Pershing is a company that does the clearing for many broker dealers.  Pershing can provide downloads either directly from Pershing or, in some cases, you can get your data through your broker dealer. If you get your data directly from Pershing, Pershing will typically charge you monthly.

The first thing you need to do to get started with Pershing is arrange for the files to be available to you. Start by contacting your Pershing account representative or your broker dealer to get the name of your contact at Pershing. If your broker dealer provides the files directly, arrange with your broker dealer for the Pershing download. Be sure all of the files listed above are going to be sent to you. Pershing will probably charge you a monthly fee, which is not associated with Advisors Assistant, to download your files.

If you receive the files directly from Pershing, you will also need a program provided by Pershing called Info Direct. This program downloads the files from Pershing to your desktop computer.

If you receive the files from your broker dealer, you will probably use your browser to download files.

Requesting The Files From Pershing

Pershing has set up the files you will need under “Client Marketing Systems – Advisors Assistant”. Telling them this is all you should have to tell them.

In the event you need to supply more information to Pershing or your broker dealer on an order form, please refer to the table below, the types of files you need to request are:

•ACCF (Sent only once with your first dataset)

•ACCT (Sent when there is a new account or change)

•ACTV  (Customer Account Information)

•DESC  (Security Descriptions)

•FUND  (ACAM Fund Balances / sweep fund transactions)

•GACT  (Global Bookkeeping Activity / trade date / settlement date and non-trade bookkeeping)

•GCUS  (Global Customer Positions)

•GMON  (Global Moneyline)

•ISCA  (Security file)

Downloading The Pershing Files

You’ll use InfoDirect to download the files from Pershing, or your broker dealer will give you directions for how to download the files from the broker dealer.  The important thing to remember is the location on your hard disk to which the files are downloaded. You should set up a standard location to which you always download your Pershing files, so that you always know where to find them. You could add a file called "PershingDownloadedFiles" to your computer.

Processing The Files With Advisors Assistant

Once the files are on your local computer, you are ready to process them with Advisors Assistant.

1.Click on the Downloads Icon from the Investments Sidebar Menu.

2.Choose Pershing from the Menu.

3.Click on Retrieve Data Files. Browse to the folder to which you saved the files when you downloaded them and select the files.

You can use the help on each screen of the download as the procedure from this point on is exactly the same.

Parsed Names In Pershing Download

Recently Pershing has added parsed names to their download.  This means that the name and address fields are separated into First Name, Last Name, etc.  Most names in the downloads are not parsed, but some may be.

To read more about this feature, click HERE.

See Also

Investment Downloads Overview

Automatically Adding Unrecognized Names