AssetMark Introduces Target Strategies Program; One of Industry's First Solutions for Growing Market of Advisors Looking to Implement ''Investment Consultant'' Approach.PLEASANT HILL, Calif. -- AssetMark Investment Services, Inc. today announced the launch of AssetMark Target Strategies, a new fee-based, managed mutual fund solution for select broker/dealer platforms. With more challenging and uncertain global financial markets, a growing number of Advisors are looking to outsource investment management decisions, such as asset allocation Asset Allocation The process of dividing a portfolio among major asset categories such as bonds, stocks or cash. The purpose of asset allocation is to reduce risk by diversifying the portfolio. , portfolio strategy and manager selection, to more capable third party managers. Target Strategies is the industry's first real solution for Advisors interested in pursuing an investment consultant (asset gatherer) business model, rather than an investment manager approach, and implementing these strategies on their broker/dealer's proprietary platform. "Investment Advisors Investment Advisor 1. A person making investment recommendations in return for a flat fee or percentage of assets managed, known as a commission. 2. For mutual fund companies, it is the individual who has the day-to-day responsibility of investing and monitoring the cash and are evolving their businesses from providing ongoing investment management decisions to outsourcing (1) Contracting with outside consultants, software houses or service bureaus to perform systems analysis, programming and datacenter operations. Contrast with insourcing. See netsourcing, ASP, SSP and facilities management. these activities," stated Ronald Cordes, Chairman of AssetMark Investment Services Inc. "Unquestionably un·ques·tion·a·ble adj. Beyond question or doubt. See Synonyms at authentic. un·ques  tion·a·bil , this is one of the most important trends we're seeing in the industry today. Target Strategies is the first comprehensive solution that helps broker/dealers and their Advisors capitalize on Cap´i`tal`ize on` v. t. 1. To turn (an opportunity) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a situation); to profit from; as, to capitalize on an opponent's mistakes s>. this trend." As investors become more knowledgeable and demanding, Advisors are increasingly providing more customized value-added services A value-added service (VAS) is a telecommunications industry term for non-core services or, in short, all services beyond standard voice calls and fax transmissions. . This trend, in combination with a more uncertain investment environment, is leading more Advisors to pursue an investment consultant business model versus an investment manager business approach. Target Strategies is aimed at supporting the growing numbers of Advisors looking to move in this direction. The Target Strategies solution will be available to Advisors affiliated with select broker/dealers. Craig Richman, an Investment Advisor Representative working with Commonwealth Financial Network, noted, "My primary goal is to solve my clients' financial problems. Investment decisions are just one of the many decisions that I help my clients make. This new solution provides my clients with an effective asset allocation strategy, and relieves me of investment manager selection and monitoring decisions." Target Strategies features a series of investment portfolios made up of the multi-manager AssetMark Funds, which are managed by Best of Class sub-advisors selected and monitored using research provided by Wilshire Associates. At the core of Target Strategies are strategic alliances with two Portfolio Strategists - Wilshire Associates and PanAgora Asset Management. These strategists develop global strategic and tactical asset allocation Tactical Asset Allocation (TAA) Portfolio strategy that allows active departures from the normal asset mix according to specified objective measures of value. Often called active management. It involves forecasting asset returns, volatilities, and correlations. portfolios to meet the risk/return profile selected for each client. About AssetMark Investment Services: AssetMark Investment Services, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is one of the industry's leading providers of fee-based investment Fee-Based Investment An investment account in which the advisor's compensation is based on a set percentage of the client's assets instead of on commissions. Contrast this to commission-based investment, in which the advisor makes money based on the amount of trades made or the management solutions for investment advisors, broker dealers, banks and CPA (Computer Press Association, Landing, NJ) An earlier membership organization founded in 1983 that promoted excellence in computer journalism. Its annual awards honored outstanding examples in print, broadcast and electronic media. The CPA disbanded in 2000. firms. The company provides services to over 700 advisory firms, and administers more than 30,000 investor portfolios with total assets exceeding $4 billion. |
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