PFP Briefs: September 23, 2002

Equitable Enhances Product Portfolios: The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States - a wholly owned subsidiary of AXA Financial Inc. - has redesigned its Universal Life and Survivorship Universal Life product portfolios with enhancements of existing features and benefits.

Several key UL II/SUL II enhancements include: a new business interest rate of 6 percent as of June 28, 2002; a no-lapse guaranteed death benefit to age 100 if certain conditions are met; and interest rate bonuses depending on the number of years that a policy has been owned.

PwC Exec Joins Jefferson Wells: Leah Gray, former PricewaterhouseCoopers’ director in global capital markets in Europe, has joined consulting and training firm Jefferson Wells International as director of accounting and finance.

In her new role, she will oversee all accounting and finance practice development efforts in the Puget Sound region, as well as advise clients on both reporting and financial operations.

One of her inaugural projects will be advising clients on processes to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Gray was also appointed to Jefferson Wells’ National Accounting Solutions and Advisory Committee.

Deloitte & Touche Appoints Hollister: Big Four firm Deloitte & Touche said that Katy Hollister has been appointed the national managing partner of its Private Client Advisors practice, which provides wealth management services to high net worth individuals and families.

Hollister has more than 18 years’ experience in the financial planning arena. She participated in a leadership role to grow the PCA practice, which is a service line within the firm’s Global Employment & Individual Services practice.

She has also participated in, and has been a role model for, many of Deloitte & Touche’s human resources programs, including the Women’s Initiative to develop and foster female leadership talent.

Hollister is a member of the Merger and Acquisitions committee for the Deloitte & Touche Board of Directors Council.

FPA Promotes Boulet to Director of International Relations: The Financial Planning Association has promoted Laura Garrison Boulet to the post of director of international relations. In her new role, Garrison Boulet will oversee the FPA’s relationships with sister organizations around the world and help FPA better serve its international constituency.

Garrison Boulet has served as international relations manager for FPA and the International Association for Financial Planning (IAFP), one of the FPA’s predecessor organizations, for over four years.

Prior to the FPA, she served as the interim executive director for the Canadian American Society and as the international project manager/exporter for Sanko America Inc.

Midwest Financial Institutions Increase Incentive Pay: Financial institutions in the Midwest are increasing the use of incentive pay, according to a study conducted by Indianapolis-based accounting and consulting firm Crowe Chizek.

According to the firm’s Financial Institutions Total compensation Survey, incentive pay and base pay for independent bank presidents both increased by some 24 percent over the past five years, to $143,880 in 2001. Incentive compensation rose to $33,918 in 2001 from $25,791.

Base salaries for executive vice presidents at Midwestern financial institutions increased by 22 percent since 1997, to $98,095. Meanwhile, average base salaries for the top lending officers also rose 22 percent, to $81,639.

Financial Network Rolls Out Business Building CD-ROM for Rookie Reps: Broker-dealer firm Financial Network Investment Corporation, of Torrance, Calif., part of the ING Advisors Network, has launched a CD-ROM program to help its first year representatives with business development.

The Business Progression Guide intends to aid registered representatives with a number of aspects of their business development, including marketing and communication plans.

"Many of the challenges facing a new representative in their first year of business involve business development issues - everything from marketing their practice to planning their week," said David Eisenberg, content developer and marketing coordinator at Financial Network.

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