Segment: Mutual Funds
Publication date: Monday, November 30, 2009
# Pages: (52 pages)

Abstract | Table of Contents

This report looks at the materials available to help advisors and their clients organize an estate plan. Only 59% of firms in our coverage group provide information on intergenerational wealth transfers. We looked at the following aspects of these firms’ offerings:

• Client-Ready Resources
• Advisor-Only Resources
• Topics & Promotions

We were pleased to find that most firms in this report offered client-ready materials on the site. In fact, all but three firms provided educational materials for investors. Most of these firms offered brochures, but two included PowerPoint presentations and one even included an editable worksheet.

All but three firms provided advisor-only resources. However, there was more of a variety of content here. One firm offered a series of conversation starters, while two others offered sales ideas and one firm provided a white paper. In addition, four firms offered interactive tools, such as beneficiary planners and a life insurance calculator.

Firms generally provided information on a wide variety of topics. Most firms discussed the role of Stretch IRAs, while many others helped clients plan for a multigenerational transfer. A few firms covered topics that went beyond the realm of general estate planning, such as the importance of wills and the tax implications of charitable giving. On the other hand, we were disappointed to find that only two firms helped advisors perform a beneficiary review, and only two others explained the various kinds of beneficiaries that can exist.

The report includes the following key findings:

• Four firms offer interactive tools
• Seventy percent of firms promote Stretch IRAs
• Two firms discuss life insurance

Subjects

Education, Marketing, cross-selling

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