Our Clearing Firm

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

Quality service for your account

As part of our effort to provide you with quality service, our broker-dealer has an agreement with National Financial Services LLC in which National Financial Services LLC provides trade execution, clearing, and other related services for your brokerage account.

Established in 1983, National Financial Services LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, is one of the largest providers of brokerage services. As of June 30, 2010, National Financial Services LLC serviced 18.9 million accounts representing $1.7 trillion in assets.

ABOUT FIDELITY INVESTMENTS

Fidelity Investments is one of the world’s largest providers of financial services, with custodied assets of $3.1 trillion, including managed assets of $1.4 trillion as of June 30, 2010. The firm is one of the largest mutual fund companies in the United States, and a leading provider of workplace retirement savings plans.

QUALITY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

The strength and reputation associated with Fidelity Investments is one of the many reasons we are pleased to be working with National Financial Services LLC.

As a privately held business, Fidelity doesn’t have the distractions of a publicly held firm, so it can continue to focus on providing quality products and services that we can pass on to our customers. These products include:

  • The retirement product line, which offers a wide array of funding options and services to help meet a range of retirement planning needs
  • Access to a virtual supermarket of mutual fund and annuity providers
  • A choice of Asset Management Accounts (AMAs) designed to combine your brokerage account with a range of banking features, including check writing and debit cards
  • Flexible money movement options to and from your brokerage account, including check, wire, and electronic funds transfers
  • Access to your brokerage account, quotes, market data, and bill payment features online
  • A comprehensive statement that gives you the convenience of having your investment activities in one place, helping you better manage your investments and plan your financial future

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

National Financial Services LLC and our broker-dealer play different roles with respect to the servicing of your brokerage account.

The role of our broker-dealer:

  • Opening, approving, and monitoring your account(s)
  • Determining the suitability of the investments in your account(s) based on information you provided to us
  • Responding to any questions or inquiries related to your account(s)

As custodian of your brokerage account, National Financial Services LLC, at the direction of our broker-dealer, is responsible for:

  • The execution, clearance, and settlement of securities transactions
  • Preparing and sending periodic statements of your account and transaction confirmations
  • The custody (or safekeeping), receipt, and delivery of funds and securities
  • The extension of margin credit upon approval