OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FTJ FundChoice, an open architecture TAMP based in Cincinnati, together with CLS Investments, LLC (“CLS”), a third-party money manager and a leading manager of exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) portfolios, today announces plans to unify their TAMP businesses under the direction of FTJ FundChoice CEO, Dean Cook. The move, which will take effect in early 2019, aligns the resources of two NorthStar Financial Services Group (“NorthStar”) subsidiaries serving a similar audience in ways that will enable each to provide a deeper and more meaningful service and solution experience.
Since NorthStar’s acquisition of FTJ FundChoice earlier this year, the two companies, which will combine to have over $14 billion in TAMP assets and an additional $4 billion in platform and privately managed assets, have worked to realign their collective resources in order to provide advisors with a unified platform dedicated to delivering access to a wide range of managers and strategies. With FTJ FundChoice adding depth and resources to its TAMP offering sales team, sister company CLS will, in turn, focus on its core competency of providing investment management.
“When we joined NorthStar, we realized that there was an opportunity to examine our resources and create better service options for FTJ FundChoice, CLS, and the greater advisor community,” said Dean Cook, CEO of FTJ FundChoice. “Now, we’re operationalizing a plan that will enable our TAMP to springboard the competition and deliver a more complete experience to our combined client base.”
As a result of these changes, advisors who use the CLS TAMP will now gain access to FTJ FundChoice’s open architecture platform and its full lineup of investment strategists. This allows advisors to diversify client assets at the investment management level on one platform.
“We’re thrilled to join forces with FTJ FundChoice,” said Ryan Beach, current CLS CEO who will transition into the role of President of FTJ FundChoice. “In the coming year, we’ll roll out new technology and improved service offerings for our collective advisors, leveraging the best of what both CLS and FTJ FundChoice have to offer without disruption or changes to our existing service.”
To further expand the depth and breadth of experience across organizations, Rusty Vanneman, CFA, will join Beach in the transition and lead the investment management business of CLS as President and CIO, overseeing the firm’s 14-member portfolio management team. The first phase of the integration, effective January 1, 2019, will also combine the strengths of the sales teams of FTJ FundChoice and CLS to better serve the advisor clients of both firms.
“This is a real win for clients of both CLS and FTJ FundChoice,” Vanneman said. “We’ve partnered with FTJ FundChoice for many years and we’re excited to continue to offer CLS’s industry leading investment management through our newly consolidated TAMP platform.”
About FTJ FundChoice
Founded in 2001, FTJ FundChoice, LLC, is an SEC Registered Investment Advisor headquartered in Hebron, KY with over $10 billion in assets under management and more than 30 investment strategists. Through their proprietary investment process, Market Movement Strategies, FTJ FundChoice allows advisors to easily diversify portfolios and insulate clients from the unpredictability of market cycles. As an open architecture TAMP, FTJ FundChoice provides advisors access to independent asset allocation strategies and model trading functionality. FTJ FundChoice assists advisors in simplifying their business by absorbing back office tasks, such as trade reconciliation, account administration, fee billing and performance reporting, allowing the advisor to spend more time on client relationship-building activities. To learn more, visit www.ftjfundchoice.com
About CLS Investments
CLS is an Omaha-based registered investment adviser managing in excess of $8 billion. As one of the largest third-party money managers and ETF strategists in the U.S., CLS partners with thousands of advisors, plan sponsors, and institutions to offer a full suite of outsourced portfolio management solutions for more than 44,000 individual investors. CLS specializes in creating portfolios based on a distinct risk budgeting methodology and active asset allocation approach. The CLS investment process is governed by systematic research across asset classes and strategies and the continuous measuring of risk. CLS claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®). CLS Investments, LLC is a registered investment adviser. To obtain a copy of a fully compliant presentation and/or a list of composite descriptions, contact us at 888-455-4244. CLS is a subsidiary of NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC (NorthStar), which currently has over $802 billion in assets under management and administration. To learn more, visit www.clsinvest.com.
About NorthStar
NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC (“NorthStar”) exists to innovate and develop products and services, strengthen its partners, and provide tools and resources to empower investment advisors. With over 890 employees and nearly $802 billion in assets under management and administration as of 11/30/2018, NorthStar is a holding company for several subsidiaries. Each company offers unique services within the financial industry, including asset management, comprehensive fund services, portfolio accounting, fund distribution, and compliance. NorthStar provides accounting, IT, and human resources for all its subsidiaries. To learn more about NorthStar visit www.nstar-financial.com.