MutualFundWire.com: Money Manager Brings in New Blood

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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Money Manager Brings in New Blood

CLS Investments has expanded and upgraded its sales team with one addition and two promotions.

Former MFS Investment Management institutional wholesaler John Welch will replace Michael Caplin as regional VP of sales for the northeastern states region. Caplin, meanwhile, transitioned to divisional manager for the western states region. Brian Ragle was also promoted to divisional manager and will oversee the eastern states territory.

"We've had to expand our sales force. We'll probably add a few more before year-end so we can extend our services and our regions in this market, especially in 401(k)," Clarke said.

Clarke added that he has seen growth especially in managed accounts inside retirement plans. CLS offers managed accounts using ETF portfolios for participants.

"One thing we have found is while parts have a tremendous amount of information at their fingertips, the one thing they're hungry for is actual advice," he said. We're able to offer that to them in the form of a management account inside retirement-planning mechanisms."

Company Press Release

CLS Investments Continues Sales Team Expansion with Appointment of John Welch

OMAHA, NEB. – August 21, 2012 –CLS Investments, LLC (“CLS”), a third party money manager, is pleased to announce the recent hire of John Welch in the position of Regional Vice President of Sales. He will be serving the northeastern states region.

The addition of Mr. Welch comes as prior Regional Vice President of Sales for the northeast territory, Michael Caplin, transitions to the role of Divisional Manager for the western states region. Brian Ragle has also been promoted to the position of Divisional Manager, overseeing the eastern states territory. Both men will continue to serve certain portions of their former territories as active wholesalers.

CLS partners with financial representatives to deliver innovative investment solutions to clients and qualified plan participants through core business, qualified plans, separate account platforms, and 403(b) markets.

Mr. Welch comes to CLS with over 18 years tenure in the financial services industry. Prior to joining CLS, he worked as an Institutional Wholesaler for MFS Investment Management in the Mid-Atlantic area. A Business Management major from the University of Maine, Mr. Welch has passed the FINRA 6 and NASAA series 63 securities examinations. He also received the Certified Investment Management Analyst designation from Wharton Business School in 2009.

Caplin joined CLS in 1992 and previously worked as a financial advisor, as well as owned a financial planning practice. Ragle holds more than 20 years of prior experience in the financial services and banking industries, including working as an independent financial advisor. He came to CLS in 2000.

About CLS: CLS Investments, LLC (“CLS”) is one of the largest independent third party money managers in the United States. Founded in 1989 by W. Patrick Clarke, the firm manages individual, qualified plan, and variable annuity portfolios of mutual funds, exchange traded funds, and individual stocks and bonds. CLS serves over 40,000 individual investors and holds more than $6.5 billion in assets under management, as of July 31, 2012. The company professionally manages money using the principles of risk budgeting and tactical asset allocation, and maintains an experienced team of portfolio managers and analysts. To learn more, visit http://www.clsinvest.com.