How big is Securities America, and where are you located?
Securities America is the 7th largest independent broker/dealer (according to the June 2011 Financial Planning magazine broker/dealer survey), with over 1,800 representatives nationwide. We have approximately 400 employees, the majority of whom are located at our corporate headquarters in La Vista, Nebraska, a suburb of Omaha.
How long have you been in business?
Securities America was founded in Omaha in 1984.
What’s the corporate culture like at Securities America?
We take pride in our hard work ethic, our value system based on honesty and integrity, and our heart-felt desire to provide you with unmatched service delivered with a smile. Pair that with cutting-edge technology, industry-leading products and the premier services we provide. You get the best of both worlds when you partner with us - we’re “big city” enough to provide top tier support, but “small town” enough to know you by your name.
What types of out-of-pocket expenses can I expect when changing B/Ds?
Securities America understands a broker/dealer transition can be a financial commitment with registration charges, licensing fees, new advertising materials and account transfer expenses, and costs can vary greatly depending on your unique business situation. A member of our Branch Office Development team will work with you to formulate a financial package to suit the specific business needs of your transition.
What is the typical timeframe for transition?
Every situation is different, but rest assured our main focus is not only keeping you up and functioning during the transition, but completing your transition as quickly as possible. While some advisor offices are running smoothly in a matter of a few weeks, the average timeframe is about 90 days. Specific needs can sometimes require extra time.
Will I be required to sell particular products?
We have no proprietary products. As an independent advisor, we will never require you to push one particular product over another. We encourage you to prescribe only those products that are in the best interest of your client. The product decision is completely yours, but we are always here to help if you have questions about suitability, costs or other related questions.
Will I be able to use the same investment products like my prior B/D?
Securities America provides you with a very large variety of investment alternatives, wealth management and financial planning solutions, fee-based services, insurance and banking products, and more. Talk to your Transition Consultant early on if there is a particular product or service about which you are concerned.
Who does Securities America clear business through?
We offer two different and unique clearing relationships: National Financial Services, LLC a Fidelity Investments Company, and Pershing, LLC, a subsidiary of The Bank of New York Company, Inc. You choose which relationship is best for you.
What kind of transition support do you provide?
From the day you are pre-approved through the end of your transition, our knowledgeable and experienced transition consultants will be there for you. They will work with you every step of the way until you and your staff are comfortably on board and able to effectively conduct your business. You can rely on:
- Streamlined transition process with Securities America’s electronic on-boarding technology
- Transition plans developed especially for you that support the needs of your practice
- Access to Securities America subject matter experts and programs
- Regular consultations to ensure ongoing progress
- Training and educational resources
How will you help me move my clients?
If your previous broker/dealer has a favorable privacy policy, Securities America may be able to prepare client packets to assist with client account re-papering. We can discuss additional strategies for client paperwork preparation when data sharing is not possible.
What types of paperwork will my clients have to complete?
All broker/dealers require a form of re-papering to meet books and records requirements, and to complete client identification checks. Securities America is no different when re-papering brokerage or direct held accounts, but our re-papering solutions and leading edge technology allow for streamlined strategies to aid your re-papering effort.
If I change broker/dealers, can my clients come with me?
If you’re moving from another independent environment, in most cases your clients “belong” to you and can follow you through a B/D change. If you are coming from a wirehouse or “captive” environment, there may be restrictions based on non-compete or non-solicitation clauses in your prior contract, and we can help you explore what options may be available. However, if you’ve developed a solid client base through strong relationships with clients, you should be able to count on an even more robust client base as an independent.
What type of payout do you offer?
Securities America’s payout structure is one of the most competitive in the industry. With just a $150,000 annual production minimum, direct reports or OSJs can earn up to a 92% payout, with up to 95% payout available based on increased production levels. However, all B/D contracts, including Securities America’s, include a variety of fees, ticket charges, and other costs. For you to truly understand what your actual “take home pay” would be, let us help you perform a thorough, custom analysis.
Can you help me market my business?
From free pre-approved materials like our Weekly Market Commentary for clients and a ghost-written articles library, to low-cost items like fully-personalized brochures, cards and flyers, our large library of marketing materials should have everything you need. Our experienced marketing personnel will work with you one-on-one to customize and tailor each product to your specifications. See the “Grow Your Business” link at the top of the page for more information.
What kind of forward-thinking client services or programs do you provide?
As Baby Boomers enter the next phase of their lives, advisors need more than just a conceptual education to help these Boomer clients make their money last as long as they need. Securities America’s NextPhase™ Income Distribution Solutions is an industry-leading array of programs, services, materials and education resources can be leveraged by advisors to effectively meet retirees’ income needs. Here are just a few examples of the variety of resources available to you:
- Managed Opportunities - NextPhase™ is an enhanced platform solution that supports a time-segmented distribution strategy seeking consistent income throughout retirement.
- Imagine - Your Life Without Limits is an award-winning series of tools, materials and education resources that will help you and your clients establish their priorities for retirement.
- The New Reliability of Income (ROI) Profile™ was developed by Securities America to measure a client’s emotional need for guaranteed income.
- Additional resources like The Income for Life Model™ Program and our Income Distribution and 72(t) Support Centers provide additional income distribution resources for tapping into the retiree and pre-retiree market.
