SEI introduces direct index and factor investment strategies

SEI Investments Co. announced additional investment strategies for its separately managed accounts and unified MA solutions offered through its Managed Account Solutions program.

The new strategies include the introduction of fixed income direct indexing investment strategies that complement SEI’s existing range of customized bond strategies, including dividend-oriented equity options delivered through SEI’s SMA direct indexing and factor investing capabilities.

The additions were made with the goal of providing advisors with more personalized choices for their “client recommendations, reinforced by SEI’s conviction,” Jim Smigiel, chief investment officer and head of SEI’s investment management unit, said in a statement. “SMAs and UMAs offer flexibility and tax optimization, and as adoption increases, we will continue to offer optionality.”

The new strategies are designed to help advisors serve high net worth, high net worth and ultra-high net worth investors. The new features include:

• Systematic US Aggregate Bond Core Strategy: provides exposure to the US aggregate bond market while seeking an overall risk factor exposure similar to that of the reference index.
• Systematic Municipal Bond Core Strategy: provides exposure to the intermediate-term municipal bond market while seeking an overall risk factor exposure similar to that of the benchmark index.
• Systematic US Dividend Yield Core Strategy: seeks a return similar to that of a dividend-focused index and consists of US stocks included in the index that are screened for consistent records of high dividend payments and the ability to maintain them in the future; and
• S. Dividend Yield Strategy (Multi-Factor SMA): Uses a quantitative, active investment process – provided by an enhanced dividend yield factor – that aims to generate income by purchasing high-dividend, large-cap U.S. stocks without sacrificing long-term capital appreciation.

According to the SEI announcement, the measures were taken following input and instructions from the customer.

Franklin Templeton adds equity SMA models to Orion platforms

Franklin Templeton is offering advisors its separately managed equity account models on Orion Advisor Solutions platforms, the companies announced in a joint press release.

The agreement will provide advisors who use these investment models to manage their investors’ accounts on the Orion Communities and Orion Portfolio Solutions platforms with access to Franklin Templeton’s diversified SMA product suite.

Through this partnership, Franklin’s SMA models will be deployed on Orion’s platforms, which the company says reach more than 6 million technology accounts and thousands of independent advisory firms. Orion is a turnkey platform for wealth management programs with an open architecture infrastructure for investment offerings and management.

“This launch (with Franklin Templeton) underscores our commitment to expanding our reach within the advisor community by making our SMA models available on the platforms with which advisors actively interact,” said Sam Marciano, head of SMA sales at Franklin Templeton, in a statement.

Franklin Templeton manages over $137 billion in SMA assets.

Ubiquity and Bench Accounting enter into strategic partnership

Ubiquity Retirement + Savings and accounting services provider Bench Accounting Inc. have announced a strategic partnership to offer their clients combined defined contribution retirement plan and accounting services.

The partnership is aimed at small businesses that want to leverage Ubiquity’s retirement planning services and Bench Accounting’s financial management. Founded in 1999, Ubiquity was one of the first digital 401(k) providers and has worked with more than 16,000 business clients. Bench was founded in 2012 and has helped thousands of small businesses with accounting, including financial insights and advice.

“Bench’s accounting expertise complements Ubiquity’s retirement offerings,” said

Todd Daum, Bench’s chief revenue officer, said in a statement. “This collaboration enables owners to make informed decisions about their company’s finances while prioritizing the long-term financial well-being of their employees.”

TIAA revises administration platform for plan sponsors

According to a spokesperson, TIAA has implemented changes to update and simplify its plan sponsors’ retirement management website and mobile app.

The PlanFocus website and app have new features, including access to TIAA’s SmartPlan, which provides details on participant behavior and plan outcomes and the ability to view employee pay levels, career stages and gender.

Further improvements include:

• Participant Services: a new participant services area with the ability to quickly approve, edit or extend transaction requests;

• Optimized navigation: a redesigned homepage where users can see elements that require immediate attention;

• Advisor Connections: Plan advisors can access the administrator’s account to monitor plans. and

• Data security: In addition to Touch ID, Face ID and fingerprint authentication security for Android devices, TIAA’s Corporate Financial Crime Prevention team monitors mobile activity for potential fraud.

The new site and mobile app are now live.