Products July 1, 2015

Hartford Funds Launches ‘Summer School’ Video Series

The eight videos aim to teach advisers about client issues.
Reported by

Hartford Funds has launched “Summer School,” eight videos moderated by its practice management executives and Joseph Coughlin, director of the MIT AgeLab, to educate financial advisers about issues important to clients today.

The first video, “The New Role of the Financial Adviser,” addresses how advisers can help investors holistically by understanding their individual goals. Others include: “Engaging the Boomer Generation,” which addresses how Boomers should plan and invest for retirement; “The Forgotten 401(k),” which discusses how advisers should underscore the importance of investing for retirement; “Investing in Individuality,” which reminds advisers to partner with investors on their long-term goals; “Getting on Your Client’s Personal Agenda,” which recommends that advisers address investors’ personal agenda and goals; and “Communicating in the Age of Information,” which gives tips on how advisers can reach investors who are bombarded with information.

“The ‘Summer School’ video series brings Hartford Funds’ human-centric investing philosophy to life,” says John Diehl, senior vice president of strategic markets for Hartford Funds. “As the financial advice industry evolves to keep up with technology and generational shirts, ‘Summer School’ helps to navigate those changes and challenges.”

Advisers can subscribe to the series here.

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Deals & People July 1, 2015

Canadian Sun Life to Buy U.S. Prime Advisors

Sun Life Investment Management has agreed to purchase Prime Advisors.
Reported by

The acquisition is part of Sun Life Financial’s strategy to broaden its asset management pillar by expanding and diversifying the capabilities of Sun Life Investment Management, which provides investment services to third parties and manages Sun Life’s general account. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter. The acquisition will be funded internally with cash and is not material to the results of Sun Life Financial Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Prime will operate as a standalone unit of Sun Life Investment Management after the transaction is completed, retaining its brand and its offices in Redmond, Washington, and Windsor, Connecticut. It will continue under management of its current team, headed by Don McDonald, who will report to Steve Peacher.

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Peacher, president of Sun Life Investment Management and chief investment officer of Sun Life Financial, cited Prime Advisors’ customized approach to liability-based investing for insurance companies as a reason for the operational fit. “Prime has a strong team with extensive experience in managing assets and providing investment-related services to institutional investors,” Peacher said in a statement.

Sun Life Investment Management is an institutional investment management arm of Sun Life Financial.

Prime Advisors is an investment advisory firm focused primarily on managing investment-grade bond portfolios for the insurance industry.

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