Principal

Best Blogs of the Week

Posted by Anu Heda on Aug 11, 2014, in Best Blogs of the Week , tagged with , ,

Actually two weeks (apologies). 3 helpful posts, albeit 2 are somewhat self-serving.

  • BlackRock – Good framework for building a core portfolio (surprisingly in ETFs). This blog exemplifies helpful content for some FAs to share with their clients.
  • Principal – Nice counter to the current conventional wisdom that small cap stocks (A hearty welcome for Principal to the Best Blogs.)
  • Vanguard –Helpful post on why fixed income managers are overweight in corporate bonds with related commentary.

Learning About Recordkeepers Online

Posted by Anu Heda on Nov 02, 2011, in Thoughts , tagged with , , , , ,

In the previous post, we examined the experience of searching for a recordkeeper. In this post, we’ll consider another common experience – the referral. Many people will look for a referral from anyone they deem qualified to provide a starting point.  With a referral mindset, I asked a few DCIO wholesalers to recommend recordkeepers for small and new plans.  I heard three firms repeatedly (and reasons why):

  1. Ascensus – Low-cost, open architecture
  2. Principal – Big, hands-on, and helpful sales force
  3. John Hancock – Good, easy-to-use technology

From reviewing the firms’ Web sites, online marketing has not been a major focus to-date.  None of the top firms’ sites provides a comprehensive pre-sale experience.

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