Abstract: A method for combining the management of enterprise data along with a set of service design principles to allow users to derive the proper set of consistent services and structures is disclosed. The method leads to a more consistent, higher quality, lower cost service environment. The method also helps to standardize how companies create services, which will result in more consistent deliverables with decreased development time, development cost, and overall project risk. The method also promotes building a smaller set of highly reusable services, rather than a large set of single-use services, providing significant savings on service maintenance costs and high opportunities for cost avoidance through reuse.

Abstract: The present invention is a computer-implemented system and method for easily configuring new financial advice applications from various services and sub-applications in order to deliver consistent advice to consumers, clients, and advisors, regardless of the delivery mechanism utilized. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the system includes at least one client computer having an application program implemented thereon; an advice utility server in communication with the client computer and the application program; and at least one financial service in communication with the advice utility server, wherein each financial service is configured to receive/transmit data from/to the advice utility server.

Abstract: There is provided a method for a client to authorize an automated clearance house (ACH) transaction comprising the steps of providing an online web interface on a financial services provider network, allowing a client to securely access the online web interface via a client computer having a web browser application, permitting the client to input set-up and authorization information and criteria via the client computer, accepting and acknowledging the client set-up and authorization information and criteria, and executing an authorized ACH transaction based on the client inputted set-up and authorization information and criteria to electronically transfer client funds between one or more client accounts at a third party financial institution and financial service provider. The authorized ACH transactions can be a recurring, non-recurring or one-time ACH transactions, and in particular ACH-in transaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for facilitating document imaging and delivery. A scanner reads a barcode from a separator sheet associated with a document, sorts the document based on the barcode, and scans the document in order to create an electronic document. A first server reads a document form number from the electronic document and assigns a document control number to the electronic document. A second server determines the document type and identification information associated with the electronic document based on the document form number. The second server indexes the electronic document using the barcode, the document form number, the document control number, identification information, or the document type. The second server routes the location of the electronic document to a computer system based on the barcode, the document form number, the document control number, identification information, or the document type.

Abstract: The system receives an electronic communication, reviews the electronic communication to determine content of the electronic communication, applies rules to the content to determine a category associated with the electronic communication, wherein the rules relate to at least one of federal law, federal government regulations, state law, state government regulations, industry standards and administrative policies; and, stores the electronic communication based on the category.

Abstract: A method for a financial planning competition having at least two phases, an embodiment of the first phase including a written competition including providing a fictitious client profile to preselected teams, allowing each team thereafter to create a written financial plan based on the client profile and awarding a score. The second phase including giving high-scoring teams a revised client profile containing a change of facts to the original client profile allowing the teams to redraft the original financial plan, receiving an oral financial planning presentation from each team based upon the revised client profile for scoring and awarding a score. Any phase of the present invention may exist in a live environment or over a network, such as the Internet. The competition may also optionally include at least a third phase which is preferably styled, in one embodiment, as a game show format based on financial planning concepts.

Abstract: A system and method for extending the utility of an HTML IFrame web page element by enabling the IFrame to dynamically resize its viewing boundaries according to the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the secondary content to be displayed within the IFrame is disclosed. The extended IFrame determines the height and width dimensions of the secondary content, stores the dimensions within cookies, renders the secondary content within the IFrame, calls a function to retrieve dimension values from the cookies and sets the height and width attributes of the IFrame to resize the IFrame.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system for archival and retrieval of communications and related documents that uses hardware and software to selectively monitor, capture, catalog and retrieve electronic communications and documents relating to the business of employees or individuals of the organization to effectively comply with applicable regulations, such as governmental regulations. Archived electronic communications and information are stored in a third party archiving system and accessible by authorized individuals using a secure network connection, such as an intranet web-service or web interface, or an online browser connection to search and retrieve selected archived data and information. The system and method for archiving and retrieving communications is advantageously implemented in an organization having a large volume of electronic communications and storage requirements.

Abstract: A known charge card billing system communicates with an investment broker system, wherein the investment broker system includes an instruction arrangement database, payment hierarchy and an investment account. An interested cardholder suitably appoints the charge card administrator as a processing agent to collect and promptly remit the cardholder's voluntary, periodic payments for investment into preselected investment products, such as, for example, mutual fund shares, fixed annuities, variable annuities, CDs, insurance, certificates, equities and/or the like. The billing system distributes a billing statement at the end of each month, wherein the statement includes all of the charges for that month and a reminder to remit an additional dollar amount for the preselected investments. The cardholder then sends a single payment for the charges and the investments to the charge card administrator.

Abstract: A system and method for managing electronic forms data, and financial advise applications is provided. Financial advisors may be equipped with portable computing devices, such as a laptop or tablet PC to provide customers in-field support through the use of financial advise applications, customer data and electronic forms. Further, the invention provides a means for applications, data and forms to be synchronized with the various computing systems of a financial services company's computing center. Such synchronization enables in-field financial advisors to work remotely yet have most of the tools and functionality provided for by the systems of the computing center.

Abstract: A system for analyzing account information including a processor grouping a plurality of individuals into a plurality of certification groups and assigning a corresponding rule set to each individual based on the certification grouping. A system for analyzing account information for individuals including a processor dividing the individuals into groups, a database storing account information for each individual and a processor analyzing the stored account information for each individual. The analysis includes reviewing a subset of the account information for each individual, the subset of account information being determined by the individual's group. A system for storing account and rule set certification information including a processor providing account information and a rule set to each of a plurality of individuals and a database storing one or more data files, including one or more of a rule set file, an accounts owned data file and a transactions data file.

Abstract: A known charge card billing system communicates with an investment broker system, wherein the investment broker system includes an instruction arrangement database, payment hierarchy and an investment account. An interested cardholder suitably appoints the charge card administrator as a processing agent to collect and promptly remit the cardholder's voluntary, periodic payments for investment into preselected investment products, such as, for example, mutual fund shares, fixed annuities, variable annuities, CDs, insurance, certificates, equities and/or the like. The billing system distributes a billing statement at the end of each month, wherein the statement includes all of the charges for that month and a reminder to remit an additional dollar amount for the preselected investments. The cardholder then sends a single payment for the charges and the investments to the charge card administrator.

Abstract: A method for identifying forms required for a business transaction and providing a packet containing the required forms to a requestor is provided. The method includes storing a set of rules in a first memory region accessible by a server, and storing for each of a plurality of tasks at least one address corresponding to at least one form associated with the task in a second memory region accessible by the server. A computer displays a user interface that prompts the requestor to provide answers to a sequence of questions. The sequence of questions is determined according to the set of rules, and at least one subsequent question of the sequence of questions is based on an answer to a previous question of the sequence of questions. The server determines a task being handled by the requester, based on the answers to the sequence of questions, and identifies a set of forms necessary for the determined task based on information stored in the second memory region.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a system and method that facilitates investment account transfers where the time standard for reliably accomplishing a transfer may be decreased. A system for facilitating investment account transfers includes an administrator, a rules engine, a service case manager, and a messaging engine. The administrator is configured to receive a transfer request and to initiate a transfer case. The administrator is also configured to cooperate with a rules engine to facilitate management of the transfer case in accordance with a set of business rules. Cooperating with the rules engine, the administrator is configured to initiate service cases comprising business process instructions which, when executed, advance the progress of the transfer case. A service case manager is configured to receive service cases from the administrator, and to perform the specific business processes specified therein.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods within existing business and technology infrastructures and processes for facilitating an electronic transaction including payment by an account issuer to a merchant for online purchases by a consumer. The invention uses a web services model including request and response messages to provide simplified authentication and authorization through entry of the consumer's PIN, without the release of the consumer's account or billing information to the merchant. The invention reduces authorization processing, and reduces the transaction fees for online transactions, increasing the viability of lower value transactions.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product provide the sponsor of a retirement plan with an objective measure of the overall performance of the retirement plan. By determining the values of certain well-defined parameters, illustrated embodiments provide the sponsor with a detailed view of the operation of the retirement plan, including levels of participation, levels of contributions being made, projected levels of income replacement once the participants eventually retire, etc. There are also determined, from these values, additional parameter values that provide the sponsor with a compact, yet rigorous, overall view of whether the retirement plan is performing in a manner consistent with meeting the goals of the retirement plan.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for creating and administering an investment instrument. More specifically, the present invention provides a system and method for creating and administering an investment instrument that may be cleared through a depository company, that has relatively short terms and/or that enables investors to participate in financial market activity while protecting their principal investments. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an investment instrument preserves an investor's principal and offers a choice of several models for generating return. Return-generating models may allow an investor to participate fully in market movement, participate partially in market movement with a guaranteed minimum return, or receive a fixed return without participating in market movement.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system for efficiently generating administrative reports in an automated manner and for enabling users, who contributing to the reports, to create and store task, goal, progress and performance related descriptions, of varying complexity and detail, in a central database location from which appropriate task, goal and progress descriptions can be selectively retrieved for use in a desired periodic report for use in workload and performance management. This method and system frees up full time employees from the time consuming work of repeatedly preparing descriptions and information for workload and performance reports and substantially eliminates rework for administrative assistant who often consolidate and compile reports.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of calculating a value of a benefit for an annuity contract including a minimum contract accumulation value provision is disclosed. The method includes determining a current minimum contract accumulation value, determining a current value of the annuity contract investments, determining a predetermined reset percentage contained in the annuity contract, calculating the product of the current value of the annuity contract investments and the reset percentage and a fifth step of resetting the minimum contract accumulation value to the greater of the minimum contract accumulation value or the product of the current value of the annuity contract investments and the reset percentage.