Cetera Financial Group is now offering its affiliates access to YCharts , a cloud-based investment research platform for wealth advisors and asset managers . The platform helps users track the markets without the use of terminals , enabling them to streamline investment research and client communications workflows while saving valuable time .

YCharts offers data , visualization tools and advanced analytics for equity , mutual fund and ETF research as well as for portfolio construction , idea generation and market monitoring .

According to Cetera , it requires technology vendors such as YCharts to demonstrate key value-adds to practices ’ operations and meet rigorous compliance and security standards .

Cetera oversaw approximately $ 330 billion in assets under administration and $ 116 billion in assets under management as of March 31 , 2023 . The company has about 8,000 financial advisors , according to Financial Advisor ’ s B-D survey .

Nuveen Adds Income For Life To Qualifying DC Plans

Nuveen , the Chicago-based investment manager for TIAA , has introduced a target-date solution for defined contribution plans that offers plan participants guaranteed savings growth during their working years , as well as the ability to set aside a portion of savings for guaranteed monthly payments that last for an investor ’ s life in retirement .

The Nuveen Lifecycle Income Series is an extension of the Nuveen Lifecycle target-date fund platform . Structured as collective investments trusts available only to qualified retirement plans , the series embeds the TIAA Secure Income Account , a deferred fixed annuity , within a familiar target-date fund series .

The series includes three TDF strategies : Nuveen Lifecycle Income Index ( which includes all passive investments ); Nuveen Lifecycle Income Blend ( which includes a blend of active and passive investments ); and Nuveen Lifecycle Income Active ( which includes all active investments ).

The TIAA Secure Income Account allocation within the collective investment trust is protected from losing value and grows no matter what the market does . At retirement , a participant has the option to turn some or all their savings in the TDF into a monthly “ paycheck ” for life .

LPL Adds Direct Indexing To Its Wealth Portfolios Platform

LPL Financial is now offering affiliate advisors direct indexing within the firm ’ s Model Wealth Portfolios unified managed account program .

Direct indexing can help make trading investment strategies more tax efficient , while also creating personalized outcomes for clients . The offering is accessible through the new custom-indexed , separately managed account solutions in the Model Wealth Portfolios platform , offering a foundation for powerful tax and portfolio management capabilities .

The custom index separately managed accounts , designed by LPL Research using MSCI indexes , will have minimums of $ 100,000 , and will include large-cap , small-cap and mid-cap equities , as well as international equity options .

Handwrytten Adds AI Assist For Personalized Messaging

Handwrytten , a notes service in Tempe , Ariz ., has launched a new artificial intelligence feature that helps users generate notes written by machine to mimic handwritten correspondence .

Handwrytten AI Assist can be used to send notes , including thank-you notes for gifts , apology notes or condolence messages . The feature can also be used as a networking tool for professionals and businesses looking to make a personal connection .

The company says the script on its notes is indistinguishable from real human handwriting . There are 23 handwriting styles from which to choose , but for a onetime fee , users can upload their own handwriting and signature for a truly personalized style . Users can select from more than 100 card designs or they can design their own online .

The pricing starts at just $ 3.25 to send one Handwrytten note , with discounts for bulk orders and subscriptions .

Find out more at Handwrytten . com or download the Handwrytten app .

CFP Board Debuts Companion Guide To Psychology Book

The CFP Board has released a new book published by ALM that complements the 2022 offering The Psychology of Financial Planning . The new publication , The Psychology of Financial Planning : Practitioner Resource Guide , equips CFP professionals with tools designed to integrate the psychology of financial planning into their practice . The guide offers step-by-step guides , do-anddon ’ t lists , practical exercises , assessments and examples .

The book can be read after or in conjunction with The Psychology of Financial Planning . An ebook and printed version can be purchased on the CFP Board ’ s website at CFP . net / psychology . Bulk pricing is available .

Snappy Kraken , Idea Decanter Offer Video Marketing For Advisors

Snappy Kraken , a marketing tech firm for advisors , has joined with video producer Idea Decanter to offer advisors video strategies that will fuel their business success and also enable them to preserve their unique voice and message . Snappy Kraken ’ s “ Personal Connection Videos ” give advisors a streamlined approach to creating and promoting videos at scale .

With access to pre-built campaigns , advisors can personalize and record videos using provided scripts and distribute them across email and social media channels .

Find out more at www . snappykraken . com .

12 | FINANCIAL ADVISOR MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2023 WWW . FA-MAG . COM