Fidelity WealthCentral adds clients, trading capabilities

More than 600 firms now on platform; rival products from Schwab, TD on the way
AUG 12, 2010
More than 600 firms now use WealthCentral, according to an announcement today by Fidelity Investments. The company went on to state that it expects the number of users of the platform to more than double within the next year. The Fidelity Institutional Wealth Services unit launched the first-of-its-kind integrated web-based platform in December 2008, after having spent $50 million on its development. Despite the surge in users, the custodian's beachhead with registered investment advisers could soon face some serious competition. Schwab Institutional and TD Ameritrade Institutional are at work on their own integrated platforms. Pershing LLC's consolidated NetX360 platform, launched last year, has also gained traction with hybrid RIA firms. Certainly, RIAs have a wider array of platform choices than they did just a few years ago. Rivals to the major custodians now include small but tech-savvy custodians such as Shareholders Service Group Inc. and TradePMR Inc. as well as third-party technology providers such as Tamarac Inc. As for today's announcement about WealthCentral, Fidelity noted that it has made a series of enhancements to the platform's trading and reporting capabilities. Included among these are block-order creation capabilities that flow directly from the platform's portfolio modeling and re-balancing tool. Advisers can now also receive automated alerts for mutual fund trades that could be subject to a short-term redemption fee. In addition, advisers can generate reports on a client's fixed-income positions with more detailed data on holdings. The WealthCentral platform combines a highly customized customer relationship management application from Oracle with portfolio management using Advent Portfolio Exchange. The product also features NaviPlan Central financial planning software (from Emerging Information Systems Inc.) and portfolio rebalancing and trading developed by Northfield Information Services. Related stories: TD to open Veo architecture to third parties to lure advisers TD Ameritrade launches tech initiative, moves toward completely open architecture Schwab releases more details about new advisory tech platform Fidelity, Pershing, Schwab, TD in a tech 'arms race' Will Pershing's NetX360 live up to its promise of full integration? Fidelity to spend $50M on platform for advisers

Latest News

No succession plan? No worries. Just practice in place
No succession plan? No worries. Just practice in place

While industry statistics pointing to a succession crisis can cause alarm, advisor-owners should be free to consider a middle path between staying solo and catching the surging wave of M&A.

Research highlights growing need for personalized retirement solutions as investors age
Research highlights growing need for personalized retirement solutions as investors age

New joint research by T. Rowe Price, MIT, and Stanford University finds more diverse asset allocations among older participants.

Advisor moves: RIA Farther hails Q2 recruiting record, Raymond James nabs $300M team from Edward Jones
Advisor moves: RIA Farther hails Q2 recruiting record, Raymond James nabs $300M team from Edward Jones

With its asset pipeline bursting past $13 billion, Farther is looking to build more momentum with three new managing directors.

Insured Retirement Institute urges Labor Department to retain annuity safe harbor
Insured Retirement Institute urges Labor Department to retain annuity safe harbor

A Department of Labor proposal to scrap a regulatory provision under ERISA could create uncertainty for fiduciaries, the trade association argues.

LPL Financial sticking to its guns with retaining 90% of Commonwealth's financial advisors
LPL Financial sticking to its guns with retaining 90% of Commonwealth's financial advisors

"We continue to feel confident about our ability to capture 90%," LPL CEO Rich Steinmeier told analysts during the firm's 2nd quarter earnings call.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.