TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: AMTD) today announced the launch of "The Invested Life," an online reality series where real people facing some of today's most common money concerns are paired with independent financial experts to take control of their finances. The series and site experience were developed by MSN, Generate and Ogilvy Entertainment. The series is sponsored by TD Ameritrade.
Hosted by MSNMoney at http://TheInvestedLife.msn.com, "The Invested Life" comprises three seasons over a nine-month period. Each season will follow seven, geographically dispersed people as they partner with seven recurring independent financial experts to address such money concerns as debt management, college savings, retirement planning, taxes, real estate and smart investing.
"As a result of the Great Recession, people are anxious about when economic recovery might happen, and many are looking to take control of their financial futures," said Peter Sidebottom, executive vice president of product and marketing at TD Ameritrade. "Our involvement in 'The Invested Life' is a unique way for us to demonstrate our commitment to creating more informed investors by providing access to new channels for insight, education, tips and tools that can help people manage their finances in an ever-changing environment."
The episodic video series is supported with more than 450 videos, news stories, tools, cast blogs and community forums that encourage viewers to engage with cast members, learn from their experiences and ultimately take action on their own. "The Invested Life" also includes the ability for viewers to "match" their personal investment style to the cast members they relate to most. Cast members are ordinary people from across the U.S., ranging from bachelors to new families to soon-to-be retirees, including:
* Dallas: The Semi-Pro - Former NFL player Winfred Tubbs turned small business owner and father transfers his competitive football spirit to his financial future
* Denver: The Players - With a shared passion for mountaineering and the outdoor sports, Michael and Lori Jake definitely aren't risk adverse, but with their sizeable real estate portfolio are wondering if they've taken on too much risk
* Chicago: The Adventurer - About to land his dream job with an opera company in Zurich, Switzerland, twenty-something Tom Forde really will be "singingll gingll be "singing for his supper," but as a busy artist will he have time—and the wherewithal—to manage his finances from halfway around the world?
* New York: The Rookie - After struggling with the tragic and sudden loss of her husband, New York native Jennifer Sherwood works to take financial control of her late husband's portfolio and her mounting debt to build a stronger financial future
* Portland: The Planner - Turning 60 hasn't stopped improv comic and theater maven, Kathleen Lansing; and since her husband, Joe Eberle, prefers the great outdoors while she longs for the Great White Way, retirement planning (especially when they have separate finances) can provide some pretty interesting challenges
* Los Angeles: The Do-it-Yourselfers (DIYers) - At first blush, it may seem that Brandon and Lisa Schindleheim are doing everything right—in fact, Brandon got hooked on investing when he got his share of Coca-Cola stock as a kid—but despite their best intentions, the Schindleheims are still looking forward to a family vacation where they don't have to pack the kids' cereal to save money
* Miami: The Opinion Seeker- As a single mom and the owner of her own marketing business, nothing comes easy for Suzan McDowell—whether it's trying to grow her business in an economic downturn or convincing daughter Sydney that money doesn't grow on trees—but she's willing to fight to rebuild her savings for retirement and her daughter's education
"We are thrilled to have worked with TD Ameritrade to bring 'The Invested Life' to people across the country who want to take control of their finances," said Stephen Kim, general manager, Global Creative Solutions at Microsoft. "We believe that our role in using technology to create a unique experience for viewers will help people participate in conversations and communities about the emotional issues surrounding finances."