PFP BRIEFS.(Brief Article)

* VEST ADDS ONLINE BANKING: H.D. Vest Inc., the turnkey financial services program, now offers customers Internet-based banking services under a marketing alliance with online bank CompuBank, (www.compubank.com).

The co-branded service, which is at www.hdvestcompubank.com, will provide Vest customers with "a complete cash management program," Vest said. The Web site provides 24-hour access to a full array of banking services and to Vest's online offerings, such as free tax preparation and e-filing, the company said.

"Combining H.D. Vest's online financial services programs with CompuBank's proprietary banking platform puts increased economic power in the hands of the consumer," said Vest chairman Herb D. Vest. "Our customers can now do everything from preparing their taxes to shopping online in one secure and convenient place." CompuBank chief executive Frank Goldberg commended Vest for its "financially astute network of financial planners and their customers."

* CAPITAL PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS ADDS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PRODUCTS: Capital Professional Advisors, a financial services network that includes 250 accounting firms nationwide, is making deferred compensation plan products for high net-worth individuals available for distribution by its member firms. The products are being made available under a marketing alliance with Clark/Bardes Consulting-Compensation Group, a Los Angeles-based benefits consulting group.

"CPA firms are in an ideal position to offer deferred compensation plans because they are already working with high net-worth clients, many of whom are entrepreneurs or business owners," Minneapolis-based capital Professional Advisors said. It also said its large CPA firm network was a factor in attracting Clark/Bardes to the alliance.

Capital Advisors' network of CPA firms, which represent $650 million in combined revenues is a "key distribution outlet," according to Clark/Bardes chief executive William L. MacDonald.

Fund Scan

U.S. GOVERNMENT AND INTERMEDIATE FIXED INCOME FUNDS A close-up of mutual fund performance, ranked by 1-year returns

                                                 Returns                                Load Fund (ticker/phone)            amount   3-mth.   1-year   5-year   1. PIMCO Real Return Fund A     (800) 227-7337                  3    3.00%    8.94%   2. BlackRock-Govt Inc Inv A     CCGAX/(800) 227-7236          4.5    5.12%    8.09%    6.32%   3. Evergreen US Govt Y     EUSYX/(800) 382-0016            0    4.35%    7.63%    6.04%   4. Fidelity Government     Income Fund     FGOVX/(800) 544-8888            0    4.40%    7.51%    5.88%   5. Managers Interm     Duration US Gov     SBID/(800) 221-3138             0    4.54%    7.47%    6.04%   6. Salomon Brothers US     Government O     SUSOX (800) 725-666             0    2.69%    7.47%    6.14%   7. Nationwide Inter US     Govt Bond D     NAUGX/(800) 848-0920          4.5    4.49%    7.28%    6.01%   8. Legg Mason Tax Inc-USG     Int Prim     LGINX/(800) 822-5544            0    3.60%    7.25%    5.41%   9. Goldman S. Government     Income Inst     GSOIX/(800) 292-4726            0    4.47%    7.15%  10. WPG Core Bond Fund     WPGVX/(800) 223-3332            0    4.90%    7.11%    5.69%  Lehman Brothers Interm Govt Index                               3.74%    6.25%    5.77% 

Source: CDA/Wiesenberger, Rockville, Md. www.wiesenberger.com. Data: Aug. 31, 2000

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