New products and changes introduced over the last week include a variable rate preferred ETF from Invesco PowerShares; Advisors Asset Management has launched a unit investment trust; and Emerging Global Advisors has rolled out the EGShares Blue Chip ETF.
Other new products include a small business retirement plan comparison calculator from WMSI, and a tax app for the new year from W&S Financial Group Distributors.
Here are the latest developments of interest to advisors:
1) Invesco Announces Variable Rate Preferred ETF
Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC has announced the coming launch of the PowerShares Variable Rate Preferred Portfolio (VRP) on May 1. VRP is based on the Wells Fargo Hybrid and Preferred Securities Floating and Variable Rate Index and will generally invest at least 90% of its total assets in preferred securities that make up the index.
The index is market-capitalization-weighted and is designed to track the performance of preferred stock, as well as certain types of hybrid securities that are functionally equivalent to preferred stock, that are issued by US-based or foreign issuers and that pay a floating or variable rate dividend or coupon. VRP and the index are rebalanced monthly.
2) Emerging Global Advisors Launches EGShares Blue Chip ETF
Emerging Global Advisors has announced the launch of the EGShares Blue Chip ETF (BCHP), designed to provide investors with exposure to a group of 30 developed market (DM) companies with measurable growing revenue in their emerging market (EM) operations.
BCHP will track the EGAI Developed Markets Blue Chip EM Access Index, an equally weighted 30-stock index designed to capture the market performance of developed market companies that have measurable, meaningful and growing revenue from emerging markets. The index consists of common stocks listed on the primary exchanges of developed markets, as well as American depositary receipts (ADRs) and global depositary receipts (GDRs) listed on U.S. & European exchanges.
3) AAM Launches UIT
Advisors Asset Management has announced the launch of the NASDAQ Q-50 Index Portfolio, Series 2014-1Q (NQFNAX), a unit investment trust (UIT) seeking to provide investors with capital appreciation potential.
The UIT seeks to invest on an ongoing basis in the 50 stocks that comprise the NASDAQ Q-50 Index, a market-capitalization-weighted benchmark tracking companies that are next-eligible for inclusion in the NASDAQ-100 Index. This group of firms, known as the Q-50, includes nonfinancial companies from a variety of industries, such as computer hardware and software, telecommunications, healthcare, biotechnology and retail/wholesale trade. Approximately 70% of the NASDAQ Q-50 Index’s current companies are based in theU.S.
4) WMSI launches Small Business Retirement Plan Comparison Calculator
Wealth Management Systems Inc. has announced the launch of its small business retirement plan comparison calculator within Pershing’s NetX360 retirement resource center.
The tool helps advisors to support small business owners in evaluating retirement plan options, choosing a plan to meet their needs and calculating the owner’s maximum contribution towards retirement.
5) W&S Financial Group Distributors Launches Tax App
W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc. has announced the launch of its 2014 tax reference app, a mobile application for federal tax information.
The app is available in major app stores. It allows financial professionals to access tables for income tax brackets; AMT exemption amounts; estate tax rates and exclusions; IRA and pension plan limits; calculations of RMDs, marginal tax rates and estate tax liabilities; links to related W&S Financial Distributors’ information on retirement planning scenarios; and electronic updates.
Read the Apr. 20 Portfolio Products Roundup at ThinkAdvisor.
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