Press Releases
Transamerica Financial Advisors Launches "TFA Synergy"
First Major Broker/Dealer to Offer a Paperless Office Platform Powered by Both Laserfiche & Sungard
LOS ANGELES, CA (Feb. 5, 2007) - Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. has launched TFA Synergy, a comprehensive paperless office platform for its representatives that offers automated account processing, Web-based document management and automated compliance review. TFA Synergy is built on state-of-the-art technology provided by leading suppliers familiar with the requirements of the financial services industry, including Laserfiche® and SunGard®.
"TFA Synergy is the comprehensive paperless office platform compiled with some of the best technological solutions from industry leaders such as SunGard and Laserfiche. It's Rep-friendly, compliance oriented and seamless in operation," said Sandy Brown, president of Transamerica Financial Advisors. "Building on our established high standards of service, communication and independent support, TFA Synergy will help save our current and future Reps money through reduced administrative expenses. It frees them up to spend more time with clients by eliminating the hours spent filling out and updating forms, and tracking down paper files."
The components of TFA Synergy work in concert with one another to form a seamless, industry-focused business platform with three major components: automated new account processing, Web-based document management and automated compliance review.
Automated Account Processing
TFA Synergy's automated accounts function from SunGard's new account opening solution begins with a wizard-based data-entry feature for opening new accounts and new cases for existing clients, plus file maintenance on existing accounts. Depending on the transaction, TFA Synergy will select and pre-fill the appropriate forms including all needed compliance documentation and product applications. This "forms bundle" feature is driven by the Quik!® Enterprise Solution, which automatically populates forms with existing client data, saving the Rep time from manually filling out forms and preventing errors.
"SunGard helps leading financial institutions and registered reps to automate and streamline account processes, and helps them to proactively meet compliance needs and reduce risk," said Paul Erickson, president of SunGard's Protegent business unit. "Our new account opening solution, combined with Protegent Surveillance, offers TFA Synergy users standardized and cost-effective processes to help enhance data quality, efficiency and service to clients."
Web-based Document Management
Laserfiche powers the Web-based document management system that replaces thousands of pieces of paper currently cluttering up Reps' offices with a "virtual filing cabinet" that offers security and privacy, while reducing administrative overhead.
With TFA Synergy Document Management, documents reside in electronic format, ready to be retrieved, printed, reviewed, shared, and safely stored. These documents and forms are accessible via a laptop computer with an Internet connection. The virtual filing cabinet has a Branch Manager and Rep-level folder system and is fully SEC/NASD compliant.
Laserfiche's Audit Trail feature enables precise tracking of documents within the virtual filing cabinet, providing a comprehensive record of activity. Audit Trail helps the broker/dealer maintain tight compliance controls by delivering up-to-date details of user activity to demonstrate adherence to established security and retention procedures. With easy-to-generate reports, Audit Trail expedites the process of producing reports for administrators and regulatory authorities, minimizing the cost of compliance.
"Laserfiche has a long history of providing secure, easily deployable document management solutions for organizations in all facets of the financial services industry," said Brian LaPointe, director of strategic solutions at Laserfiche. "TFA Synergy makes the most of Laserfiche's extensive storage, tracking, and security features to provide a complete document management solution that TFA Reps can rely on."
"With TFA Synergy's built-in security features, the home office decides who can access what document, and what they can do with it," said Dan Trivers, senior vice president for Transamerica Financial Advisors. "Documents in this system cannot be altered, so the original remains unchanged."
Automated Compliance Review
TFA Synergy's automated compliance review is fueled by SunGard's Protegent Surveillance solution, which features transaction supervision and surveillance, account risk ranking, and Rep review to help compliance staff recognize red flags, identify issues early, and correct situations as soon as possible. The extensive rules library within this solution help determine suitable transactions based on client profiles, client/household financial information and holdings, product parameters, and industry and Transamerica Financial Advisors guidelines.
"From the first meeting with a client, through the completion and submission of the initial case, and on to future cases—processed business is constantly subject to review and scrutiny," said Trivers. "TFA Synergy Automated compliance review is like having an extra pair of eyes double-checking all compliance-related activities."
Training and Support
TFA Synergy will be rolled out to all Transamerica Financial Advisors' Reps throughout 2007 with on-site and regional training sessions, plus technical support available via phone along with virtual Internet-based training.
"TFA Synergy is the comprehensive paperless technological platform that will take Reps from clutter to cohesion," said Brown. "Built on proven architecture, supported by top-notch suppliers and backed by the resources of Transamerica Financial Advisors' technical expertise, TFA Synergy is the industry-leading solution that will help save Reps both time and money."
About Transamerica Financial Advisors
Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. is a full-service broker/dealer, located at 1150 S. Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015, (213) 742-7702. Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. is a member of NASD and SIPC, and is also a SEC-registered investment advisor. Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. is a member of the AEGON Group, a multinational insurance organization headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands. The AEGON Group is one of the world's leading life insurance and financial services organizations. For more information about Transamerica Financial Advisors, visit http://tfa.transamerica.com.
About SunGard
With annual revenue of $4 billion, SunGard is a global leader in software and processing solutions for financial services, higher education and the public sector. SunGard also helps information-dependent enterprises of all types to ensure the continuity of their business. SunGard serves more than 25,000 customers in more than 50 countries, including the world's 50 largest financial services companies. Visit SunGard at www.sungard.com. Trademark Information: SunGard, the SunGard logo and Protogent are trademarks or registered trademarks of SunGard Data Systems Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries. All other trade names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
About Laserfiche
Based in Long Beach, Calif., Laserfiche (www.laserfiche.com) creates simple and elegant document management solutions that help organizations run smarter. The solutions support straight-through processing while cutting the costs of compliance and ensuring greater security, privacy, transparency and accountability at every level of your organization. Laserfiche solutions provide operational benefits that transform compliance from a cost center into an opportunity for achieving greater competitive advantage. Laserfiche solutions are used in more than 23,000 business and government offices worldwide.
About Efficient Technology, Inc.
Efficient Technology Inc (ETI) is the developer of Quik!, the industry leader of enterprise forms automation solutions and provider of an extensive library of fillable forms. Quik! enables straight through processing and seamless integration with any existing process flow resulting in faster transactions with fewer errors and an easier way of doing business. ETI is committed to providing effective and efficient solutions through outstanding customer service. ETI was founded in 1996 as a consulting company and built the Quik! Enterprise Solutions in response to the industry's growing need to automate the process of filling out paperwork. Visit www.quikforms.com.
