When one’s assets are being managed by an advisor, most clients are concerned with where the assets are held.  Most investors believe that the assets are actually held at the advisory firm, which is completely untrue. Client assets are held at reputable brokerage firms.  Clients may open accounts at the brokerage firm of their choice, such as Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., TD Ameritrade, or Fidelity Institutional Wealth Services.  All three brokerage firms are insured by the SIPC (Securities Investors Protection Corporation).

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

Charles Schwab & Co, Inc. (“Schwab”) has more than 20 years of experience serving independent advisors.  Schwab was a pioneer in the business of exclusively serving independent investment advisors and their clients.Schwab Asset Protection Factsheet

TD Ameritrade

A financial services company that has a proud history and committed to working toward a secure foundation for the future of its clients.  Over the past 35 years, they have built this business on a commitment to providing you with a secure investing experience.  They offer an “Asset Protection Guarantee” which states that ” If you lose cash or securities from your account due to unauthorized activity, TD Ameritrade will reimburse you for the cash or shares of securities you lost.  TD Ameritrade is promising you this protection, which adds to the provisions that already govern your account, in case unauthorized activity ever occurs and we determine it was through no fault of your own.” TD Ameritrade Account Protection Factsheet

Fidelity Institutional Wealth Services

Is a leading provider of trading, custody, and brokerage services to Registered Investment Advisors, Trust Institutions, and Third-Party Administrators.  The company is able to leverage the capital, resources, and expertise of the Fidelity organization, one of the world’s largest financial services companies, on behalf of its clients.

Securities in accounts carried by National Financial Services LLC (“NFS”), a Fidelity Investments company, are protected in accordance with the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”) up to $500,000.  For claims filed on or after July 22, 2010, the $500,000 total amount of SIPC protection is inclusive of up to $250,000 protection for claims for cash, subject to periodic adjustments for inflation in accordance with terms of the SIPC statue and approval by SIPC’s Board of Directors.  NFS also has arranged for coverage above these limits.  Neither coverage protects against a decline in the market value of securities, nor does either coverage extend to certain securities that are considered ineligible for coverage. For more details on SIPC, or to request a SIPC brochure, visit www.SIPC.org or call 202.371.8300.

“Excess of SIPC” Coverage is in addition to SIPC protection. NFS provides additional “excess of SIPC” coverage for brokerage accounts from Lloyd’s of London together with other insurers.†

The “excess of SIPC” coverage would only be used when SIPC coverage is exhausted. Like SIPC protection, “excess of SIPC” protection does not cover investment losses in customer accounts due to market fluctuation.  It also does not cover other claims for losses incurred while the broker-dealer remains in business.  Total aggregate “excess of SIPC” coverage available through NFS’s “excess of SIPC” policy is $1 billion.  Within NFS’s “excess of SIPC” coverage, there is no per account dollar limit on coverage of securities, but there is a per account limit of $1.9 million on coverage of cash.  This is the maximum “excess of “SIPC” protection currently available in the brokerage industry.

Lloyd’s of London currently has an A (Excellent) rating with “Stable Outlook” from the ratings firm A.M. Best and A+ (Strong) rating with “Stable Outlook” from Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s. Fidelity Asset Protection Factsheet

Client Assets

FPL Capital

(Advisor)

Schwab, Fidelity, or TD Ameritrade

+ – Fidelity’s “excess of SIPC” insurance is provided by Lloyd’s of London, together with Axis Specialty Europe Ltd. and Munich Re. ‡ – As of July 2011, and subject to change. For ratings explanations, please go to http://www.lloyds.com/Lloyds_Market/Ratings/.Fidelity Investments is an independent company, unaffiliated with FPL Capital Management. Fidelity Investments is a service provider to FPL Capital Management.There is no form of legal partnership, agency affiliation, or similar relationship between FPL Capital Management and Fidelity Investments, nor is such a relationship is created or implied by the information herein. Fidelity Investments has not been involved with the preparation of the content supplied by FPL Capital Management and does not guarantee or assume any responsibility for its content.Fidelity Investments is a registered service mark of FMR LLC.Clearing, custody, or other brokerage services may be provided by National Financial Services LLC or Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC.