Monday, October 15, 2012

New Firm to Bring Alternative Investment Strategy to Mutual Fund Space

Veteran Investment Advisers Join Forces to Launch River Rock IV Fund

Atlanta, GA, October 16, 2012 - FISCO Funds Management LLC, a U.S.-based family of alternative investment managers, and OP 8 Analytics LLC today announced a joint venture to launch a new investment management company, CARF Management LLC.

The new firm will serve as investment advisor to the River Rock IV Fund expected to launch in Q4. The new mutual fund, designed to be actively managed with an emphasis on safety and preservation of wealth, will provide investors the opportunity to maintain a permanent allocation to an alternative investment strategy.

According to Kevin Ellis, a principal at FISCO Funds Management and CARF’s Chief Operating Officer, FISCO and OP 8 share a belief that successful investing is about minimizing loss.

“Static allocations to portfolio classes and simple buy-and-hold strategies are no longer viable in today’s volatile environments,” said Mr. Ellis. “Our mission is to actively manage the River Rock IV portfolio in an attempt to enhance returns while seeking to maintain a core of safety and stability that may protect and grow wealth.”

CARF’s principals bring more than 100 years of investment management experience running hedge funds and providing separate account management services to high net-worth clients.

Tim Price, CARF’s Chief Investment Officer and CIO of OP 8 Analytics, believes that investors have been slow in adapting to the rigors of the secular bear market.

“We expect the bear market to continue for at least a decade,” says Mr. Price, “and we’re going to offer our clients an actively managed investment that may not subject them to the whims of the market’s direction.”

The CARF team believes the River Rock IV Fund will redefine the mutual fund investment experience by bringing an alternative assets investment strategy to the marketplace with an emphasis on balanced growth and preservation of capital.

“The investment management business is about maintaining the trust and confidence of clients,” says Mr. Ellis. “We plan to ensure that this important responsibility remains the consistent mindset of CARF.”

For more information the River Rock IV Fund, call Kevin Ellis at 678-905-5723.

About CARF Management LLC:
CARF Management LLC (CARF) is co-owned by FISCO Funds Management and OP 8 Analytics, LLC. CARF was developed by industry veterans to deliver a product that incorporates a number of diverse global, low-correlated asset classes to produce better returns during any economic cycle including periods of prosperity, inflation, deflation and recessions. CARF uses decades of global investment experience and leading-edge dashboard risk analysis to help Registered Investment Advisors manage through what they believe is the “new normal” in the marketplace.

About FISCO Funds Management LLC:
Founded in 2002 and located in Atlanta, FISCO Funds Management (FISCO) is a US based family of alternative investment managers committed to delivering positive returns to sophisticated investors. FISCO believes that an investment approach that utilizes the available premium associated with Index Options can be profitable while remaining largely uncorrelated to the equity and fixed income markets. The FISCO fund offerings chart a course to absolute returns for institutional investors using hedge fund products and will be launching their first retail product with CARF in Q4 of 2012.

OP 8 Analytics LLC
Based in Minneapolis, Op 8 Analytics LLC is a financial services firm known for their quantitative analysis of commodities and rules-based modeling system to trade stocks and bonds. Portfolio Managers developed and implement their proprietary dashboard output called “The Dynamic Indicator” which is updated weekly for clients. The Dynamic Indicator reviews valuation, contagion, long-term momentum, PTI momentum and economic trends.

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the River Rock IV Fund. This and other important information about the Fund is contained in the prospectus, which can be obtained by calling 800-297-9287. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing. The River Rock IV Fund is distributed by Northern Lights Distributors, LLC member FINRA.
CARF Management, LLC, Op 8 Analytics, LLC, FISCO Funds Management, LLC and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC are not affiliated.

Mutual Funds involve risk including possible loss of principal.

This is an actively managed dynamic portfolio. There is no guarantee that any investment (or this investment) will achieve its objectives, goals, generate positive returns, or avoid losses. Investments in commodities may be especially volatile.

The Fund will invest a percentage of its assets in derivatives, such as futures and options contracts. The use of such derivatives may expose the Fund to additional risks that it would not be subject to if it invested directly in the securities and commodities underlying those derivatives. The Fund may experience losses that exceed losses experienced by funds that do not use futures contracts and options.

Investing in the commodities markets through commodity-linked mutual funds or Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”) or Exchange-Traded Notes (“Exchange-Traded Notes”) will subject the Fund to potentially greater volatility than traditional securities.

Although the prices of equity securities and fixed-income securities, as well as other asset classes, often rise and fall at different times so that a fall in the price of one may be offset by a rise in the price of the other, in down markets the prices of these securities and asset classes can also fall in tandem. Because the fund allocates its investments among different asset classes, the fund is subject to correlation risk.

Credit Risk is when issuers do not make interest or principal payments on securities, resulting in losses to the Fund. In addition, the credit quality of securities held by the Fund may be lowered if an issuer's financial condition changes.

Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of fixed income securities.

The use of leverage, such as engaging in reverse repurchase agreements, entering into futures contracts or forward currency contracts, and engaging in forward commitment transactions, may magnify the Fund's gains or losses. Because many derivatives have a leverage component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself.

The Fund is a new mutual fund and has a limited history of operation.

The Fund is non-diversified, meaning that the Fund is permitted to invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds.

If a put or call option purchased by the Fund were permitted to expire without being sold or exercised, the Fund would lose the entire premium it paid for the option. The risk involved in writing a put option is that there could be a decrease in the market value of the underlying future, security, currency or other asset. If this occurred, the option could be exercised and the underlying future, security, currency or other asset would then be sold to the Fund at a higher price than its current market value. The risk involved in writing a call option is that there could be an increase in the market value of the underlying future, security, currency or other asset. If this occurred, the option could be exercised and the underlying future, security, currency or other asset would then be sold by the Fund at a lower price than its current market value.

Securities or other investments selected using quantitative methods may perform differently from the market as a whole.

ETF's are subject to specific risks, depending on the nature of the underlying strategy of the fund. These risks could include liquidity risk, sector risk, as well as risks associated with fixed income securities, real estate investments, and commodities, to name a few.

Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs and may result in taxable capital gains. Higher costs associated with increased portfolio turnover may offset gains in a Fund’s performance.

1568-NLD-10/9/2012

Direct investments in individual smaller and medium capitalization companies may be more vulnerable than larger, more established organizations to adverse business or economic developments.

Contact:
Kevin V. Ellis
Chief Operating Officer
FISCO Funds Management LLC
1899 Powers Ferry Road SE
Suite 120
Atlanta, GA 30339
678-905-5723
kellis@carfmanagement.com
http://www.riverrockinvestors.com

McKissock Rolls Out New Home Inspector Courses and Land Surveyor Training

McKissock Removes the Guesswork from Regulation and Compliance; Helps Keep Home Inspectors and Land Surveyors on the Job

Warren, PA, October 15, 2012 - McKissock, a leader in continuing education for real estate-related professionals, now has more state-specific, state-approved home inspector courses and land surveyor education. From the McKissock website, they have access to all they need to fulfill state requirements, including governing agency information, and can begin taking required coursework immediately. McKissock offers customizable packages, individual courses and webinars that are easy to access and affordable.

In addition to understanding the requirements of state regulatory boards, McKissock has affiliations or communicates directly with associations to help professionals receive continuing education credits. Those associations include: the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc. (NAHI), International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) and California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA).

“McKissock’s courses are dependable, accessible, low-cost and compliant, which is the formula for success for busy professionals,” says Annie Creek, New Market and Compliance Specialist at McKissock. “Since each state has different requirements, it’s reassuring to know that McKissock can verify what’s necessary to keep your license from lapsing.”

The state-specific core Home Inspection courses include:

* Connecticut
Connecticut Home Inspection Laws and Legislation

* Illinois
Electrical Service Inspections
Exterior Pre-Drywall Inspection
Foundation and Footing Construction Inspection
Interior Pre-Drywall Inspection
Plumbing Cross Connections

* New Jersey
Obey the Law: Standards of Practice for New Jersey Home Inspectors

* Nevada
Nevada Home Inspection Safety for IOS (Inspector of Structures)
Nevada Home Inspector Law

(Note to Nevada professionals: To renew an active certificate, a certified inspector must complete 20 hours of approved education, including, without limitation: (a) At least 3 hours of instruction on issues relating to the safety of any inhabitants of a structure being inspected and the inspector conducting the inspection; AND (b) At least 2 hours of instruction on the provisions of this chapter (laws) and chapter 645D or NRS.)

The state-specific core Land Surveying courses include:

* Alabama
Alabama Standards of Practice

* Arkansas
Standards of Practice for Arkansas Land Surveyors

* Florida
Florida Minimum Technical Standards and Ethics

* Idaho
Idaho Minimum Standards of Practice

* Illinois
Standards of Professional Conduct for Illinois Land Surveyors

* Louisiana
Minimum Standards for Property Boundary Surveys in Louisiana
Professional Ethics for Louisiana Land Surveyors and Engineers

* Missouri
Missouri Minimum Standards

* Mississippi
Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Mississippi Land Surveyors and Engineers

* Montana
Montana Ethics for Land Surveyors

* North Carolina
Standards of Conduct for Land Surveyors and Professional Engineers in North Carolina

* North Dakota
Rules of Professional Conduct for North Dakota Land Surveyors and Engineers

* Nebraska
Standards for Nebraska Land Surveyors

* New Mexico
New Mexico Ethics and Professional Conduct for Land Surveyors and Engineers

* Ohio
Standards and Code of Ethics for Ohio Land Surveyors

* Oregon
Rules of Professional Conduct for Land Surveyors and Engineers in Oregon

* South Carolina
Rules of Professional Conduct for South Carolina Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors

* Wyoming
Code of Ethics for Wyoming Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors

About McKissock:
McKissock is an education company that educates, empowers and enriches professionals in real estate, appraisal, home inspection, land surveying and engineering. McKissock gives specialists a place to go to access relevant, easy-to-use and high-quality courses that provide the hours and information necessary to meet state compliance and regulation requirements. Founded in 1990, McKissock offers more than 100 courses and serves thousands of professionals daily. The company is focused on providing a superior customer experience that will help professionals move their career forward. To learn more, visit www.mckissock.com.

Contact:
Alicia Hassinger
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
720.933.8119
ahassinger@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com