Investigo Signs Practice Management System Deal With Ameritrade Advisor Services, and more

Investigo Signs Practice Management System Deal With Ameritrade Advisor Services Investigo has formalized an agreement with Ameritrade Advisor Services in which Ameritrade will offer Investigo's Web-based data consolidation and reporting software to its 1,400 registered investment adviser (RIA) clients. According to Jim Wangsness, senior vice president of Ameritrade Advisor Services, many advisers have cited the need for a practice management solution to grow their business. Investigo also is building an interface and providing quality assurance services for Ameritrade. "A growing number of savvy advisers want to leverage technology to streamline their client management, and Ameritrade Advisor Services is constantly looking for tools to help them," Wangsness said in a statement. "We are impressed not only with Investigo's capability, but also its attractive pricing. We're confident it will save our adviser clients both time and money -- and ultimately help Ameritrade attract and retain the most successful of advisors." Investigo's Web-based platform integrates a range of core practice management functionality into one system. It updates, consolidates and reconciles client data, and it provides a single portal for asset tracking, client management and regulatory compliance, ultimately streamlining practice management and enabling better client service, according to the vendor.

Ken Himmler, CEO and owner of Integrated Asset Management in Sarasota, Fla., has been using Investigo for over a year. In that time, the efficiencies generated by the system have enabled staff and office space reductions of more than 50 percent, even as the firm's managed assets grew substantially. The resulting savings have increased the firm's profit margin by more than 30 percent, according to the release. Even more important, according to Himmler, is the effect Investigo has on an RIA's quality of life. "Investigo streamlines and simplifies practice management to such an extent that you have much more time to spend on what matters most -- being in front of your clients and growing the business, not constantly putting out fires and dealing with technology issues," Himmler said, in the release. "It's a nice bonus that Investigo is one of the most affordable systems out there."

JPMorgan Worldwide Launches New Portfolio Reporting Technology

JPMorgan Worldwide Securities Services, a provider of custody and securities services, today announced the launch of its new VIEWS Portfolio Reporting technology, a system for institutional investors to report custody, accounting and securities lending activities.

The new JPMorgan VIEWS Portfolio Reporting technology gives executives, accounting and operations staff at banks, money management firms, mutual funds, insurance companies and pension funds a comprehensive and flexible set of reporting, research and analytical tools.

The VIEWS Portfolio Reporting technology is the only system in the industry that enables clients to integrate and access data across multiple disciplines including custody, accounting, securities lending and compliance. VIEWS also provides a link to performance measurement. Users can search and access a database with extensive information across all of their holdings, trades, transactions activity, corporate actions and loans. Supporting this client-specific information is a full history of more than 4 million issues and multiple public indices. In addition, the system supports the creation of client-customizable investment ledger and cash forecasting reporting.

"We call it VIEWS because our clients can see any view of information they want at any time," said Neil Henderson, senior vice president and head of securities services for JPMorgan Worldwide Securities Services, in the release.

The system also offers a report scheduler that enables clients to run reports as frequently and regularly as desired, whether hourly, daily, weekly or monthly.

"Our clients expect and need to have the highest level of customization, flexibility, depth and speed and the new JPMorgan VIEWS provides all that and more," said John Galante, chief technology officer for JPMorgan Worldwide Securities Services, in the release. "VIEWS Portfolio Reporting is incredibly user-friendly. The system is simple and intuitive, enabling clients to easily and quickly get what they need, when they need it," Galante added.