Tag Archives: Morningstar

New at Morningstar Advisor: A Simpler Way to Schedule Meetings

My June column for Morningstar Advisor is now available!

This month I tackle the issue of the constant back-and-forth messaging in which advisors often engage to schedule meetings with clients and colleagues. There is a better way!

Click here to read “A Simpler Way to Schedule Meetings” at Morningstar Advisor.

Bruckenstein’s Picks for Best of Technology 2008

When you have 2 minutes, go read Joel Bruckenstein’s “The Best of Technology 2008” article at MorningstarAdvisor.

Click here for The Best of Technology 2008.

A tip when you read articles from MorningstarAdvisor: hit “Print” so you don’t have to click on the 1-2-3-4 page links at the bottom.  Get the whole article on one screen with the print preview.  The 4-page split posts are starting to annoy me.

Back to the technology picks.  Bruckenstein’s hardware pick for 2008: a wireless keyboard/mouse combo from Logitech.  He cites a minimum productivity improvement of 5%.

Really?  A keyboard/mouse combo?  Did dual-monitors make the cut, or did the pick have to be something reviewed in 2008?  I think the minimum productivity improvement of an additional monitor starts at 10%.

What are Morningstar’s Plans for dbCAMS?

cams.jpgOur firm uses dbCAMS for a variety of portfolio management procedures, including daily account reconciliation, rebalancing, and quarterly reporting.  The creators of dbCAMS, Financial Computer Support, Inc. (FCSI), was recently acquired by Morningstar.  Morningstar purchased FCSI and its dbCAMS product to enhance the company’s visibility in advisers’ day-to-day management of client portfolios.

Not much mention has been made about Morningstar’s plans for dbCAMS, but I recently came across the Fall issue of Morningstar Advisor that sheds some light on their plans.

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Dusty Huxford Comments on Morningstar Purchase

Here’s another quick update to today’s news of Morningstar’s purchase of FCSI.  Dusty Huxford sent the message copied below through the FCSI alerts listserv.  I am subscribed to the alerts, though I didn’t receive his message today.  I had to get it through other resources.  I must not be a valued FCSI client!

August 11, 2008

Dear FCSI client,

I am writing to make you aware of some exciting news. We are pleased to tell you that Morningstar is acquiring Financial Computer Support, Inc. (FCSI).

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Morningstar Announces FCSI Acquisition

MSToday I learned from Financial Advisor Magazine’s breaking news email that Morningstar announced an agreement to buy FCSI, the makers of dbCAMS+ software.  This is important news to me as my firm is a current user of dbCAMS as mentioned here, here, and here at FPPad.com

Click here to see the article on Financial Advisor Magazine.

Click here to see a similar article on Business Week.

We also received an email from Chris Boruff at Morningstar’s advisor channel that provided more specific details on the timetable of the acquisition and what it might mean to current dbCAMS users.

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