Putnam's fund evaluation tool 'a bold statement'

Putnam Investments has launched an online tool that enables its financial adviser clients to evaluate more than 10,000 mutual funds using up to 60 different criteria. Next month, advisers also will be able to compare up to 1,100 exchange-traded funds using the Fund-Visualizer tool
APR 24, 2011
Putnam Investments has launched an online tool that enables its financial adviser clients to evaluate more than 10,000 mutual funds using up to 60 different criteria. Next month, advisers also will be able to compare up to 1,100 exchange-traded funds using the Fund-Visualizer tool. The firm launched the tool because it recognizes that advisers don't work just with one or two mutual fund companies, said Brian Kelley, director of sales and marketing. Also, the old belief in buy-and-hold is no longer prevalent in today's world, he said. “Advisers feel they need to be more tactical,” he said. “They realize they need to be looking at a three- to five-year holding time with tweaks.” With the FundVisualizer, advisers can log on to Putnam's adviser site and compare mutual funds according to an array of criteria, including performance, risk, fund assets and Morningstar Inc. rating. Putnam's adviser clients also can access the tool on their iPads. It may seem counterintuitive for a fund company to enable clients to compare other firms' products with one another, but Putnam believes that it will serve to differentiate itself. “It's a bold statement,” Mr. Kelley said. “To the best of our knowledge, there is no one with a tool this transparent.” Also, by offering advisers this kind of real-time information, Putnam hopes to expedite the sales process. “The follow-up process using this tool is much faster,” he said. Rather than having a wholesaler make a presentation in an adviser's office and then have a lot of back and forth with questions, advisers can now run the data themselves in real time, he said. E-mail Jessica Toonkel at [email protected].

Latest News

In an AI world, investors still look for the human touch
In an AI world, investors still look for the human touch

AI is no replacement for trusted financial advisors, but it can meaningfully enhance their capabilities as well as the systems they rely on.

This viral motivational speaker can also be your Prudential financial advisor
This viral motivational speaker can also be your Prudential financial advisor

Prudential's Jordan Toma is no "Finfluencer," but he is a registered financial advisor with four million social media followers and a message of overcoming personal struggles that's reached kids in 150 school across the US.

Fintech bytes: GReminders and Advisor CRM announce AI-related updates
Fintech bytes: GReminders and Advisor CRM announce AI-related updates

GReminders is deepening its integration partnership with a national wealth firm, while Advisor CRM touts a free new meeting tool for RIAs.

SEC charges barred ex-Merrill broker behind Bain Capital private equity fraud
SEC charges barred ex-Merrill broker behind Bain Capital private equity fraud

The Texas-based former advisor reportedly bilked clients out of millions of dollars, keeping them in the dark with doctored statements and a fake email domain.

Trump's tax bill passes senate in hard-fought victory for Republicans
Trump's tax bill passes senate in hard-fought victory for Republicans

The $3.3 trillion tax and spending cut package narrowly got through the upper house, with JD Vance casting the deciding vote to overrule three GOP holdouts.

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.