both Siegel’s and Shuster’s names. As one industry reporter says, “The careless error was among the first of many indignities the pair would suffer in their dealings with Liebowitz, DC Comics and later-DC parent Time Warner, the corporation whom Siegel’s heirs continue to battle in copyright court even now.”

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The check was obtained by Stephen Fishler of ComicConnect.com and Metropolis Comics, companies specializing in rare comics collectibles. Rob Reynolds, ComicConnect’s Director of Consignments, tells ComicsAlliance.com that the check will likely be auctioned early 2012.  An image of the check and more details on the scandal surrounding Superman are available here.   

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