A spokeswoman for PFPC said that the end of the Firstar relationship with PFPC was a timing issue due to the merger. She said that the impact on the portal itself should be minimal because Firstars funds were smaller in scale.
Not surprisingly, the AdvisorCentrals new chief executive is optimistic. The portal is in discussions that could result in adding a block of funds that would bring the number in line with earlier expectations, said Joseph Grause, chief executive of the portal. He added that the partnerships -- assuming all goes well -- will be announced next week, yet declined to give any more information.
AdvisorCentral is also looking over the next six months to increase the number of broker-dealers who use the site through existing relationships with the sponsoring fund companies. "Ultimately, we think that will translate into other fund families wanting to connect to AdvisorCentral," Grause said.
But like any new service or tool, "the marketplace will decide who will offer the best suite of services," Grause said. "The way that [were] really going to be successful is to be responsive to what the independent financial planners want. It cant be simply what the fund companies or what the recordkeeping companies want."