Products October 31, 2008

TD AMERITRADE, Apple Launch Mobile Trading Tools

TD AMERITRADE now offers mobile trading applications for iPhone and iPod touch, now available on the Apple App Store.
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A TD AMERITRADE release said the new applications, iStockManager and iPTrader, provide clients with the customization and mobile flexibility they are looking for in managing their investments amid unprecedented market activity.

“Flexibility is key for investors who want to stay engaged in the markets and make smart, informed trading decisions, particularly in times of extreme market volatility,’ said Jay Pestrichelli, managing director of the Trader Group at TD AMERITRADE, in the release. “We’ve established unique relationships to give our clients the ability to use these third party mobile trading tools and services in a customizable, integrated environment.’

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These applications link to TD AMERITRADE’s order routing and back-office management systems, allowing clients to access account details, real-time quotes, market data, news, and technical analysis tools from their iPhone or iPod touch.

iStockManager and iPTrader are available from Apple’s App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

Data & Research October 31, 2008

Adviser Confidence Falls to Lowest Point in Rydex Index History

Many advisers have been the champions of phrases such as “stay the course″ and “weather the storm,″ but even advisers have a sinking confidence in the market, according to The Advisor Confidence Index.
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In October, adviser confidence in the economy and stock market sank for the second month in a row, according to a release from Rydex AdvisorBenchmarking, which produces the Advisor Confidence Index (ACI)—a benchmark that gauges adviser views on the U.S. economy and stock market. The index was 79.07 in October, down 14% from 92.22 in September.

Rydex surveyed registered investment advisers (RIAs), and found they are stepping up their communication and reassurance efforts, and, yes, “staying the course,’ with investment strategies (see “Guiding Participants through Ups and Downs’).

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More than half of financial advisers surveyed took preventative measures, moving their clients’ money to cash prior to the financial crisis, according to the release. Also, 12% of advisers increased their allocation to alternative investments in the past few weeks, and 37% of advisers employed alternative investments prior to the financial crisis in order to help their clients better handle the volatile market. Twenty-two percent of advisers are planning to increase allocations to alternatives in the near future (see “The Alternative Route“).

However, overall movement within clients’ portfolios has been relatively low, according to the survey (see “CFP Clients Stick to Strategy’). Most advisers say they are maintaining the current allocations of their clients’ portfolios. In the near future, 51% of advisers surveyed are planning to maintain current asset allocations.

To help clam their clients, advisers surveyed said they have discussed the current market drop with their clients and have been proactively calling (83%) and sending e-mails to their clients (66%) (see “How to Manage Affluent Investors in Financial Crisis“). Almost half (44%) of advisers surveyed have been proactively meeting with clients, and almost half of the advisers were also actively reaching out to their clients before the financial crisis, according to the release.

Despite falling confidence, most financial advisers are positive about the government’s Wall Street rescue plan, with 70% of advisers supporting the financial bailout (see “Advisers Think Bailout Will Work, Survey Says“). However, almost half (43%) of advisers surveyed did not support the Security and Exchange Commission’s actions regarding short-selling and its overall role in the crisis (see “SEC Bans Shorts of 799 Financial Stocks“).

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