Products September 2, 2015

Ascensus College Savings Launches Learn529.com

The interactive website educates investors about 529 plans.
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Ascensus College Savings, a 529 plan administrator, has launched Learn529.com, an interactive website that educates investors about 529 plans and how to achieve college savings goals.

Ascensus timed the launch for September’s College Savings Month. The website, which is available in both English and Spanish, highlights the benefits and common misconceptions associated with 529 plans. Benefits of 529 plans include a range of investment options, tax advantages for qualified withdrawals, the flexibility to change beneficiaries, and more. Ascensus developed the website in association with EverFi, a provider of financial education for consumers and students.

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“Learn529.com is a great resource for families to better understand the many benefits of investing in a 529 plan,” says Jeff Howkins, president of Ascensus College Savings. “As the cost of a college education continues to rise, Ascensus College Saings recognizes the importance of educating investors about how 529 plans can help them reach their college savings goals.”

Data & Research September 2, 2015

RIA M&A Activity Up 28% in 1H15

Strong revenue and profitability are driving the deals.
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Driven by strong revenue and profitability, the number of registered investment adviser (RIA) mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in the first half of 2015 totaled 37 transactions, up 28% from 29 deals in the first half of 2014, according to Schwab Advisor Services.

The value of the deals increased to $49.8 billion, up 53% from $32.6 billion in the first half of last year. The average deal size reached $1.3 billion in assets under management (AUM), the highest value since 2009, when deals averaged $1.7 billion. The types of buyers remained consistent with other deals, with strategic acquiring firms (SAFs) and RIAs accounting for 79% of the deals.

The Schwab 2015 Benchmarking Study also indicated that independent RIAs have experienced five years of strong performance. Forty-two percent have doubled their revenues and 50% have increased their AUM by 75% since 2009. The number of clients at top-performing firms increased by 10% or more, and the amount of assets managed from existing clients grew by 4%.

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“The success of the RIA industry, buoyed by the impact of a six-year bull market, has helped increase valuations and put RIA firms in a place of competitive strength where they are well positioned to invest in growth,” says Jonathan Beatty, senior vice president, sales and relationship management, at Schwab Advisor Services. “Many firms report that they have doubled their valuations over the past five years. Some firms are leveraging that strength by choosing growth via merger or acquisition to achieve scale, enhance or fill gaps in capabilities, grow their client base, or to add talent and technological proficiencies.”

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