CLS Unites With Texas 529 College Savings Plans

OMAHA, Neb., Aug. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- CLS Investments, LLC (CLS), a third party money manager and a leading manager of exchange traded funds (ETFs) within individual investor portfolios, is collaborating with parent company NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC (NorthStar), in an agreement with the Texas Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board to help manage three of the state's four 529 college savings plans—the prepaid Texas Tuition Promise Fund^®, the advisor-sold LoneStar 529 Plan^® and the direct-sold Texas College Savings Plan^®.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of NorthStar, CLS will assist other NorthStar affiliates in administration and asset management for the qualified tuition plans.

"CLS currently helps over 40,000 clients invest for their retirement and we're very happy to now help families also invest for their children's education," said Todd Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of CLS.  "We expect to work hand-in-hand with the State's investment consultants and the Texas Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board to provide Texas families robust investment options for their investments in the next generation."  

NorthStar, through the coordinated efforts of its operating subsidiaries, including CLS, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (Gemini), and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (NLD), is able to provide the Texas 529 plans with a comprehensive program management solution. Gemini will provide plan administration, accounting and transfer agent services.  NLD will provide the plans with distribution, sales, and marketing services and will utilize Blu Giant, a division of NorthStar, to provide marketing solutions through their multi-disciplinary approach to hypermedia, including branding, social media, video and web. CLS, as a third-party investment manager, exchange-traded fund strategist and longtime trusted partner in the financial industry, will assist the plans with portfolio management and analytics responsibilities, including ongoing assistance with trading and operations. Constellation Trust Company, a NorthStar affiliate, as the custodian for the 529 plans, will provide new account set up, trade file submissions, data reconciliation, and reporting back to the affiliated companies.

For media inquiries, please contact Sadie Brewer at 402-896-7406 or [email protected]  

About CLS Investments, LLC

CLS Investments, LLC (www.clsinvest.com) is an Omaha-based, family-owned and operated boutique registered investment advisor managing in excess of $6.5 billion.* As one of the largest third party money managers and ETF strategists in the U.S., CLS partners with thousands of advisors, plan sponsors, and institutions to offer a full suite of outsourced portfolio management solutions for more than 40,000 individual investors. CLS specializes in creating portfolios based on a distinct risk budgeting methodology and active asset allocation approach. The CLS investment process is governed by systematic research across asset classes and strategies and the continuous measuring of risk. CLS first claimed compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS) in 2002, and the firm's portfolio performance going back as far as 2003 has been independently verified. CLS is a member of NorthStar Financial Services Group (NorthStar), which currently has more than $243 billion* in assets under management and administration. To learn more, visit www.clsinvest.com 

The Texas College Savings Plan®, the Texas Tuition Promise Fund®, and the LoneStar 529 Plan® are established and maintained by the Texas Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board, and, as of Sept. 2, 2014, distributed by Northern Lights Distributors, LLC member FINRA and SIPC.  NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC, the parent company of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, is the Plan manager and administrator of the Plan, effective Sept. 2, 2014.

Some states offer favorable tax treatment to their residents only if they invest in the state's own plan.  Non-residents of Texas should consider whether their state offers its residents a 529 plan with alternative tax advantages and should consult their tax advisor.  Interests in the Plan are not deposits or other obligations of any depository institution.

Before investing in the Texas College Savings Plan®, investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, administrative fees, service and other charges and expenses associated with municipal fund securities. The Plan Description and Savings Trust Agreement contains this and other information about the Plan and may be obtained by visiting www.texascollegesavings.com or calling 1.800.445.GRAD (4723), Option #3. Investors should read these documents carefully before investing.

Before investing in the LoneStar 529 Plan®, investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, administrative fees, service and other charges and expenses associated with municipal fund securities. The Plan Description and Savings Trust Agreement contains this and other information about the Plan and may be obtained by visiting www.lonestar529.com or calling 1.800.445.GRAD (4723), Option #4. Investors should read these documents carefully before investing.

Before investing in the Texas Tuition Promise Fund®, investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, administrative fees, service and other charges and expenses associated with municipal fund securities. The Plan Description and Master Agreement contains this and other information about the Plan and may be obtained by visiting www.texastuitionpromisefund.com or calling 1.800.445.GRAD (4723), Option #5. Investors should read these documents carefully before investing.

*As of 6/30/2014

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SOURCE CLS Investments, LLC