Independent Schwab brokerage franchise branch opens [The Telegraph, Nashua, N.H.]

Dec. 21--NASHUA -- A "first-of-its-kind" Charles Schwab branch has opened in Nashua, the company announced last week.

Schwab, a brokerage service provider, opened the doors on a new independent, 1,200-square-foot branch at 2 Cellu Drive in the Amherst Village retail center last Monday.

The Nashua location is a part of a larger franchising initiative Schwab announced in early 2011.

According to officials, the decision to open franchise branches, in addition to the firm's more than 300 existing company-managed branches, is grounded in a plan to make financial advice more accessible.

Schwab's Nashua branch, led by Schwab independent branch leader Mary Murphy, will serve Nashua and its surrounding towns including Amherst, Brookline, Hollis, Hudson, Milford and Pelham.

Prior to managing Schwab's Nashua branch, Murphy, of Bedford, was a financial adviser and career agent with MassMutual Financial Group in Bedford, providing clients with investing advice and financial plans, in addition to working with clients on developing asset and income protection strategies.

Murphy was also a financial adviser with UBS Financial Services in Manchester.

"Schwab strongly believes in the importance of giving people local, face-to-face access to investing help and guidance, and I am excited to be the face of Schwab in the Nashua community," Murphy said in a statement.

"Perhaps now, more than ever, people want a financial services firm that provides straightforward investing help that is grounded in an investor's specific needs, clear and transparent pricing, and resources that help educate people about investing and improve their financial literacy."

Before entering financial services, Murphy was a mathematics teacher for special needs students at Manchester West High School. She also mentored the school's investment club and was nominated as Manchester West's "Teacher of the Year." She received her Masters in Education at Rivier College in Nashua.

Murphy expects to hold several educational investing workshops at the Nashua branch, which are free and open to Schwab clients and the public.

Investing workshops will include:

Risk Management for Traders -- Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 5 p.m.

Realistic Steps for Managing Your Retirement -- Saturday, Jan. 7, at 9 a.m.

Women and Investing: Get Started With Investing -- Thursday, Jan. 12, at 5:30 p.m.

For more information, call 595-0581 or visit www.schwab.com and www.aboutschwab.com.

___

(c)2011 The Telegraph (Nashua, N.H.)

Visit The Telegraph (Nashua, N.H.) at www.nashuatelegraph.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services