Online Tools Help Sponsors Benchmark Advisers

There is a tool set that investors can use to research any adviser at any U.S. financial services firm and a tool set for terminating advisers so investors minimize their risk exposure and expense. Jack Waymire, developer of the tools, said: “Watchdog’s Advisor Scorecard tool is very popular with investors. It arrays the professionals’ credentials, ethics, and business practices side-by-side so it is easy to identify their relative strengths and weaknesses. Scorecard also produces an adviser rating that is generated by inputs from investors. This tool makes it easy to select the professional with the best qualifications.”  

Once a financial adviser is selected, investors have access to a Watchdog tool that monitors 12 categories of adviser data on a quarterly basis: performance, investment expense, risk exposure, compliance record, client attrition, regulatory actions, and lawsuits. This early detection service helps investors avoid surprises and make timely decisions that reduce risk.  

“Institutional investors, such as pension plans, make adviser-related decisions based on third party due diligence and documentation,” Waymire said.“Individual investors make these same decisions based on undocumented sales claims. Watchdog levels the playing field by providing institutional services that have been modified for use by individual investors.”

More information is at http://www.InvestorWatchdog.com.