Frequently Asked Questions

• How will Nationwide Planning Associates benefit me?
  • Through our financial professionals, we offer you a comprehensive range of investment and financial products, as well as first-class service. We will be your guide in building an investment portfolio that considers not only your current situation, but also your expected future needs as well. Specifically, at Nationwide Planning Associates we offer you the following:
    1. An approach focused on your goals and objectives
    2. Independent research and objective advice
    3. Personalized portfolio design
    4. On-going monitoring of your investment performance
    5. Quarterly portfolio review meetings
• Where are you located?
  • Our home office is located in Paramus, NJ. We have financial advisors registered in over 20 states. To locate an advisor near you, visit our Find an Advisor page.
• How does Nationwide Planning Associates support my advisor?
  • At Nationwide Planning Associates, our main goal is to supply your advisor with the tools, resources, and support needed to provide you with the best service possible. Some of the ways that we support your advisor include:

    State of the art technology - we provide technology systems that allow your financial advisor to make accurate, timely trades, maintain your account records, and access research on demand.

    Innovative Investment Tools - You and your advisor can choose investments from leading investment managers, assisted by high-quality investment tools designed to analyze investment style, risk, and other characteristics.

    Dedicated Service - Our back office staff is on stand-by to answer your advisor's questions and serve their needs, so they can serve yours.

    Comprehensive Training - Nationwide Planning Associates offers a wide variety of training opportunities covering such topics as product strategies, business and industry best practices, operations and compliance, and market and industry trends.

    Extensive Compliance Support - The Nationwide Planning Associates Compliance Department ensures that our representatives are fully compliant with the rules and regulations set forth by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). These requirements include the review and approval of advertising materials, surveillance of advisor trading activities and sales practices, oversight and monitoring of registered investment advisory activities, licensing and registration, and regular audits of branch offices.
• Will I be able to view my account information online?
  • Yes; with NetExchange Client, you can view your Pershing account holdings, balances, projected cash flow, history, and general account information all in one place. It also allows you to search up to two years of account transaction history by transaction type, stock symbol, or specified dates. You can also take advantage of EDocumentSuite to receive and pay bills online directly from your brokerage account. Additionally, you will have access to Albridge Solutions, which provides you with a single, accurate view of your entire portfolio, where you can view your holdings, account values, and transactions.
• How can I be sure my assets are being protected?
  • All of our client brokerage account assets are custodied at Pershing - the #1 US clearing firm (Investment News, 2008) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank of New York Mellon (a FED-regulated bank holding company). Pershing has been a leading global provider of financial business solutions for 70 years. In addition to SIPC protection, accounts held at Pershing have coverage in excess of SIPC limits through Lloyd's of London. Pershing's parent company, the Bank of New York Mellon, has $22.1 trillion in assets under custody or administration and $966 billion* under management.
    
    *as of January 2010
• Is there any insurance provided to protect my assets?
  • Nationwide Planning Associates is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), a federal non-profit corporation that protects client assets in the unlikely event that a member broker-dealer should fail to meet its financial obligations. SIPC protects securities customers of its members up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for claims for cash). In addition to the normal SIPC coverage, Pershing purchases excess SIPC coverage. This excess account protection offers the highest level of coverage that is available in the industry today.
• How is my personal information being protected?
  • Protecting the privacy of our clients' personal and private information is a top priority at Nationwide Planning Associates. We take the utmost care in making certain that all information provided to us by our clients is kept in strict confidence. Please take a moment to read and learn about our firm's Privacy Policy.
• What are my rights as an investor?
  • At Nationwide Planning Associates, our clients have certain rights and responsibilities. Please take some time to review our Investor Rights.