Products July 13, 2011

McGraw-Hill Develops Plan Review Materials

McGraw-Hill Financial Communications and ExpertPlan, Inc., are rolling out a presentation tool for financial professionals to use with 401(k) plan sponsor clients, called the Annual Plan Review Book.
Reported by

The Annual Plan Review Book can be used by financial advisers with plan sponsor clients to walk them through plan, participant, and investment selection data.

McGraw-Hill says that the product will enable retirement plan sponsors and plan fiduciaries to make better informed decisions about their plans quickly and easily. The Annual Plan Review Book would include a detailed overview of a plan’s key data and investment performance, including benchmark and educational information. It is currently available through ExpertPlan.

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Key features include:

  • Plan data and participant demographics laid out in easy-to-read tables and graphics
  • Plan investment data, including fund objectives, risks, historical performance, and benchmark comparisons
  • Analysis of the economy and the financial markets provided by Standard & Poor’s
  • Highlights of key legislation and regulations as they apply to retirement plans and plan administrators and fiduciaries

“With new regulations developed and implemented on a regular basis, we want to make sure that we are arming advisers with the tools they need to succeed,” said Larry McQuaid, vice president and general manager of McGraw-Hill Financial Communications. “By synthesizing and organizing important plan information in an easy-to-reference booklet, we hope to simplify some of the many responsibilities of plan sponsors and fiduciaries.”

For more information, contact McGraw-Hill Financial Communications at 800-326-7697.   

Products July 13, 2011

Charles Schwab Enhances Global Investing Capabilities

Charles Schwab has partnered with Broadridge Financial Solutions to expand its global investing strategies.  
Reported by

Broadridge Financial provides global securities processing and business process outsourcing (BPO) solutions for financial services firms.  The crux of the partnership with Schwab will be the launch of a multi-country and multi-currency offering in Q1 2012, where Schwab clients can initially trade in 12 markets and eight currencies. Broadridge will provide the technology needed to support currency trade processing, accounting, and reporting.

Schwab reports that this latest collaboration with Broadridge represents the company’s dedication to its global investing services. Schwab’s global focus began last fall with over-the-counter (OTC) foreign stocks – since then, foreign equity trading by Schwab clients has grown by more than 300% in the first quarter of 2011 over the prior year.

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While Schwab already offers country and sector-based research for investors, the company reports it will soon introduce a suite of new guidance capabilities including global macro-economic and currency commentary from Schwab and third-party experts.

“As our clients continue to take a broader world view with their portfolios and their long-term goals, we want to be sure they have a platform that lets them access global markets seamlessly, and houses research, tools and guidance that enable them to become more confident and successful investors,” said Brian McDonald, Senior Vice President of Active Investor and Core Client Experience.

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