DST Systems of Kansas City, Mo. and an online technology firm are offering a new service they say will make it easier for fund companies to reach intermediaries over the Internet with up-to-date shareholder information.
DST and Amicus of Austin, Texas have formed a strategic alliance to offer what they describe as the nation's first online, real time access to mutual fund and variable annuity information for intermediaries. The strategic alliance allows intermediaries to go to an Amicus website - www.pavilion.com - and review consolidated account statements for shareholders, executives from the two companies said. The account statements will be current through the previous night's market close, said Dennis Passovoy, president and CEO of Amicus.
DST and Amicus announced the strategic alliance last week. More than 135 mutual fund companies and annuity sponsors already have agreed to participate in the service, Passovoy said. Amicus plans to offer access to the same account information directly to intermediaries' clients over the Internet beginning in March, Passovoy said.
The service is free to registered representatives whose broker-dealers agree to pay a fee to Amicus, Passovoy said. Other representatives and registered investment advisors can use the service for a small fee. Passovoy declined to disclose specific charges for the arrangement.
