Morningstar Office Update March 2010

Password Strength Warning

Upon logging in, you might receive an error message indicating that your password is weak and should be changed. The following message will appear: "The password you have entered does not meet the standard for a secure password. We recommend you include numbers, symbols, and mixed cases for a strong password. You may proceed with your current password selection by clicking OK. However, we suggest that you update your password by clicking on your name at the bottom bar or going to File->Update Profile to launch the User Profile page. Thank you."

Password strength will also be measured on the File > Update Profile page.

 

Billing

Exclude accrued interest from billable balance

Just as you are able to exclude accrued interest from reporting, you can now exclude accrued interest from the billable balance as well.

Go to Home > Settings > Reports, Tax Lot Methods, etc. > Open management fee setting > Check Exclude Accrued Interest box.

Flat Rate Breakpoint Billing

Create a tiered fee structure where the final market value of the account will determine how the entire account is billed.

Go to Home > Settings >  Reports, Tax Lot Methods, etc. > Open new or existing management fee > Check Single Rate box.

Specify Fee Allocation for Group Billings

Specify the fee allocation at the account level when billing in groups. For example, take 50% of the fee from account A, 50% from account B, etc. You can also choose non-billed accounts to apply the fee when billing by group.

Go to Portfolio Management > Groups > Double-click a group > Profile > Click Billing Account magnifying glass.

Client and Account Name Included in Generic Fee File

In addition to the account number, client and account names will be included in the generic custodian fee file upload.

Go to Client or Portfolio Management > Billings > Custodian Fee File > Check the Include Client and Account Name in Generic Fee File box.

 

Client Management

Export Client Data

Three client export options are available. On the Client Management tab, click the Export button on the toolbar and select one of the following:

Driver's License Information

You can now add a client's driver's license number, state, and expiration date to their profile.

Go to Client Information > Clients > double-click client name > double-click member name. The new fields appear on the General tab in the member record.

Add and Export Insurance Information

Insurance data points have been added to the client profile, including life insurance type, insured, policy owner, beneficiary, contingent beneficiary, definition, home insurance type, death benefit, premium payer, and premium amount. All of this information will be exportable using the Export button.

Go to Client Information > Clients > double-click client name > Client Profile > Financial Info > Add Financial Info > Insurance.

Portfolio Accounting

Classify Accounts as Roth 401(k) and Roth 403b

Roth 401(k) and Roth 403b are now available as account types.

Go to Client Management > double-click client name > double-click on account > Profile/Settings

Tax-free Retirement Plan Account Category Added

The new Tax-Free Retirement Plan account category includes the following account types:

Exclude Holdings from Rebalancing

You now have the ability to specify if you do not wish to rebalance one particular security. This will leave the position as is and rebalance the rest of the securities.

In a transactional account, select a holding, then go to Action > Holding Settings and check the Locked Holding box.

Out of Balance Alerts

An alert will be automatically sent whenever an account is out of balance based on the tolerance percentages entered. You will receive an email alert when an alert is triggered.

To enable these alerts, go to Home > Settings > Preferences, then check the Email Notification of Out of Balance Accounts box.

TIPS Security Type Supported

Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) are marketable securities whose principal is adjusted by changes in the Consumer Price Index. With inflation (a rise in the index), the principal increases. With deflation (a drop in the index), the principal decreases. At the maturity of a TIPS, you receive the adjusted principal or the original principal, whichever is greater. This provision protects you against deflation. TIPS will be added as a security type in the Definition Master and recognized during importing.

 

Portfolio Reporting

Option to Add Performance Graph to Performance Summary

The same graph that was previously only available with the Client Return Summary is now available as a graph option for the performance summary report.

Go to Reports>Performance Summary and check the "include performance graph" box.

New Report: Portfolio Holding Analysis

This is a new analytical report that shows each individual security's asset allocation as of a certain date. This report allows you to find the historical asset allocation as of a chosen date in history. The report is available for both quick and transactional accounts. In the performance section, performance for a quick account will be the market return. Performance for a transactional account will use TWR.

From the Accounts page, go to Reports > Analytical > Portfolio Holding Analysis

Changes to Group-Level Management Reports

Management reports run at the group level will no longer be practice-wide, but will encompass only accounts that are part of that group.

To run a management report on a group, double-click the group name and select Reports > Management Reports.

Client Return Summary Options

You can now include a return chart from the inception date, an account value change section, and an asset allocation section on the Client Return Summary. You can also exclude benchmark returns or exclude the client aggregate return line.

In a client record, select Reports > Client > Client Return Summary.

 

Investment Planning

Planning Report Custom Formatting

Previously, the planning module required that the primary client be included in the plan. With this change, we will support a plan for the spouse or one or more dependents.

 

Account Performance

Account Performance for Model Portfolios

Account performance is now available for model portfolios in addition to client accounts.

Import

Trade PMR

Trade PMR is now available as an import source. Go to Import > Trade PMR.

Fidelity Wealth Central

Fidelity Wealth Central is now available as an import source. Go to Import > Fidelity Wealth Central.

Enhanced Security Matching

Exchange and currency filters have been added for enhanced security mapping to Morningstar securities. This also affects searching for stocks. After setting an exchange and currency filter, there is a new Match column. If you check this button, then search results from the Stock universe will be filtered by the exchanges and currencies you have chosen.

Go to Home > Settings > Preferences, then check Set Exchange Filter or Set Currency Filter.

 

Workspace

Add Securities from Securities in Accounts to Investment List

You can now select securities on the Securities in Accounts view and save them as an investment list.

Go to Portfolio Management > Securities in Accounts > select securities > Action > Save As > Investment List.

 

Calculators

Roth IRA Conversion Calculator

You can now access a Roth IRA Conversion Calculator that helps you determine the consequences of converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.

Go to Tools > Calculators > Roth IRA Conversion.