San Diego Broker Dealers, CUSO Financial Services and Sorrento Pacific Financial, Partner with CD Funding to Expand Product Offerings

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sister companies, CUSO Financial Services, L.P. (CFS) and Sorrento Pacific Financial, LLC (SPF), full-service broker dealers and SEC Registered Investment Advisers providing customized investment and insurance solutions to financial institutions, have partnered with CD Funding Group, LLC (CDFG) to expand and enhance their Market-Linked CD (MLCD) platforms.

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CD Funding Group is providing wholesaler support, including access to national issues of these structured investment products, as well as sales training and product education, and marketing support. According to Steve Hollenbeck, senior vice president of marketing at CFS/SPF, the expansion of the companies' product offering will allow financial institutions to broaden client investment relationships and enhance their own competitiveness in the marketplace.

"We believe it's important to provide a full range of services that will enable our client financial institutions to compete most effectively," says Hollenbeck. "With low sales of loan and deposit products, regional and local financial institutions may be experiencing lower interest income profit margins.  Working with them as partners, our investment and insurance services generate non-interest income straight to the financial institution's bottom line while products such as MLCDs enhance the interest earning opportunities that they can offer to customers."

MLCDs are structured investment products, typically held long-term, that offer a return tied to an index or a basket of securities or commodities. They provide an alternative to low interest investments that are secure, such as Treasuries, because the principal is FDIC-insured at maturity even if the equity markets drop during the holding period. They have upside potential if the markets improve. Financial advisors sometimes recommend them to clients who may want to participate in the stock market but avoid the risk of downturns inherent in individual stocks.

"We are very excited to be a strategic partner of CFS and SPF, and are confident our partnership will help advisers build and grow their practices," states Tim Bonacci, CD Funding president and CEO.  "As a joint effort, we will work with CFS and SPF management to filter through the broad product inventory and analyze and identify the most appropriate structures to make available to advisers."

Banks and credit unions interested in learning more about CFS and SPF programs nationwide can call 1-800-686-4724.

About CUSO Financial Services, LP and Sorrento Pacific Financial LLC

Full-service, sister broker dealers CUSO Financial Services, L.P. (CFS) and Sorrento Pacific Financial LLC (SPF) (Members FINRA/SIPC) provide customized investment and insurance solutions to nearly 200 credit unions and banks throughout the country.  Headquartered in San Diego, with branch offices and licensed representatives nationwide, both broker dealers are SEC Registered Investment Advisers, with expertise in key areas including retirement services, wealth management, and fee-based and insurance products for both individuals and business customers.  For more information, see www.cusonet.com or www.sorrentopacific.com.

About CD Funding Group, LLC

CD Funding Group, LLC is a strategic partner for banks and credit unions, broker/dealers, and Registered Investment Advisers in the development, implementation, and marketing of proprietary and nationally issued market-linked products.  Established in 2005, CD Funding is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio with locations in Boston, Chicago, and Louisville.  For more information, call 877-213-6570 or visit www.cdfundinggroup.com. 

SOURCE CUSO Financial Services, L.P.