Commonwealth Representatives One Step Closer to a Virtual Office
Commonwealth Financial Network Launches Proprietary Imaging System, Client360°^SM Documents

Waltham, Mass. (June 20, 2006) — Commonwealth Financial Network representatives are now one step closer to a virtual office with the introduction of Commonwealth’s new proprietary imaging system, Client360°^SM Documents. With this online tool, offered at no cost, representatives can upload electronic client paperwork to Commonwealth for permanent storage.

“Client360° Documents is a simple solution to streamlining an advisor’s practice,” says Darren Tedesco, Commonwealth’s director of business systems and strategic development. “What once took an advisor an excessive amount of time—sifting through filing cabinets to locate a document—now takes just a few clicks of a mouse.”

Specifically, Client360° Documents provides unlimited storage space to scan and upload paperwork required by Commonwealth for processing, as well as documents not required by Commonwealth for processing, such as client tax returns, living wills, and personal documents.

Representatives can then view and retrieve all uploaded documents from any Internet-enabled computer, as well as organize non-Commonwealth documents using a folder-like storage system.

In most cases, representatives can dispose of the hard-copy documents after 30 days, in accordance with Commonwealth’s Compliance policies.

“Because all of Commonwealth’s technology is Web-based, the concept of a virtual office is built in,” says Tedesco. “That is, advisors can work the exact same way, regardless of location, and, with Client360º Documents, they can dramatically reduce the amount of paperwork located in their office.”

“Commonwealth’s Client360° Documents is a great solution to my imaging needs,” says Ted Kerr, principal of Kerr Financial Group and a registered representative with Commonwealth Financial Network. “I especially like the search function, which is very comprehensive. Finding the documents I’m looking for now takes only a matter of seconds.”

Client360° Documents has also enhanced Commonwealth’s e-signature capabilities. While the firm has been accepting e-signatures for over three years, the introduction of this online imaging system accelerates that function by allowing clients to sign a form via a tablet PC or signature pad. The representative can then immediately image the form directly to Commonwealth.

“Commonwealth’s advisors can utilize our online imaging system as part of their firm’s disaster recovery capabilities because all uploaded documents are stored and backed up on Commonwealth’s servers,” says Tedesco. “The likes of fires and floods pose less of a threat to years’ worth of filing and categorization work.”

Client360° Documents is fully integrated into Client360°^SM, the firm’s proprietary platform for contact, portfolio, wealth, and—now—document management.

Founded in 1979, Commonwealth Financial Network is the nation’s second-largest privately owned, national independent broker/dealer, with offices in Waltham, Massachusetts, and San Diego, California. The firm supports more than 1,000 independent registered representatives nationwide, and makes available a comprehensive array of financial products and services.

Contacts:
Emily Guadagnoli
Public Relations Specialist
Commonwealth Financial Network
www.commonwealth.com
781.736.7980, x9639
eguadagnoli@commonwealth.com