MutualFundWire.com: Huntington Universally Tweaks Mutual Fund Fees
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Thursday, June 10, 2010

Huntington Universally Tweaks Mutual Fund Fees


A bank just offered a new take on pricing for its family load-based mutual funds. On Tuesday Huntington Bank revealed that its new "universal breakpoint schedule" will count investors' preexisting Huntington Funds and non-Huntington Funds load-based assets combined for the purposes of fee breakpoints. Discounts begin at $50,000 purchases and max out (by reducing the load to zero) at $1 million.

"We can diversify you into our Huntington Funds and you as a shareholder don't get hit," explained Paula Jurcenko, senior vice president of product management and sales at Huntington Asset Advisors. "We think it's pretty unique."

Jurcenko noted that the move works particularly well with Huntington's commodities, small cap and international equity funds, given their appeal for those looking to diversify. Huntington currently offers a total of 24 mutual funds, including asset allocation funds, equity ones, fixed income ones and money market ones.

The change took effect on May 1.

Company Press Release

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Huntington Bank today announced that Huntington Funds investors can now combine any mutual funds that have a sales charge (also known as load-bearing mutual funds) toward discounts on Huntington Funds acquisitions, exclusively through The Huntington Investment Company. This first-of-its-kind “Universal Breakpoint Schedule” will help cut the cost of investing in load-bearing mutual funds.

The Universal Breakpoint Schedule will enable investors to qualify for greater discounts on sales charges for Huntington Funds acquisitions, regardless of where the non-Huntington Funds investments are being held. This is done by counting the total market value of all non- Huntington, plus Huntington-based, funds when calculating fee discounts. The discounts increase as the total value of the funds being invested increase.

“Huntington Funds customers can now enjoy the benefits of a diversified portfolio without sacrificing breakpoint discounts,” said Daniel B. Benhase, Huntington senior executive vice president and director of the Private Financial Group. “This is the first mutual fund investment solution that combines all investor load-bearing mutual fund holdings to count towards achieving the best possible breakpoint advantage for new Huntington Funds investment.”

Huntington Funds breakpoint discounts begin at purchases of $50,000-$99,000 and count down to zero sales charge for investments of $1 million and more. The aggregate market value of an investor’s non-Huntington load mutual funds is added to the amount of the planned Huntington Funds Class A shares purchase, to determine the Universal Breakpoint Schedule sales charge.

“We believe that our customers will receive an immediate financial benefit as well as a long- term advantage from this new approach to load fund investing,” said Benhase. “Not only will this generate one-time sales charge savings, it will create future savings for additional Huntington Funds investment as aggregate holdings grow. In our opinion, this is a smart solution that helps our customers grow their mutual fund portfolios, and helps us grow our investment business.”

Any mutual fund that was subject to a sales load qualifies for the Huntington Funds Class A Shares Universal Breakpoint Schedule, including:

  • Holdings in multiple mutual funds.

  • Investments by a spouse and children under 21.

  • Purchases through multiple intermediaries.

  • Purchases through IRAs.

    “This streamlined investment solution combines the simplicity of one competitive breakpoint schedule with unlimited diversification to accomplish the unique goals of the individual investor,” Benhase said. “We look forward to helping our customers maximize their investments through this new system.”

    # # #

    You should carefully consider the investment objectives, potential risks, management fees, and charges and expenses of the Fund before investing. The Fund's prospectus contains this and other information about the Fund, and should be read carefully before investing. You may obtain a current copy of the Fund's prospectus by calling 1-800-253-0412. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

    The funds are distributed by Unified Financial Securities. Inc.(Member FINRA) a wholly owned subsidiary of Huntington Bancshares, Inc. and an affiliate of Huntington Asset Advisors, Inc. the advisor to the Huntington Funds.

    Diversification does not assure profit nor protect against loss in a declining market.

    About Huntington

    Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a $52 billion regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Through its affiliated companies, Huntington has been providing a full range of financial services including checking, loans, savings, insurance and investment services to customers for 144 years. Huntington has more than 600 banking offices. Huntington also offers retail and commercial financial services online at huntington.com; through its telephone bank; and through its network of over 1,300 ATMs.


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