National Planning Holdings Launches Comprehensive Enhancements to WealthONE Fee-Based Advisory Platform

Enhancements will include resource and support capabilities, wealth management solutions and new technology

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- National Planning Holdings®, Inc. (NPH) today announced the launch of comprehensive service and operational enhancements to its flagship WealthONE fee-based advisory platform. NPH is the nation’s fourth-largest independent broker-dealer network1, which includes INVEST Financial Corporation (INVEST), Investment Centers of America, Inc. (ICA), National Planning Corporation® (NPC®) and SII Investments, Inc.® (SII).

NPH's significant investment in upgrading its WealthONE platform will enable the network’s financial advisors to create a better client experience and continue the delivery of an industry-leading asset management solution within a rapidly changing technological, regulatory and demographic landscape. Starting in December, and rolling out over the course of the next 15 months, multiple enhancements will be delivered to help set the WealthONE platform apart from other advisory platforms.

“The coming years are going to be a time of significant change in the retail financial advice industry, and we are committed to investing in the tools, processes and resources that will help advisors meet the needs of their clients,” said Scott Romine, president and chief executive officer of NPH. “In that spirit, we are confident that the series of service and operational enhancements we have begun to introduce today will make our advisory platform one of the best in the business.”

As part of this effort, NPH has already brought on Tim Munsie as the new vice president of advisory platform strategy and enhanced its advisory service model by increasing its number of advisory consultants by 50 percent and basing them in the home territories of their advisors. Additionally, NPH plans to:

• Add new strategists to the WealthONE platform, including BlackRock and American Funds/PMC;
• Introduce new investment strategists and expanded product offerings – including Unified Managed Accounts and overlay models – to further enhance advisors’ access to world-class solutions;
• Roll out robust new technology offerings including revamped financial planning and retirement income tools, as well as refined data management and reporting capabilities;
• Redefine the network’s fiduciary process to help advisors meet new regulatory requirements, including introducing a re-evaluated client profile process, unveiling new planning and analysis tools and resources and implementing revised account opening and disclosure delivery procedures, among other operational excellence enhancements.

"We are excited to work with NPH and launch our series of BlackRock Managed Portfolio Strategies on NPH’s state-of-the-art WealthONE platform," said Greg Weiss, head of BlackRock’s managed accounts business for BlackRock. "Our asset allocation and goals-based strategies represent the next frontier for managed accounts to help advisors scale their practice and focus on holistic wealth management. WealthONE’s technology empowers advisors to select and combine best of breed managers with ease – creating a better experience for both clients and advisors. It's a win-win."

“By leveraging our people, technology and product solutions, we can accomplish the goal of producing a single, fully-integrated platform that allows the network’s advisors to offer a wider range of solutions for their clients,” said Romine. “The end result will also provide increased opportunities for advisors and help effectively prepare them for significant shifts in the changing regulatory environment.”

For more information about the four independent broker-dealers in the NPH network, visit nationalplanningholdings.com.

About National Planning Holdings, Inc.

National Planning Holdings, Inc. (NPH) is a broker-dealer holding company and an affiliate of Lansing, Mich.-based Jackson National Life Insurance Company® (Jackson®). NPH serves as the holding company for the independent broker-dealers INVEST Financial Corporation, Investment Centers of America, Inc., National Planning Corporation and SII Investments, Inc. Collectively, the NPH broker-dealer network currently has 3,428 registered representatives (as of December 31, 2015). NPH and Jackson are wholly owned by Prudential plc (NYSE: PUK), a company incorporated in England and Wales. Prudential plc is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America.

This press release may contain certain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements which are other than statements of historical facts. However, as with any projection or forecast, forward-looking statements are inherently susceptible to a number of risks and uncertainties and actual results and events could differ materially from those currently being anticipated as reflected in such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that management’s expectations, beliefs or projections will result or be achieved or accomplished. Any forward-looking statements reflect NPH’s views and assumptions as of the date of this press release and NPH disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking information.

1 Southwood, D. and Zhu, E. (2015). How the Biggest Independent Broker-Dealer Networks Stack Up: Ranking Five Big IBD Networks by Reps and Revenue. InvestmentNews. May 2015.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161215005176/en/

Haven Tower Group LLC
Joseph Kuo / Matthew Griffes
424.652.6520 ext 101 or 103
[email protected] or [email protected]

Source: National Planning Holdings, Inc.

You May Also Be Interested In

• FDA grants Medivir´s MIV-711 Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease
• Phoenix Motor Strengthens Capital Structure by Negotiating Key Waiver with Note Holder
• Less than half of veterinary professionals feel their profession is appreciated