Product aims to mitigate risk for RIAs

The MDE Group Inc., a $1.3 billion institutional wealth management firm, is making an official expansion into the registered investment adviser business with the launch of Risk 3.0 Asset Management. The announcement follows several months of dabbling in the financial intermediary arena by providing financial advisers with unique access to a platform of investment solutions designed to help navigate certain market conditions. “Investment advisers are increasingly seeking ways to differentiate themselves in a volatile market fraught with competitive challenges,” said Mitchell Eichen, founder and chief executive of The MDE Group. “Over the past two years, our clients have benefited from the consistent and predictable returns of Risk 3.0 in this environment of inconsistency and unpredictability, and we are excited to be able to extend these same benefits to other RIAs and their clients.” Lamco Advisory Services Inc., a $1.6 billion advisory firm, started allocating client assets to an exchange-traded-fund option overlay platform managed by The MDE Group last November. “This is something that will help mitigate downside risk and give a performance accelerator,” Lamco president Mark Lamoriello said at the time. “From our standpoint, this looks like a chance to earn a 7% to 8% return without a lot of volatility,” he said. MDE Group also announced that D. Erik Leishman has been appointed senior vice president of business development for Risk 3.0 Asset Management, responsible for driving business development efforts at the firm. Email Jeff Benjamin at jbenjamin@investmentnews.com