Products February 16, 2016

RetireUp Adds to Annuity Capabilities Through Allianz Life

Users of the web-based retirement planning platform RetireUp are now able to model and illustrate fixed-income annuities from Allianz Life Insurance Company directly within client retirement income models. 
Reported by

RetireUp, the web-based platform that allows financial advisers to create and run detailed retirement scenarios in real time, announced that it is now able to illustrate fixed index annuities (FIAs) from Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, including Allianz 222 and Allianz Core Income, directly within client retirement income models.

“We are working together with Allianz Life to combine the power of Allianz FIAs with the most innovative retirement income modeling tools in the market,” says RetireUp CEO Dan Santner. “RetireUp is always looking for ways to help advisers provide additional value to their clients in the critical area of retirement income distribution planning. Enabling them to create scenarios that include specific annuity solutions is an enormous advantage.”

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RetireUp says its platform “transforms client conversations into the centerpiece of the retirement income story … with compelling discussions around the full picture of defined income from Social Security, variable annuities, fixed index annuities, pensions and other assets.” The easy-to use, computer-based modeling system “allows financial professionals to present a more complete visual presentation of their clients’ retirement income strategies using a range of financial products.”

The firm goes on to argue solutions like RetireUp are one potential response to the ongoing robo-adviser trend. “In a market that is seeing increased competition from robo-advisers, this integrated solution offers registered representatives and registered investment advisers a way to enhance relationships with clients by offering essential consultation and guidance,” Santner concludes.

More information on the frim and its retirement planning solutions is at www.RetireUp.com. 

Products February 16, 2016

Pershing Reveals New Recordkeeping Partners

Pershing LLC announced the addition of two new recordkeepers as part of the continued expansion and enhancement of its Retirement Plan Network.
Reported by

Pershing LLC, a BNY Mellon company, has announced new partnerships with recordkeeping firms 401kDIRECT and Summit Benefit Solutions, with additional providers expected to be added in the months ahead.

The two firms were selected “for their ability to provide advisers utilizing Pershing’s Retirement Plan Network with a greater range of recordkeeping options, both in terms of client size focus, specialization and geography.” The role of the recordkeeper has become increasingly critical to retirement plan success, the firm says, especially as advisers look to gain easier access to data, attain better oversight of their overall retirement business and respond to new regulatory developments.

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Marc Caras, director of Pershing’s retirement plan business, says the new partnerships are all about expanding choice. “Having a choice of recordkeepers is important to retirement plan advisers as they define their market niche and client focus,” he explains. “In the retirement space, the recordkeeper serves as the key point of contact for critical information, which can facilitate timely service and help advisors streamline their compliance efforts.”

401kDIRECT is described by Pershing as “one of the leading open architecture retirement plan providers in the industry.” The firm is “committed to adviser, RIA and TPA delivered plans that enjoy highly competitive, fully transparent pricing.” The other firm, Summit Benefit Solutions, delivers “all-encompassing hire-to-retire solutions,” with a special focus on offering custom plan design consulting for startup and takeover plans, document services, and plan administration.  

With the expansion, Pershing says its Retirement Plan Network will better enable advisers to connect to independent recordkeepers and leverage a fully integrated suite of investment products, retirement plan tools and practice management solutions

More information on the new recordkeeper partners and related service offerings is at www.pershing.com/rpn. 

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