Product and Service Launches – 5/2/25

401Go Implements Apex Fintech Solutions Tech to Expand Service Offerings

Retirement tech firm 401Go LLC will implement Apex Fintech Solutions technology to enhance and expand its retirement and investment offerings.

401Go announced it will initially expand its offerings with automated mandatory retirement plan distributions, or force-outs. The retirement planning solutions firm also plans to add embedded IRA rollovers, emergency savings tools and investment brokerage services. 

401Go will remain the client-facing platform for plan sponsors and participants.

Schwab Retirement Plan Services Adds Tools via Candidly

Schwab Retirement Plan Services announced it will expand its student loan and college planning resources available to 401(k) plan participants. Plan participants will gain access to Candidly Core, a suite of tools to help manage student loan repayment and explore college savings options, including a 529 plan finder and calculators.

The new product enables employers to implement student loan retirement matching under the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. Candidly Inc. will verify participants’ self-certification of qualified student loan payments and relay that information to Schwab to calculate and process employer matching contributions.

Edward Jones Adds Alternative Investments to Private Client Offering

Alternative investments are now available to eligible clients in Edward Jones Generations, the firm’s private client service for U.S. high net worth investors.

Beginning May 5, eligible clients will have access to alternative investments focused on private markets including private equity, private credit and private real estate, delivered through the Edward Jones Advisory Solutions® Unified Managed Account (UMA) program. Edward Jones entered into a relationship with alternative investment technology platfor CAIS to expand access to a menu of alternative investments for its clients.

“Edward Jones is committed to helping our clients achieve their financial goals, and we are always looking to expand our products, solutions and experiences designed to help make these goals a reality,” said Russ Tipper, Principal and Head of Products at Edward Jones, in a statement. “We believe alternative investments represent an opportunity for our high-net-worth clients to diversify their portfolios.” 

Ascensus Automates IRA, HSA Processing for Financial Institutions

Ascensus LLC and fintech firm Janusea Inc. announced the launch of an integrated technology solution aimed at streamlining individual retirement account and health savings account administration for banks and credit unions.

The integration connects Ascensus’ platform directly with financial institutions’ core systems, eliminating manual, dual entry of IRA and HSA transactions. The solution is designed to improve transaction efficiency, reduce data-entry errors and free up front-line staff by automating administrative processes.

According to Ascensus, which provides IRA and HSA services to about 5,500 financial institutions, the new system also offers secure integration with more than 20 core banking systems.

Webull Adds BlackRock Model Portfolios 

Online investment platform Webull has expanded its advisory services by adding BlackRock model portfolios to the platform. This will give US-based investors access to professionally managed, diversified portfolios tailored to a broad range of financial goals and risk profiles through Webull Advisors, an SEC-registered adviser, the company said.

The solution caters to individuals who are comfortable with technology, value low-cost investing, and seek convenient, automated portfolio management, and is available directly through the Webull app under the advisory section.  

“This collaboration marks an exciting step forward in our mission to deliver smarter, more personalized investment experiences for our clients,” said Sara Schwartz, CEO of Webull Advisors, in a statement. “By integrating BlackRock’s model portfolio capabilities into our advisory platform, we’re expanding access to high-quality, professionally managed model portfolios that align with a diverse range of financial goals and risk appetites.”

Nuveen Introduces High Income Municipal SMA

Nuveen has added the Nuveen High Income Municipal SMA to its offerings, broadening the range of municipal high yield investment vehicles available to wealth clients.

With the new SMA, the company said, high yield exposure can now be accessed across the entirety of Nuveen’s nearly $200 billion municipal platform.

The strategy invests in non-investment grade and investment grade tax-exempt bonds, leveraging Nuveen’s highly specialized credit research team to deliver an investment solution focused on generating higher levels of tax-free income that is not yet widely available via the SMA wrapper. The portfolio allocates a minimum of 40% to investment grade bonds and up to 60% in high income bonds.

Vestwell Offers Finance Wellness Benefits for Educators

Vestwell will deliver a financial wellness platform for PlanScope360, a retirement plan solutions platform designed for school districts.

The platform offers emergency savings accounts, student loan contributions, student loan repayment matching and 403(b) retirement plans through a single system, simplifying administration while expanding employee benefits.

According to the companies, the financial wellness offerings will allow school districts to improve recent employee retention challenges and strengthen recruitment.

Blackstone Launches Its 1st Private Multi-Asset Credit Interval Fund for Individual Investors

Blackstone announced the launch of its first private multi-asset credit interval fund, now available to investors through select registered advisers.

The fund seeks to provide individual investors with access to strategies across Blackstone’s $465 billion credit platform, offering daily subscriptions, quarterly liquidity and low investment minimums.

The fund will invest across a range of credit assets, including private corporate credit, real estate credit, structured credit and liquid credit, with the goal of delivering stable monthly income and low volatility.

According to Blackstone, the fund was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in March.

Capital Group, KKR Launch Credit-Focused Interval Funds for Broader Private Market Access

Capital Client Group Inc. and KKR & Co. Inc. unveiled two credit-focused interval funds as part of their effort to expand access to private market strategies for individual investors, financial advisors and institutional clients.

The funds blend public and private credit exposures, targeting a 60% allocation to public fixed income and 40% to private credit, including direct lending and asset-based finance, subject to market conditions.

Each fund will offer quarterly liquidity of up to 10% of outstanding shares at net asset value.