Securities America Expands Branch Support Tools with Branch Value Survey

    LEAWOOD, KS, July 16, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Securities America's commitment to helping branch office managers improve and expand their business is producing results. In the past year, both long-standing Securities America branches and those that have recently come on board have benefited from innovative branch recruiting and retention tools.

"One of the biggest challenges for branch managers is a sense of isolation," said Gregg Johnson, senior vice president of branch office development. "We are committed to providing them with resources and support to overcome that isolation and help them achieve their growth objectives."

Branch managers can access recruiting support materials from Securities America, including recruiting kits, letters, advertisements and mailers. The company created the Branch Expansion Network to help branch managers better define and implement their branch growth strategy. The consultation program combines coaching with hands-on support from Securities America's recruiting team and tools such as the Branch Value Survey.

"There's a lot of competition for good advisors out there, and branch managers have to deliver on a compelling branch value proposition to succeed and grow," Johnson said. "The new Branch Value Survey helps branch managers articulate their value proposition by learning advisors' current perception of their branch value and identifying ways to cost-effectively enhance their ability to recruit new advisors. This survey collects feedback from current advisors and reinforces the branch manager's efforts to effectively manage and grow the business."

Securities America also provides branch managers with several options for staying connected. Branch Manager Study Groups are held several times a year, enabling attendees to discuss best practices and to share details of how they've addressed challenges typically faced by branch managers. In addition, Securities America offers BranchXchange, an online forum modeled on the firm's highly successful AskSamX forum for advisors. Branch Managers can ask questions and share ideas on any topic, ensured of getting feedback from their peers.

"Our branch managers and OSJs have a wealth of knowledge and expertise in a wide range of issues," Johnson said. "We felt that providing a systematic way for them to share their individual expertise and experiences would be enormously helpful to them."

BranchXchange has been particularly useful since the firm has experienced tremendous growth due to the recent "going independent" trend. Much of Securities America's growth has come from an increasing number of independent advisors who have outgrown the capabilities of their broker/dealers. According to Johnson, one of his primary goals is to develop and nurture connections between those advisors and existing branch managers who are looking to expand.

"With quite a few advisors joining us from the wirehouse channel, we wanted our managers to be able to share ideas on how to deal with and facilitate this growth; how to recruit, attract and retain wirehouse advisors," Johnson said.

Mark Generales joined Southern Trust Financial Planning Inc., a branch office of Securities America in Sarasota, Fla., in late 2009. With many years of experience in the financial services corporate world, Generales said he wanted a broker/dealer and branch office setting that would provide the best possible support and resources for him to enhance his personal financial planning practice.

Kenneth Miller, founder of Louisiana-based Miller Financial Services LLC, joined Integrated Financial Group, a large Atlanta-based branch of Securities America led by Don Patrick.

"I chose to move to Securities America because the professionalism and respectfulness of the recruiting and transition team was head and shoulders above the other broker/dealers I interviewed," Miller said.

"Ken and I have known each other for many years," Patrick said. "When he decided to make the move, I knew that the Securities America team would provide strong, hands-on support. He has a large book of business and several unusual situations, and Securities America was there every step of the way."

Don Hilburn, managing principal of Wealthbook Advisors Inc. in Greenville, S.C., who had started his career with Securities America, moved to a larger broker/dealer with the expectation of receiving support for expanding his branch. Deeply disappointed with the lack of help and seeming indifference, Hilburn moved back to Securities America after 16 months.

"If you're building a branch, there's no better place than Securities America," Hilburn said. "We will be here forever."

About Securities America

Headquartered in La Vista, Nebraska, Securities America, Inc. has more than 1,900 financial professionals nationwide with more than $53 billion in client assets under their supervision. Securities America Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-Registered Investment Advisory firm with more than $14 billion in assets under management and administration that offers investment management, financial advice and financial planning through financial advisors. As your business growth expert, Securities America's mission is to foster the success of financial professionals so they can provide quality, objective counsel and services to their clients. Additional information is available at www.securitiesamerica.com.

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