Adding a Firm

You should search for the firmA broker/dealer firm (or broker dealer or broker-dealer) is a connection associated with intermediary business, typically a top-level organization in this hierarchy. Broker/dealer firms are also sometimes referred to as just "firms" or "brokers" or "dealers" or "financial institutions." Each broker/dealer firm may have one or more offices affiliated with it, and through these offices, reps may also be affiliated with it. A broker/dealer firm may have associated firm contacts, as well. Possibly the most critical information you can track for broker/dealer firms are aliases, also known as trading IDs. Aliases are the IDs that associate transactions with each broker/dealer firm. If you need to write queries or reports: The primary data for broker/dealer firms is stored in the Firm table. The Firm Alias table stores trading IDs associated with broker/dealer firms. you want before adding it, in case it already exists in SalesConnect. See Searching for Connections if you would like help with that task.

1. Display the Add Firm page:

   • On a page showing details for the master firmA master firm is a connection associated with intermediary business, an optional top-level organization in the intermediary asset management hierarchy, one step above broker/dealer firms. Each master firm may have one or more firms affiliated with it, and through these firms, may also have affiliations with offices and reps. A master firm may have associated master firm contacts, as well. If you need to write queries or reports: The primary data for master firms is stored in the Master Firm table., select the Firms tab, and then above the table listing firms, select Add. If you use this option, information for the associated master firm is already completed for the firm.
   • Or, using the Data Operations or Sales Reporting personaA persona is an interface set of menus and dashboard or home view that was designed for a single set of operators who share goals, skills, attitude and behavior patterns. Each persona's interface displays only the content and tools that are relevant for that group., select Firms from the Connections menu, and then select Add Firm. Or you can select in the universal menu, and then select Add Firm under Firms. If you use this option, you'll need to select any master firm with which to associate the firm.

2. Complete the Add Firm page (required fields are marked with *).

   Tips

   • If appears next to a field, you can select it to display a popup you can use to search for a value for that field. When you choose a value, the popup closes, and the value is shown for the field.
   • You may be able to set territory categoriesA territory category represents one set of distinct territories that you need to maintain at the same time. A single territory category may not reflect how your sales force is distributed, so you can define up to fifteen (15) different territory categories in SalesConnect; however, only one version in each territory category can be current at any given time. Categories can represent particular lines of business (such as wirehouses or banks) or product lines (such as mutual funds or annuities), or any other meaningful division for which you need to support distinct sets of territories. Categories include as many named territories as you need to identify sales responsibilities. Named territories are often geographical in nature, but can also include channel/subchannel definitions and firm associations. Applicability also affects office and rep/partnership/team territory assignments: if a territory category is applicable to a firm, then entities associated with that firm can be assigned to territories in that category; but if the category is not applicable to a firm, then associated entities are not assigned to a defined territory in it, but are instead flagged "Not Applicable" for the category. as applicable or not applicable for a firm. Setting a listed item as applicable means that any officesAn office is a connection in the intermediary business hierarchy, an organization subordinate to a broker/dealer firm. Offices are also sometimes referred to as "branches'; institutional firms have branches in SalesConnect. An office is affiliated with a single broker/dealer firm, and may have one or more reps directly affiliated with it. An office may have associated office contacts, as well. Possibly the most critical information you can track for offices are aliases, also known as trading IDs. Aliases are the IDs that associate transactions with each office. If you need to write queries or reports: The primary data for offices is stored in the Office table. Information about office trading IDs is stored in the Office Alias table., repsA rep is perhaps the most important contact connection in the intermediary business hierarchy. Each rep is an individual who sells funds and is affiliated with an office (and through the office, with a broker/dealer firm). Reps may also be referred to as "financial advisors." Possibly the most critical information you can track for reps are aliases, also known as trading IDs. Aliases are the IDs that associate transactions and assets with each rep. If you need to write queries or reports: The primary data for reps is stored in the Contact and Rep Profile tables. The Rep Alias table stores trading IDs associated with reps., partnershipsA partnership is a contact connection in the intermediary business hierarchy, though it is really a name for a group of reps working together to sell one or more products. A partnership, sometimes called a rep partnership, is treated as a special type of rep: this means that most of the tools for working with reps may be used to work with partnerships as well. Most views of transactions associated with an individual rep generally don't include transactions or parts of transactions that the rep may have cleared as part of a partnership. Instead, these kinds of trades are listed only for the rep partnership. Each member's portion of rep partnership sales data is always based on the percentages currently assigned to each member; no long-term historical information about percentages is maintained. SalesConnect does not store any calculated trade or asset values based on rep partnerships. If you need to write queries or reports: The primary data for partnerships is stored in the Contact, Rep Partnership, and Rep Profile tables. The Rep Alias table stores trading IDs associated with partnerships as well as reps. or teamsA team is a contact connection, though it is really a group of individuals working together to achieve a common sales goal; a team may include reps and rep partnerships from the office with which the team is associated, but it can also office contacts and non-producing reps who support team sales efforts. later associated with that firm will be assigned to territoriesIn a territory category, you can define as many named territories as you need to identify sales responsibilities. Territories are often divided geographically, and can include whole countries, states or provinces, or even ZIP/postal code ranges. Other criteria can be included for each territory, such as firm association or channel/subchannel definitions. If needed, you can filter offices, reps, partnerships, and teams to which a territory will apply by their firm association alone. Each territory can have one or more operators assigned to it; after territory assignments are set, permissions can be set to control the level of access each operator has to data (such as viewing or editing), based on his or her territory assignments. in that category.
   • The values you set for fields in the Client Defined Field Information section may cascade to reps later associated with this firm; the data is shown on Client Defined fields tabs on connection detail pages.

   • You may be able to add one or more aliases for the firm:

     1. If necessary, expand the Firm Aliases section.

        1. Complete the fields with information for an aliasAn alias is a trading ID for a intermediary connection (broker/dealer firm, office and/or rep or rep partnership). An office alias must be associated with a single, specific firm-level trading ID. A rep alias must be associated with a single, specific firm trading ID and a single, specific office trading ID. Each tracked trade is linked to a single specific set of aliases; most trades will be associated with a firm, office and rep alias, but some may be associated only with a firm and/or office alias, if the trades were not resolved to the rep level. If you need to write queries or reports: The primary data for aliases is stored in the Firm Alias, Office Alias, and Rep Alias tables. for this firm.

           Tip

           • If you select DST Systems in Transfer Agent and complete the other fields with information for the new alias, a Lookup In FID button may become available. You can select it to display a dialog that lists any existing records in FID that match the information you've entered; close the dialog when you've finished with it. Ensure that Synch with FID is selected if you want to copy the information for this connection and alias to any matching records in FID.
     2. Select Add More if you need to add another alias, and then complete information for it. You can do this for as many aliases as you need to add.

3. When you have finished, select Save.

   • You may be asked whether you want to keep the address you entered or use one suggested by Finalist, the address validation tool used in SalesConnect. You won't be able to continue until you select an option.
   • Duplicate checking occurs when you save a connection. If the connection or an alias added for it appears to duplicate information already in SalesConnect, a warning popup is shown. Follow instructions on the popup to handle the potential duplicate appropriately.
   • This firm is flagged as one not maintained by Universal Dealer Services.

   Once a firm is saved, a page showing details and more options for it is displayed. You can use the page and its tabs to add or review more information related to the firm, including relationships to other connections.

   • The ContactsAny individual person tracked in SalesConnect is a contact, which is one type of connection. So, reps, firm contacts, and office contacts—are all contacts. Partnerships and teams are also treated as contacts in SalesConnect, because you usually need to work with them in the same ways. tab will list any contacts directly associated with the firm; you can use the filter fields on the tab to change the contacts listed. You can also use it to add new associated contacts. See Adding a Contact or Rep.
   • You can select the link for the value in Master Firm (if there is one) to view details for any associated master firm. You can link a firm to a master firm, if necessary, by editing information for the firm: Select on the Broker Dealer Information tab when it's available.
   • The Offices tab will list any offices associated with the firm; you can begin adding such offices using this tab. See Adding an Office.