Edward Jones adds UMA Models to Edward Jones Advisory Solutions®

ST. LOUIS, May 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial services firm Edward Jones has announced the launch of a Unified Managed Account with the addition of UMA Models to Edward Jones Advisory Solutions®

The firm has partnered with Managed Portfolio Advisors (MPA), a division of Natixis Asset Management Advisors, L.P., and Vestmark to provide overlay management services for the UMA Models which will be rolled out beginning in May through the nearly 12,000 Edward Jones financial advisors across the US.  Advisory Solutions, begun in 2008, has quickly grown to more than $62 billion and ranks as the fifth largest mutual funds advisory program in the country.(1)  The firm's UMA Models will incorporate SMAs (separately managed accounts) in addition to mutual funds and exchange traded funds.

"The addition of UMA Models means we can now offer our clients an even wider array of investment choices within our primary advisory program," said Bill Broderick, Edward Jones Principal responsible for Investment Advisory.  "The features that are part of the UMA Models will enhance a very successful program and offer tangible benefits to our clients."

The UMA Models offer comprehensive asset allocation and investment selection conducted by the firm's Research Department, as well as automatic threshold rebalancing.  In addition, the UMA Models offer tax efficient management, such as active wash sale management and regular tax-loss harvesting, with the objective to improve the after-tax performance of the program's taxable accounts.  MPA's expertise working with money managers in a UMA environment, coupled with Vestmark's comprehensive wealth management and trading platform, provides a solid foundation for these new models.

"The combined forces of Edward Jones, Vestmark and MPA make this a noteworthy launch of a truly cutting edge program," said Curt Overway, President of MPA. "Edward Jones has a great track record of delivering exceptional advisory programs  to their clients, and Vestmark is a superb technology platform that enables us to deliver customized, tax-managed overlay management to clients."

"The launch of the UMA Models addition to Advisory Solutions demonstrates the continued focus Edward Jones has on the needs of its clients," said Rob Klapprodt, President of Vestmark. "The Edward Jones advisory team has developed a very compelling UMA offering that can be tailored to the unique investment needs and tax considerations of each individual investor.  Vestmark is pleased to support this new program in conjunction with the premier overlay management firm, Managed Portfolio Advisors."

About Edward Jones

Edward Jones provides financial services for individual investors in the United States and, through its affiliate, in Canada. Every aspect of the firm's business, from the types of investment choices offered to the location of branch offices, is designed to cater to individual investors in the communities in which they live and work. The firm's 12,000-plus financial advisors work directly with nearly 7 million clients to understand their personal goals -- from college savings to retirement -- and create long-term investment solutions that emphasize both client-focused investment advisory programs as well as a well-balanced portfolio and a buy-and-hold strategy. Edward Jones embraces the importance of building long-term, face-to-face relationships with clients, helping them to understand and make sense of the investment choices available today.

Edward Jones, which ranked No. 2 on FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For 2010," is headquartered in St. Louis. The Edward Jones Web site is located at www.edwardjones.com, and its recruiting Web site is www.careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.

Edward Jones is a dually registered broker-dealer and investment adviser.  Edward Jones Advisory Solutions® is an asset allocation program that provides research models and customized portfolios.  Depending on a client's minimum investment, a client can select Fund Models, which invest in mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs), or UMA Models, which also include separately managed allocations (SMA).  Please review the applicable Edward Jones Advisory Solutions Brochure for more information.

Many of the investments in Advisory Solutions, including money market funds, are offered by prospectus.  You should consider the investment objective, risks, and charges and expenses carefully before investing.  The prospectus contains this and other information.  Your Edward Jones financial advisor can provide a prospectus, which you should read carefully before investing.

About Managed Portfolio Advisors

Managed Portfolio Advisors (MPA) ranks among the industry's largest overlay management firms and provides a comprehensive service that encompasses product development, portfolio construction, investment management and client service. MPA's assets totaled $9.8 billion as of March 31, 2011. As a division of Natixis Asset Management Advisors, L.P., MPA is part of Natixis Global Associates (NGA), which is the distribution arm of Natixis Global Asset Management, one of the 15 largest asset managers in the world based on assets under management.(2) NGA works on a consultative basis from its network of worldwide offices, tailoring the expertise of its managers to meet the investment objectives of local clients. In the U.S., NGA includes Natixis Distributors, L.P. (member FINRA) and Natixis Asset Management Advisors, L.P. (a registered investment advisor). Both are located at 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116. www.ga.natixis.com

About Vestmark

Vestmark provides a Unified Wealth Management platform offering comprehensive, real time technology that enables broker dealers, investment managers, RIAs, bank trusts, and other financial firms to deliver holistic wealth management and a full range of advisory solutions.  Vestmark's experienced team works closely with clients to implement tailored solutions incorporating best practices that help firms gather more assets, increase efficiencies and minimize operating risks. As of March 31st, 2011, over $200 billion are managed on Vestmark. For more information about the Vestmark Platform solutions, please call 781-224-3640, email [email protected], or visit www.vestmark.com.

(1) Source: Money Management Institute, Dover Research, MMI Central 1Q 2011

(2) Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2010, based on December 31, 2009 AUM of $724 billion. Natixis Global Asset Management's assets under management totaled $752 billion (euro 530 billion) as of March 31, 2011.

SOURCE Edward Jones