Hornor, Townsend & Kent (HTK), a broker-dealer and registered investment adviser (RIA), has launched the Envestnet Insurance Exchange, a platform delivering access to reputable insurance carriers and their annuity products alongside traditional managed account investments on the Envestnet platform. The Envestnet Insurance Exchange enables HTK financial professionals registered as investment adviser representatives (IARs) to now incorporate annuity solutions as part of their investment advisory (fee-based) business on the HTK Advisory Series powered by Envestnet. The IAR must be insurance-licensed and appointed with the carrier, and take all applicable product trainings as required.
“We immediately recognised the advantages of bringing the Envestnet Insurance Exchange to HTK. Many HTK financial professionals recommend annuity products for their clients to support their financial goals and objectives, and HTK has experienced an increase in activity in its investment advisory business over the past few years,” says Dusten Long, Managing Director of Adviser Support and Product Management at HTK. “We are proud to be an early adopter of this innovative platform and see it as the future of the annuity business.”
With a variety of annuity products now available on the Envestnet platform that many HTK financial professionals are already using, HTK financial professionals can benefit from time savings and a more efficient workflow to support their clients. They can plan, research, generate proposals, open policies, manage in-force transactions, and create client reports within the Envestnet Insurance Exchange. The HTK home office can benefit from leveraging the Envestnet Insurance Exchange’s licensing and appointment check tools, as well as integrated compliance applications that monitor in-force transactions and adherence to client investment policies.
“We know that protection is critical to clients, especially right now, and through this partnership, HTK financial professionals are empowered to meet those needs through a single, integrated platform experience,” says Rich Romano, Chief Executive Officer of FIDx. “In support of a holistic planning approach, HTK financial professionals are now able to offer another way to help clients achieve their long-term financial goals.”
The Envestnet Insurance Exchange, powered by FIDx, provides end-to-end management of annuity solutions, from pre- to post-issuance. FIDx is a technology-powered network that joins the brokerage, insurance, and advisory ecosystems. The Envestnet Insurance Exchange supports a wide range of both commission- and fee-based annuities across both variable and fixed product sets.
For clients, annuity solutions can be integrated into their portfolios as a source of guaranteed income.
“As clients are feeling uncertain about the economy, they are seeking ways to protect the assets they have worked hard for. In certain circumstances, annuities can provide that peace of mind,” says John Yackel, Head of Strategic Initiatives for Envestnet. “Firms like HTK are giving their financial professionals the tools to integrate protection—in a seamless and digital process—right alongside traditional investments to help guide clients toward financial wellness.”
