Author: gregg.castano

21 Events Presents: The Puerto Rico Day at The Ballpark at Major League Stadiums
News release by 21 Events
21 Events Presents: The Puerto Rico Day at The Ballpark at Major League Stadiums
NEW YORK, NY — July 31, 2025 — (NOTICIAS NEWSWIRE) 1:12 PM Eastern Time – 21 Events, a leading Sports and Entertainment company, presents the Puerto Rico Day at the Ballpark, celebrated at Major League Baseball Stadiums and honoring Puerto Rican players of today and yesteryear.
Puerto Rican Day at the Ballpark pays tribute to Puerto Rico’s rich 125-year baseball history dating back to 1898 and honors Puerto Rican players at MLB Stadium, on the field, before all the fans.
Sponsored by Discover Puerto Rico, the Island’s official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), the events aim to celebrate the vibrant Puerto Rican culture–its vibrant music, flavorful cuisine, passion for sports and warm, welcoming spirit–while inspiring visitors to immerse themselves in the local way of life to “Live Boricua”.
In 2025, Puerto Rico Day at the Ballpark will be presented at:
July 22nd – New York Mets Citi Field
July 23rd – Philadelphia Phillies Citizen Bank Park
August 27th – Atlanta Braves Truist Park
August 29th – Chicago White Sox Rate Field
September 7th – Pittsburgh Pirates PNC Park
2023-24 Season, Puerto Rico Day at the Ballpark Included: Texas Rangers, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates and the Atlanta Braves, honoring Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, Edwin Diaz, Joey Cora, Francisco Lindor, Alex Cora, Javier “Javy” Baez, Juan Nieves, Alex Lange, Riley Greene, Joe Jiménez, Eddie Rosario, Joshua Palacio and Carlos Correa.
“Baseball isn’t just a sport in Puerto Rico, it’s a fundamental part of our DNA, deeply woven into the fabric of our history and culture,” says Glorianna Yamin, VP of Marketing at Discover Puerto Rico. “The ‘Puerto Rico Day at the Ballpark’ events are a fantastic way to honor this rich legacy, celebrating the incredible contributions of Puerto Rican players past and present , while bringing the vibrant spirit of our Island to fans across Baseball stadiums in different markets. We’re proud to support an initiative that so beautifully captures our passion for the game and invites everyone to ‘Live Boricua’ by experiencing our unique way of life.”
“Baseball is part of Puerto Rico’s history, dating back to the 1890’s and in the 1940’s was the first place where African Americans, Anglo and Latino ballplayers played on the same field.
Puerto Rico loves baseball and baseball loves Puerto Rico,” stated Ralph Paniagua, Managing Director of 21 Events.
About Discover Puerto Rico
Discover Puerto Rico is a private, not-for-profit Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) whose mission is to make Puerto Rico visible to the world as a premier travel destination. The DMO brings prosperity to the people of Puerto Rico by collaboratively promoting the Island’s diversity and uniqueness for leisure and business travel, and events. It is responsible for all global marketing, sales, and promotion of the destination and works collaboratively with key local governmental and nongovernmental players throughout Puerto Rico’s visitor economy and the community at large, to empower economic growth. To discover all the beauty the Island has to offer, visit DiscoverPuertoRico.com.
About 21 Events, Inc.
21 Events, based in Puerto Rico, is responsible for producing events that celebrate the Latino culture and the success of their community. 21 Events is a powerhouse sponsorship and activations platform for Latino sports, entertainment, experiential, and digital. 21 Events has spearheaded Fortune 100 brand activations with more than 18 Major League Baseball teams, the Roberto Clemente Exhibit, the Tito Puente Foundation and Jose Feliciano Family, among others.
About latinobaseball.com
Founded in 1992, latinobaseball.com is the keeper of Latino Baseball history played in the Caribbean and U.S.
CONTACT:
Ralph Paniagua
917-446-3346
[email protected]
July 31, 2025
Prosperity for US Foundation is Blowing the Whistle on Rogue Whistleblowers
News release by The Prosperity for US Foundation
Prosperity for US Foundation is Blowing the Whistle on Rogue Whistleblowers
Prosperity for US Foundation Calls for Urgent Reform to Expose the Industry Behind False Allegations
WASHINGTON, DC, July 31, 2025 – 11:29 AM Eastern Time – As the nation recognized National Whistleblower Day on July 30, a day originally intended to honor truth-tellers who expose corruption and fraud, the Prosperity for US Foundation is calling attention to a growing and dangerous abuse of this noble ideal. Increasingly, whistleblowing has morphed from a courageous act of integrity into an industrialized practice driven by unearned self-enrichment motives, legal opportunism, and coordinated attacks that devastate innocent individuals, companies, and communities.
“Whistleblowing should be about integrity, not industry,” said Bob Carlstrom, Executive Director of the Prosperity for US Foundation. “We are witnessing the rise of a cabal of professional whistleblowers, prosecutors, and even venture capitalists who treat whistleblower cases like financial instruments. They destroy reputations, livelihoods, and entire businesses, not to protect the public, but to enrich themselves.”
In recent years, a handful of so-called “professional whistleblowers” have filed dozens or even hundreds of cases under the False Claims Act, collecting massive payouts in settlements and judgments. Individuals have built careers, and fortunes, on a system increasingly incentivizing opportunism over justice.
The whistleblower issues escalated significantly under the Biden Administration which is why the Trump Administration is focusing more intently at rolling back the weaponization of the Department of Justice.
These cases often proceed under sealed indictments, leaving targeted companies unable to defend themselves in public as their reputations are destroyed. In one recent case, a motion to dismiss based on a whistleblower’s breach of seal was followed by an indictment just weeks later, raising alarming questions about retaliation, collusion, and a breakdown in prosecutorial impartiality.
“Prosecutors should not be partnering with those looking to exploit the system,” said Carlstrom. “When the Department of Justice is coordinating with whistleblowers who write books mid-litigation and breach court orders, that’s not accountability, it’s corruption of the system itself.”
The costs are staggering as employees lose jobs, patients lose access to services, and companies collapse, not because of proven wrongdoing, but due to public shaming, legal overreach, and the reputational death sentence of being labeled a fraudster, often without trial.
On this National Whistleblower Day, Prosperity for US Foundation is calling for:
Independent oversight of whistleblower claims to prevent abuse.
Legal accountability for whistleblowers who breach court seals or enrich themselves in an unearned way from premature disclosure.
Reform of the False Claims Act to distinguish good-faith reporting from opportunistic litigation.
Transparency in whistleblower-prosecutor relationships, especially when personal or financial incentives are at play.
“America needs real whistleblowers and those who act in the public interest, not for personal gain,” said Carlstrom. “But we must also start blowing the whistle on those who’ve hijacked the system. When justice becomes a racket, the consequences are catastrophic for businesses, workers, and the very idea of due process.”
The Prosperity for US Foundation’s recent efforts at the 2025 American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Annual Meeting have further amplified its mission to promote economic stability and accountability. The Foundation successfully recruited dozens of state legislators to sponsor four key constitutional amendments aimed at curbing runaway property taxes, protecting property rights, and requiring voter approval for new taxes, debt, or excessive spending. These amendments, inspired by proven models like California’s Prop 13, Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights, and Switzerland’s Debt Brake, are designed to empower voters and ensure fiscal discipline.
“Our momentum at ALEC shows that state lawmakers are ready to join the people in demanding accountability from government at all levels,” Carlstrom continued.
Additionally, the Foundation has called on influential figures like Elon Musk to support its citizen-led initiative to place these amendments on 2026 ballots in multiple states. By leveraging Musk’s platform and the Foundation’s grassroots strategy, the campaign aims to bypass Washington’s dysfunction and give voters direct control over fiscal policy.
“This is about empowering the people to stop the debt spiral and hold elected officials accountable,” said Carlstrom. “With these amendments and advocacy, we’re building a movement for lasting prosperity.”
Please visit: www.ProsperityForUS.Foundation

About Prosperity 4 US Foundation
Founded in 2025, Prosperity for US Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals and communities in the U.S. and globally to achieve economic stability and security. In the United States, the organization champions responsible government spending aligned with voter voices and family incomes, ensuring financial well-being for American families.
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To schedule an interview with a Prosperity for US Foundation spokesperson, please contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or [email protected]
CONTACT
Dan Rene
202-329-8357 or [email protected]
July 31, 2025
Beauty Creations Cosmetics Brings The Powerpuff Girls™ to Life in Wild West Y2K Makeup Collection

News release by Beauty Creations Cosmetics
Beauty Creations Cosmetics Brings The Powerpuff Girls™ to Life in Wild West Y2K Makeup Collection
LOS ANGELES, CA -July 31, 2025 — 10 AM PACIFIC TIME – Beauty Creations Cosmetics, the beloved Latinx-owned beauty brand known for making beauty affordable and bringing iconic collaborations to life, has partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP) to launch a limited-edition, fantasy-filled makeup and body care collection inspired by The Powerpuff Girls™, available to shop now at beautycreationscosmetics.com.
This exclusive collaboration captures the iconic sass of The Powerpuff Girls™ and infuses it with a playful Y2K Western twist, delivering 10 SKUs of vibrant pigments, nostalgic packaging, and high-performance formulas to inspire creativity in the next generation of Powerpuff Girls fans.
“The Powerpuff Girls were a meaningful part of my childhood and the first girl superheroes I saw on screen,” said Esmeralda Hernandez, CEO & Founder of Beauty Creations. “They were strong, fearless, and embodied girl power, individuality, and strength, all of which are values that align deeply with who we are as a Latina-founded company. Adding a Western vibe was my way of weaving in a piece of my Mexican roots, bringing in personality and heritage that felt like the perfect match for this nostalgic collection.”

The Powerpuff Girls™ x Beauty Creations collection features the Cowgirl Cuties Shadow Palette ($14), Pretty Desperados Blush Sticks ($14), Western Wake-Up Hydrogel Undereye & Lip Patches ($12), El Dorado Hair & Body Glitter ($13), Cowgirl Cuties Lip Oils ($8), Puckeroo Pout Tinted Lip Balm ($8), and the Cowgirl Cuties Collection Set ($82). Its playful theme is seen across sunset corals, dusty denim blues, shimmering saloon silvers, and glowy skin essentials made for long summer days and nights.
The Powerpuff Girls™ x Beauty Creations collection is available to shop on beautycreationscosmetics.com, Beauty Creations Cosmetics stores in Los Angeles, and at select retailers. For more information on Beauty Creations Cosmetics, visit beautycreationscosmetics.com and follow Beauty Creations Cosmetics on Instagram @beautycreations.cosmetics and TikTok @beautycreationscosmetics.
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About Beauty Creations Cosmetics
Founded in 2016, Beauty Creations Cosmetics is a fast-growing, accessible, and innovative beauty and skincare brand, known for its fun mix of colors, pigments, glitters, foundation, and skincare products that come in beautiful and unique packaging. Beauty Creations Cosmetics products are developed in-house by a talented team of creators, with a mission to instill confidence and empower its customers, regardless of their makeup style or where they reside in the world. All products are cruelty-free and include eyes & lashes, lips, face, skincare, and exclusive collections. Beauty Creations Cosmetics is available at beautycreationscosmetics.com, Beauty Creations Cosmetics stores in Los Angeles, and at leading retailers nationwide, including Urban Outfitters, H.E.B. stores, and many others. For more information, visit www.beautycreationscosmetics.com.
About THE Powerpuff Girls
Cartoon Network’s The Powerpuff Girls centers around three sisters juggling school, homework and monsters…all before bedtime. Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup aren’t your average little girls from Townsville: together, they form the superhero team known to the city as The Powerpuff Girls! When they’re not at school, working on homework or spending time at home, the girls serve as the defenders of Townsville. The Powerpuff Girls is an animated comedy produced by Cartoon Network Studios.
THE POWERPUFF GIRLS and all related characters and elements © & ™ Cartoon Network. (s25)
About Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products:   
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP), part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s Revenue & Strategy division, extends the company’s powerful portfolio of entertainment brands and franchises into the lives of fans around the world. WBDGCP partners with best-in-class licensees globally on award-winning toy, fashion, home décor and publishing programs inspired by the biggest franchises from Warner Bros.’ film, television, animation, and games studios, HBO, Discovery, DC, Cartoon Network, HGTV, Eurosport, Adult Swim, and more. With innovative global licensing and merchandising programs, retail initiatives, and promotional partnerships, WBDGCP is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.   
July 31, 2025
TrueMark Investments & SpiderRock Advisors Celebrate 3 Years of Success in Pioneering Uncapped Structured Outcome ETF with 5-Star Morningstar Rated JULZ

News release by SpiderRock Advisors
TrueMark Investments & SpiderRock Advisors Celebrate 3 Years of Success in Pioneering Uncapped Structured Outcome ETF with 5-Star Morningstar Rated JULZ
CHICAGO, IL – July 26, 2023 – 10:00 AM Eastern Time – TrueMark Investments, an active ETF issuer, and SpiderRock Advisors, a leading derivatives asset management firm, are thrilled to commemorate the three-year anniversary of its differentiated TrueShares Structured Outcome Series, the industry’s only uncapped buffered ETF series, leading with their Structured Outcome (July) ETF (Ticker: JULZ). This milestone marks a significant achievement in the rapidly growing buffered ETF space, which has become a new asset class of its own, boasting over $24B in assets under management as of June 2023.
The Structured Outcome series has emerged as a trailblazer within the industry, standing as the only uncapped structure in the buffered ETF space. TrueMark Investments & SpiderRock Advisors recognized the need for a buffered investment vehicle that delivers consistent growth potential without limitations, and we believe this ETF has proven to be the ideal solution for investors seeking both protection and uncapped upside potential.
Both firms are proud to highlight the overwhelming success of JULZ as the product has proven its ability to achieve expectations by providing investors with superior risk mitigation during volatile market conditions while simultaneously outperforming similar capped products.
“The three-year anniversary of our JULZ Structured Outcome product is a testament to TrueMark’s commitment to providing investors with strategies that are timely, based on sound investment philosophy, and effectively address a pain point in portfolio construction,” stated Michael Loukas, Principal and CEO of TrueMark Investments. “JULZ has established itself as a pioneering vehicle able to both mitigate drawdowns and thrive during up cycles in the market.”
One of the driving forces behind the product’s success is TrueMark’s strategic partnership with SpiderRock Advisors, a leading asset manager focused on option overlay strategies with over $3.7B in assets under management as of 06/30/23. By harnessing SpiderRock’s expertise and leveraging their capabilities, we believe TrueMark has been able to pioneer the uncapped structure and provide investors with a proven approach that addresses both downside and upside volatility while preserving the growth characteristics of large cap equities.
“We are proud to offer financial advisors a unique take on the buffered approach that can be seamlessly incorporated into their portfolios, providing enhanced diversification and risk management capabilities.” said Eric Metz, President and CEO of SpiderRock. ”We will continue to advance our product development and offerings to remain at the forefront of this growing space by empowering investors with unrivaled tools for capital preservation and a dedicated focus on risk-adjusted returns”.
Financial advisors can integrate JULZ into their investment strategies through use in models, Unified Managed Accounts (UMAs), Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs), or as a complementary addition to existing equity allocations or capped buffered products. JULZ’s versatility allows advisors to tailor portfolios to meet the specific needs of their clients, while benefiting from the unique advantages of the uncapped structure.
JULZ has received a 5-star rating recognition from Morningstar as of June 30, 2023, out of 155 funds in the US Fund options Trading Category, a leading investment research and ratings firm, further solidifying its position as a premier investment solution within the buffered ETF space. JULZ was also rated in the 1^st percentile out of 94 funds in its US Fund Options Trading Funds for its 3-year total return.
About TrueMark Investments
TrueMark and its TrueShares ETFs serve investors with investment strategies that deliver true exposure to traditional, thematic, and modern economy asset classes. We pair investment expertise with industry knowledge and experience by partnering with 3rd parties comprised of specialized, highly qualified industry experts to power investment management decisions, all at a price comparable to passive management.
About SpiderRock Advisors
Founded in 2015, SpiderRock Advisors, LLC is a Chicago-based asset management firm focused on providing customized option overlay strategies to investors. SpiderRock Advisors is making it easy for financial advisors and institutions to add option strategies to their portfolios. BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) took a minority investment in July 2021. As of March 2023, SpiderRock manages more than $3 billion for firms in the RIA, family office, national broker/dealers, and institutional clients. For more information, please visit the SpiderRock Advisors website and follow us on LinkedIn.

Before investing, carefully consider the TrueShares ETFs investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Specific information about TrueShares is contained in the prospectus and a summary prospectus, copies of which may be obtained by visiting www.www.true-shares.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest. Foreside Fund Services, LLC.
An investment in TrueShares is subject to numerous risks, including possible loss of principal. The ETFs are subject to the following principal risks: Authorized Participants, Market Makers, and Liquidity Providers Concentration Risk associated with ETFs; Equity Market Risk; Management Risk; Market Capitalization Risk (LargeCap; Mid Cap, Small Cap Stock); Market Risk; New Fund Risk.
Individual investors should contact their financial advisor or broker dealer representative for more information on TrueShares ETFs. Investment Products and Services are: Not FDIC INSURED / May lose value / No bank guarantee
All registered investment companies, including TrueShares, are obliged to distribute portfolio gains to shareholders at year-end regardless of performance. Trading in TrueShares ETFs will also generate tax consequences and transaction expenses. The information provided is not intended to be tax advice. Tax consequences of dividend distributions may vary by individual taxpayer. TrueShares ETFs are bought and sold through exchange trading at market price, not Net Asset Value (NAV), and are not individually redeemed from the fund. Shares may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV in the secondary market. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.
Morningstar rankings are based on a fund’s average annual total return relative to all funds in the same Morningstar category. Fund performance used within the rankings, reflects certain fee waivers, without which, returns and Morningstar rankings would have been lower. The highest (or most favorable) percentile rank is 1 and the lowest (or least favorable) percentile rank is 100.
The Morningstar Rating™ for funds, or “star rating”, is calculated for managed products (including mutual funds, variable annuity and variable life subaccounts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, and separate accounts) with at least a three-year history. Exchange-traded funds and open-ended mutual funds are considered a single population for comparative purposes. It is calculated based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a managed product’s monthly excess performance, placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The top 10% of products in each product category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4 stars, the next 35% receive 3 stars, the next 22.5% receive 2 stars, and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. The Overall Morningstar Rating for a managed product is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five-, and 10-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. The weights are: 100% three year rating for 36-59 months of total returns, 60% five-year rating/40% three-year rating for 60-119 months of total returns, and 50% 10-year rating/30% five-year rating/20% three-year rating for 120 or more months of total returns. While the 10-year overall star rating formula seems to give the most weight to the 10-year period, the most recent three-year period actually has the greatest impact because it is included in all three rating periods.
ETF shares may be bought or sold throughout the day at their market price, not their NAV, on the exchange on which they are listed. Shares of ETFs are tradable on secondary markets and may trade either at a premium or a discount to their NAV on the secondary market.ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETF’s NAV. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.TrueShares ETFs (the “Funds”) are registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and are distributed by Foreside Funds Services, LLC, member FINRA.
TrueMark Investments, LLC, not an affiliate of Foreside Fund Services, LLC., is the investment advisor to the Funds and receives a fee from the Funds for its services.
Contact Details
For TrueMark Investments
Stoyan Bojinov, Arro Financial Communications
+1 224-622-6637
[email protected]
For SpiderRock Advisors
[email protected]
July 30, 2025
Five Years After Its Launch, the MPI BEST 20 Tracker Index Closely Captures the Performance of Elite Managers

News release by MPI
Five Years After Its Launch, the MPI BEST 20 Tracker Index Closely Captures the Performance of Elite Managers
SUMMIT, NJ – July 25, 2o23 – 1:51 PM Eastern Time – Markov Processes International, Inc. (“MPI”), a leading independent FinTech provider of technology and services for analyzes of alternative investments, today released five-year performance data for the MPI BEST 20 Tracker Index, an investible benchmark showing that it is possible to capture diversification and risk-mitigation benefits of some of the most sophisticated systematic trading strategies.
In 2018, MPI partnered with BarclayHedge to develop the MPI Barclay Elite Systematic Traders Index (BLOOMBERG: MPBEST20) to provide a more representative benchmark for an institutional portfolio of hedge funds focused on managed futures. The index comprises the 20 largest systematic traders reporting to the BarclayHedge database. At the same time, MPI also launched the MPI BEST 20 Tracker Index (BLOOMBERG: MBEST20T) that aims to closely track the performance of the hedge fund benchmark using liquid, transparent exchange-traded funds.
“Five years ago, we came to realize that the proliferation and diversity of systematic trading strategies coupled with a wide range of their outcomes virtually begged for an investible benchmark to measure their performance,” said Michael Markov, founder and chief executive officer of MPI. “The result is industry-first benchmark that captures common trade signals of the group of 20 elite systematic traders delivering consistent performance with low volatility.”
Five-year performance data shows the index is truly representative of elite managed futures strategies, and the tracker provided attractive returns during major equity market drawdowns while delivering positive returns at other times.
“BarclayHedge’s indices, including the MPI Barclay Elite Systematic Traders Index, have long represented a veritable gold standard for measuring the performance of systematic traders,” reflected Ben Crawford, Vice President of Research at BarclayHedge. “Now, through our partnership with MPI, we are proud to have contributed another cutting-edge capability to the managed futures industry’s toolkit: The industry’s first investible managed futures benchmark, the MBEST20 Tracker Index. Today, whether you’re a CTA investor, a hedge fund manager, or the sponsor of an alternative ETF or UCITS product, the MBEST20 Tracker Index can provide you with an indispensable yardstick for what’s truly achievable with an allocation to systematic managed futures funds.”
It is well documented that incorporating managed futures in a portfolio can enhance returns, mitigate risks, and improve diversification. However, finding the right benchmark has been elusive for many investors. MPI’s index construction approach represents a logical evolution in the history of hedge fund performance tracking. First generation hedge fund indices sought to measure the performance of the entire industry, which introduced biases that skewed results. MPI’s Hedge Fund Index model seeks to correct for this shortcoming by targeting elite subsets of hedge funds to create a more stable, accurate gauge for measuring performance.
For additional information on the MPI BEST20 Tracker Index, please contact MPI at +1 (908) 608-1558 or [email protected].
About MPI
Markov Processes International Inc. (MPI) is a leading provider of solutions for investment research, analysis and reporting to the global wealth and investment management industry. MPI works with more than 200 client organizations, including pensions and endowments, sovereign wealth funds, global wealth management firms, institutional consultants, regulators, investment advisors and asset managers. Rooted in the principles of transparency, objectivity, and efficiency, MPI takes an innovative approach to problem solving in the areas of fund analysis, risk management, asset allocation, and reporting to ensure that its clients have the tools to succeed in ever-more-crowded markets. Follow us on Twitter @MarkovMPI and connect with us on LinkedIn.
About BarclayHedge
BarclayHedge, a division of Backstop Solutions Group, maintains data on more than 7,000 hedge funds, funds of funds and CTAs to assist institutional investors, brokerage firms and private banks worldwide save time and resources by providing data for research and due diligence, performance benchmarking, marketing and strategy replication. Connect with us on LinkedIn.
Contact Details
For MPI
[email protected]
Company Website
https://www.markovprocesses.com/
July 30, 2025
AdvicePay Names Alex Sauickie as CEO to Scale Up as Fee-for-Service Demand Continues to Grow

News release by AdvicePay
AdvicePay Names Alex Sauickie as CEO to Scale Up as Fee-for-Service Demand Continues to Grow
BOZEMAN, MT – July 25, 2023 – 1:00 PM Eastern Time – AdvicePay, the leading platform for processing payments and overseeing compliance of fee-for-service financial planning has named Alex Sauickie as Chief Executive Officer. Sauickie succeeds Alan Moore, Co-Founder of AdvicePay, who announced he was transitioning to Executive Chairman of the Board earlier this year. Co-founder Michael Kitces will continue to support the company in his current role.
Sauickie brings decades of experience in leading and scaling financial technology organizations in support of RIAs, Broker-Dealers, and large financial institutions. Most recently, Sauickie was Global Head of Wealth and Retirement Services at FIS, and formally President & CEO of CircleBlack, after roles as President and COO of Scivantage, with leadership roles and payment experience at Paytrust and Billtrust.

Alex Sauickie, CEO AdvicePay
Sauickie is known for a track record of exceptional results, driving revenue growth, fostering strong enterprise relationships, and leading successful strategic initiatives in support of advisors and enterprise institutions. His deep understanding of market dynamics, emerging trends, and the evolving needs of the industry will be instrumental in charting the course for AdvicePay’s continued success and growth.
“I am honored and thrilled to join AdvicePay as its new CEO and lead this incredible team,” said Sauickie. “AdvicePay’s culture and commitment to excellence, talented team, and unwavering dedication to innovation has set it apart as an industry leader. I am committed to building upon the strong foundation established by Alan and Michael and look forward to working closely with the team and leveraging our collective strengths to achieve even greater milestones together to bring the growing trend of fee-for-service to more advisors and enterprise institutions.”
Sauickie’s appointment comes after an extensive search conducted by the Board and AdvicePay’s leadership team. His selection reflects the board’s desire to shape a strategy to lead AdvicePay through its next phase of growth as it continues to be the fee-for-service platform of choice for large financial institutions, their advisors, and their clients.
“Alex was the best choice from a deep pool of highly qualified candidates,” Moore said. “He is a seasoned leader who brings a unique combination of strategic mindset, operational expertise, and a passion for the industry that aligns perfectly with AdvicePay’s core values. We are excited about the future under Alex’s leadership and have no doubt that he will steer AdvicePay to even greater success and further scale AdvicePay as the leading platform as the industry embraces fee-based financial planning.“
“It has been an honor to serve as CEO since founding the company, and I am incredibly proud of everything our team has accomplished in just seven years,” Moore continued. “I look forward to supporting the company under my new role as Executive Chairman of the Board.”
Under Moore’s leadership in the past two years, AdvicePay has experienced a 123% increase in advisors added to the platform, a 153% growth in transaction volume, and a 141% increase in annual recurring revenue. Additionally, AdvicePay ranked No 636 among America’s fastest-growing private companies on the Inc. 5000 list in 2022 and ranked No 1 in Montana.
“Advisors can’t engage in new fee models to expand the reach of financial planning unless they can execute their billing efficiently to ensure they’re getting paid for their advice,” said Michael Kitces, co-founder of AdvicePay and XY Planning Network. “AdvicePay is at the center of the industry’s shift to alternative fee-for-service financial planning models beyond assets under management. The Board and I are confident that Alex is the right person to build on this accelerating momentum as AdvicePay continues to move the industry forward. Alex’s appointment as CEO signifies AdvicePay’s commitment to scaling up with advisory firms and financial services enterprises, in a manner that does not compromise service, quality, or our ongoing innovation, as consumer demand for alternative fee methods continues to increase.”
AdvicePay remains steadfast in its commitment to its customers, team members, and partners, and looks forward to continuing its legacy of excellence and innovation under the guidance of Sauickie. As Sauickie assumes the role of CEO, he will work closely with the leadership team to continue a culture of innovation and growth. Together, they will build on AdvicePay’s strong foundation and set new benchmarks for success in the best interest of their customers.
To learn more about the AdvicePay platform, log onto www.AdvicePay.com.

About AdvicePay
Established by well-known financial advisors Michael Kitces and Alan Moore, AdvicePay is the industry-leading billing and payment workflow solution created specifically for fee-for-service financial planning. Financial services firms and their advisors benefit from efficient workflows designed exclusively to support their fee-for-service financial planning revenue, including up-to-date compliance and data security management, all in one unified platform.
Contact Details
AdvicePay
Shannon Beck
+1 406-412-2047
[email protected]
July 30, 2025
Equity Market Gains Offset Weakness in Private Markets for the Largest U.S. Pensions in the Latest Fiscal Year, According to Projections from MPI

News release by MPI
Equity Market Gains Offset Weakness in Private Markets for the Largest U.S. Pensions in the Latest Fiscal Year, According to Projections from MPI
SUMMIT, NJ – July 13, 2023 – 3:00 PM Eastern Time – Pensions with higher private-market exposure lagged those with higher allocations to the public markets in the 2023 fiscal year, a sharp reversal from performance trends in 2022, according to proprietary projections from Markov Processes International, Inc. (“MPI”), a leading independent FinTech provider of software and services for analyzing investment performance and risk.
The projections are generated by the MPI Transparency Lab, a one-of-a-kind data hub for endowment and pension performance. The Lab provides a wealth of information on performance and risk of the largest U.S. endowments and public pensions.
“This year’s performance of pensions marks a 180-degree turn from our experience just a year ago,” said Michael Markov, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MPI. “We know that the dynamics of performance attribution are important, yet most stakeholders lack visibility into these important institutional investors. The rebound in the public markets has certainly helped balance a lack of gains from areas like private equity and venture capital.”
MPI’s estimates are based on the 2022 fiscal year asset class exposures, which were derived from annual pension returns, and asset class returns for four quarters of the 2023 fiscal year (ending June 2023). The full report and projections are available here.
The median FY2023 projected return for the group of 40 state pensions MPI tracks is 9.0%, which is lower than the 9.4% return of the Global 60-40 benchmark. Gains in the benchmark were driven primarily by U.S. and ex-U.S. equities (19.6% and 18.8%, respectively) with bonds returning -0.9%. Private equity, real estate, and commodities all had negative returns for the fiscal year leading to underperformance of pensions with significant allocations in private equity.
Contributions from private equity and bonds were negligible to pension performance, according to the data, while pensions with the highest exposures to global equity came out at the top. Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, with a 74% exposure to global equities, is estimated to have the highest return for the fiscal year in the group.
The lowest estimated FY2023 performers in the group were state employees’ pensions of Oregon (1.8%) and Pennsylvania (2.9%). Interestingly, last fiscal year these pensions reported some the highest performance in the group as shown in chart below. Thus, Oregon PERS reported a 6.3% gain in FY2022 while most peers lost more than 5% and some lost even more than 10% over the same period.
MPI launched its Transparency Lab to shed light on opaque pension and endowment performance. MPI’s software utilizes proprietary technology and public data sources to peek, quantitatively, behind the curtain of a wide range of investments, providing information that is often impossible to obtain otherwise. With the Transparency Lab, all that data and analysis is contained in one place and publicly available, allowing investors, beneficiaries, regulators, researchers, journalists, and other stakeholders to garner unique insight into some of the largest and most opaque investors.
With the MPI Transparency Lab, registered users can view analytics and download “MPI-360” reports that help them uncover trends in asset allocation and exposures, explain drivers of both recent and historical results, obtain estimates of risks, drawdowns, and efficiency, perform historical stress tests, and evaluate various hypothetical scenarios.
MPI uses its proprietary Dynamic Style Analysis (DSA) and public annual returns to reverse-engineer asset exposure dynamics of large investor portfolios. When pensions report only annual performance figures, a decade’s worth of performance is represented by only 10 data points. Traditional static and rolling-window methods of regression analysis struggle to find credible insights from such infrequent data. MPI’s DSA, however, is uniquely adapted to work with such limited data.
“Knowing how your pension is doing quarter by quarter not only serves to satisfy one’s curiosity,” Markov said. “Rather it prepares beneficiaries so that they are not caught by surprise at the year-end by the results of their pension. However, we see the main value of this feature in providing pension CIOs valuable datapoints about their narrow set of close peers.”
For additional information on MPI’s proprietary data, visit the Transparency Lab. For further information, contact MPI at +1 (908) 608-1558 or [email protected].
About MPI
Markov Processes International Inc. (MPI) is a leading provider of solutions for investment research, analysis and reporting to the global wealth and investment management industry. MPI works with more than 200 client organizations, including pensions and endowments, sovereign wealth funds, global wealth management firms, institutional consultants, regulators, investment advisors and asset managers. Rooted in the principles of transparency, objectivity, and efficiency, MPI takes an innovative approach to problem solving in the areas of fund analysis, risk management, asset allocation, and reporting to ensure that its clients have the tools to succeed in ever-more-crowded markets. Follow us on Twitter @MarkovMPI and connect with us on LinkedIn.
Contact Details
For MPI
[email protected]
Company Website
https://www.markovprocesses.com/
July 30, 2025
Luma Financial Technologies and SpiderRock Advisors Partner to Offer Structured Note Replication Strategies

News release by Luma Financial Technologies and Spider Rock Advisors
Luma Financial Technologies and SpiderRock Advisors Partner to Offer Structured Note Replication Strategies
CINCINNATI, OH and CHICAGO, IL – June 6, 2023 – 10:15 AM Eastern Time – Luma Financial Technologies (“Luma”), an award-winning global independent alternative investment platform, and SpiderRock Advisors (“SpiderRock”), a leading provider of customized options strategies in the U.S. wealth market, today announced a partnership to provide advisors with direct access to structured note replication strategies via Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs).
Increasingly, advisors have been attracted to structured notes, and Luma’s cutting-edge technology and analytical tools have empowered investors on its platform to more effectively analyze, compare and invest in these products. SpiderRock will provide fiduciary opportunities for advisors by offering structured note replication strategies, given its large SMA franchise harnessing listed derivatives. This allows fiduciaries to serve more client preferences, as they can compare and contrast traditional structured notes with daily liquid replications.
“Our partnership with SpiderRock Advisors is another step forward in providing investors with greater objectivity, transparency and access to alternative investments,” said Tim Bonacci, CEO & President of Luma Financial Technologies. “By expanding the types of SMAs available on our platform, we’re equipping advisors and fiduciaries with new mechanisms to enhance the investment experience they provide to their clients, in a more efficient manner. We’re excited about expanding our platform’s offerings and are committed to leading the way in simplifying access to alternative investments.”
SpiderRock Advisors provides customized option overlays to registered investment advisors, family offices, national broker/dealers, and institutional clients, with a focus on risk management, yield enhancement, and strategies for concentrated positions. SpiderRock has more than $3 billion in assets under management.
“Increasingly, advisors are turning to option strategies to provide protection, generate income, or deliver defined outcomes within client portfolios,” said Eric Metz, founder and CEO of SpiderRock Advisors. “At the same time, we have seen growth in the popularity of structured notes. Working alongside Luma, we can ensure a greater level of product personalization and education for advisors who desire to bring these capabilities to clients, with greater scale.”
Built with the sole purpose of improving the transparency and accessibility of the alternative asset class, Luma’s advisor-centric platform has been used by financial professionals to help product managers and advisors compare, select, customize, and track a broad range of alternative investments, from the initial design stage through ongoing lifecycle support. By increasing advisor efficiencies when transacting in alternative investments, Luma is driving a more personalized approach to the way investment portfolios are constructed and managed.
For more information on Luma Financial Technologies and their new option SMA offerings, please visit Luma’s website.

About SpiderRock Advisors
Founded in 2015, SpiderRock Advisors, LLC is a Chicago-based asset management firm focused on providing customized option overlay strategies to investors. SpiderRock Advisors is making it easy for financial advisors and institutions to add option strategies to their portfolios. BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) took a minority investment in July 2021. As of March 2023, SpiderRock manages more than $3 billion for firms in the RIA, family office, national broker/dealers, and institutional clients. For more information, please visit the SpiderRock Advisors website and follow us on LinkedIn.
About Luma Financial Technologies
Founded in 2018, Luma Financial Technologies (“Luma”) has pioneered a cutting-edge fintech software platform that has been adopted by broker/dealer firms, RIA offices, and private banks around the world.
By using Luma, institutional and retail investors have a fully customizable, independent, buy-side technology platform that helps financial teams more efficiently learn about, research, purchase, and manage alternative investments as well as annuities.
Luma gives these users the ability to oversee the full, end-to-end process lifecycle by offering a suite of solutions. These include education resources and training materials; creation and pricing of custom structured products; electronic order entry; and post-trade management. By prioritizing transparency and ease of use, Luma is a multi-issuer, multi-wholesaler, and multi-product option that advisors can utilize to best meet their clients’ specific portfolio needs.
Headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, Luma also has offices in New York, NY, Zurich, Switzerland, and Miami, FL. For more information, please visit Luma’s website, or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Contact Details
For SpiderRock Advisors
[email protected]
For Luma Financial Technologies
Joe Collins
[email protected]
Company Website
https://www.spiderrockadvisors.com/
July 30, 2025
SpiderRock Advisors Named a Finalist in the WealthManagement.com 2023 Industry Awards

News release by SpiderRock Advisors
SpiderRock Advisors Named a Finalist in the WealthManagement.com 2023 Industry Awards
CHICAGO, IL – June 2, 2023 – 1:06 PM Eastern Time – SpiderRock Advisors (“SpiderRock”), a leading provider of customized options strategies in the U.S. wealth market, today announced it had been named a Finalist in the WealthManagement.com 2023 Industry Awards for Thought Leadership Advisor Education.
SpiderRock Advisors provides customized option overlays to registered investment advisors, family offices, national broker/dealers, and institutional clients, with a focus on risk management, yield enhancement, and strategies for concentrated positions. SpiderRock has more than $3 billion in assets under management.
SpiderRock has been named a Finalist based on its work in evangelizing volatility as an asset class among financial advisors.
“This recognition is especially meaningful for us because advisor education on the role of options strategies to both protect and enhance portfolios is vital to our strategy,” said Eric Metz, founder and CEO of SpiderRock Advisors. “Many financial advisors have avoided options largely because they’ve feared the complexity and the perceived challenge of scaling them through their clients’ portfolios. We are honored that our approach in making it easier for advisors to manage and integrate option overlays into their clients’ portfolios is being recognized in our industry.”
Now in its ninth year, the WealthManagement.com Industry Awards, known as the Wealthies, is the only awards program of its kind to honor outstanding achievements by companies, organizations and individuals that support financial advisor success. A panel of judges made up of top names in the industry, led by WealthManagement.com director of editorial strategy and operations David Armstrong, chose the finalists and will determine the winners, which each year recognizes the firms and individuals who are bringing new innovations to market that make a real difference to the daily activities of financial advisors.
Winners will be announced at a gala and awards ceremony in New York City on September 7th.
“The Industry Awards are a beacon, illuminating the trailblazers and innovators who are shaping the future of the financial services industry,” said David Armstrong, director of editorial strategy and operations at WealthManagement.com. “They serve as a leading indicator of future activity, and as a barometer for the dynamic ecosystem of companies and organizations that empower, support and enable advisor success who are driving the industry forward.”
About SpiderRock Advisors
Founded in 2015, SpiderRock Advisors, LLC is a Chicago-based asset management firm focused on providing customized option overlay strategies to investors. SpiderRock Advisors is making it easy for financial advisors and institutions to add option strategies to their portfolios. BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) took a minority investment in July 2021. As of March 2023, SpiderRock manages more than $3 billion for firms in the RIA, family office, national broker/dealers, and institutional clients. For more information, please visit the SpiderRock Advisors website and follow us on LinkedIn.
About WealthManagement.com
WealthManagement.com, an Informa business, provides everything wealth professionals need to know to stay knowledgeable about the industry, build stronger relationships, improve their practice, and grow their business. WealthManagement.com offers financial services organizations a broad array of marketing services designed to help them influence the industry’s leading audience of wealth management professionals.
Contact Details
For SpiderRock Advisors
[email protected]
July 30, 2025
Thrivent Advisor Network Adds Perspective Financial Services to its Growing Platform

News release by Thrivent Advisor Network
Thrivent Advisor Network Adds Perspective Financial Services to its Growing Platform
Minneapolis, MN – May 26, 2023 – 8:08 AM –Thrivent Advisor Network, the independent platform for purpose-driven advisors with shared values, has welcomed Perspective Financial Services as its 25^th affiliate. Established in 2019, Thrivent Advisor Network combines the resources and flexibility of a hybrid RIA business model with the benefits of a collaborative community of advisors and business owners who are driven by their beliefs and values.
Perspective Financial Services was founded in 2003 by Mike McCann, CFP®, AIF®. The Phoenix-based firm has focused on building long-term client relationships through two-way communication and time-tested investment strategies. It currently has $230 million in client assets under management.
“At Thrivent Advisor Network, we’re focused on helping independent wealth advisors run profitable and purposeful businesses, and we provide services that help advisors streamline their processes, focus on their clients and achieve meaningful growth,” said Carolyn Armitage, President of Thrivent Advisor Network. “We wholeheartedly welcome Mike McCann and the full Perspective Financial Services team to the Thrivent Advisor Network. Over the past two decades, Mike and his team have differentiated themselves by focusing not only on achieving their clients’ financial goals, but also on improving clients’ lives and having a positive impact on their communities.”
McCann founded Perspective twenty years ago as a sole proprietorship, with the goal of helping his clients navigate the uncertainty of the markets and the economy. The firm grew rapidly and steadily, and today its team of eight is entirely client-facing and client-focused.
“We conducted a deliberate and extensive search for a strategic alliance that could support our growing operations and technology needs,” said McCann. “More importantly, we also needed a partner firm that would align with our values and treasure the client experience in the same way we do. Thrivent Advisor Network’s unique structure provides that for us. We’re excited about our continued growth, with Thrivent’s broad operational support and the strength, flexibility and autonomy Thrivent offers.”
Perspective Financial Services is the latest firm to have joined Thrivent Advisor Network. Thrivent Advisor Network prides itself on building a community of like-hearted advisors who all serve their clients, employees, and communities with compassion.
About Thrivent Advisor Network
Thrivent Advisor Network is a registered investment advisor (RIA) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thrivent–a diversified financial services organization with 120 years of service. Launched in 2019, today Thrivent Advisor Network comprises 25 advisor businesses managing over $5 billion in assets under management.* Their community of independent-minded advisors is passionate about helping clients achieve financial clarity and value collaboration with other advisors who share a commitment to a greater purpose. Thrivent Advisor Network provides a suite of comprehensive solutions designed to help advisors lead successful businesses with a goal of improving people’s lives and having a positive impact on their communities. For more information and important disclosures, visit thriventadvisornetwork.com or find them on LinkedIn.
*Thrivent Advisor Network filed its annual Form ADV in March 2023, prior to Perspective Financial Services joining the platform.
More information about Perspective’s team, financial planning services, and investment strategies can be found at www.MoneyAZ.com.
Investment advisory services offered through Thrivent Advisor Network, LLC., a registered investment adviser. Clients will separately engage an unaffiliated broker-dealer or custodian to safeguard their investment advisory assets. Review the Thrivent Advisor Network Client Relationship Summary, Financial Planning and Consulting Services, Investment Management Services (Non-Wrap) and Wrap-Fee Program brochures for a full description of services, fees and expenses, available at Thriventadvisornetwork.com. Thrivent Advisor Network, LLC’s Advisory Persons may also be registered representatives of a broker-dealer to offer securities products. Visit Investment Adviser Public Disclosures or FINRA’s Broker Check for more information about our Advisory Persons.
Contact Details
For Thrivent Advisor Network
Jenna Reck, Vice President of Enterprise Communications
[email protected]
Company Website
https://www.thriventadvisornetwork.com/
July 30, 2025