I can't believe no one else is having this problem, but it appears that the .DAT files generated under American Funds' Recordkeeper Direct platform (identical to the MFS platform, so that's the Relius interface we use) have been modified by the company that maintains the recordkeeping platform, DST.

The new files do not import to Relius because they have an extra column. I have (very unhappily) tried modifying the files in Excel, Notepad and Wordpad, and something about the structure is changing and they can't be cleaned up.

Relius is aware of the problem, American Funds is aware of the problem, and the only answer I am getting is that DST has to fix it, and is working on it, but I can get no word on when - a day, a month or a year from now.

Does anyone else have any insight on this?

Please contact Kelly Robinson in support. We are aware of the problem and a fix exists which you do not have.

MFS has had DST modify their files to to allow import into Relius Administration. However, American Funds has not contracted with Relius to establish a link nor have they arranged to have their files edited.

Firms trading with American Funds should contact them to establish a link or obtain files in the correct format.

Thank you both. This information is different from what I have been told by Relius and AF.

Razmatazz, if MFS has had DST correct the problem, and we are using the MFS import for AF files, shouldn't that have taken care of it? Or is it possible DST is generating different reports for MFS than they are for AF?

Different DST clients (fund families) pay for and receive different levels of service and differing customized reporting.

This information was from Relius support. I would contact the support manager, Kelly Robinson, as she was the contact in support for this issue and arranged for the changes to be made with MFS.

Thanks for the feedback. As you noted, American Funds doesn't have a contract with Relius, so Relius isn't supporting any fixes for that platform. But, there was a fix for the MFS files, and that still works on the AF files, so at least we have a workaround for now. I've urged AF to step up and contract with Relius.

It was interesting for me to read through this post because we began asking about an Am. Funds link for Relius over 7 years ago!! After repeated inquiries, I was given the answer that Am. Funds did not want to incur the cost of settting up their platform with Corbel. It's another way they claim to keep their costs down over other vendors.

While I'm sure that there are numerous other factors at work here, I imagine that the cost to the investment vendor has probably not decreased in the last 7 years!

Only MFS had their files modified to the original format, whereas American Funds has not had the files restored to their original status. You are correct, in the past American Funds has not been interested in creating their own interface with Relius Administration. If enough people contact them, I wonder if this would make a difference? (The alternative would be for American Funds to have the files provided in a format that could be easily edited or imported using other Relius programs like der's.)

You mention there was a fix for the MFS files and that still works on the AF files - do you mind sharing what the workaround is? I have been playing with the files and discussing with Relius and I have not gotten a workaround yet. My next attempt is to create a transaction import based on the current AF files. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.

Tell your Relius support person you need a file called TRIMFILE.EXE.

There is an extra column (or two) in the "improved" files and this utility will strip it out without corrupting the file format. (You can't edit .DAT files in any editor I know of...Notepad, Wordpad, Excel...without corrupting it.)

I guess they need to talk more...your experience is like mine. When I called to follow up on this, I was told that there was an extra column (I knew that) and if I could just get rid of it everything would be ok. But it took a while for my support person to realize that they had a fix, and had had it for while.

Update: I got an e-mail this morning from American Funds that DST is going back to the old file format, as of today.

It is the understanding of SunGard Relius that the "Trimfile" utility is provided by MFS and is only authorized for use with MFS files. Therefore, we recommend that this utility NOT be used with American Funds files. We believe that American Funds should provide their files in a format that can be imported into Relius Administration. It appears that American Funds has recently restored their files to the original format, but these files should be imported through Transaction Import, not the MFS link.

Instructions will be posted to the FAQ's at www.relius.net describing how to place the American Funds file in a format that can then be imported through the Transaction Import routine.

Anyone who has questions on this issue is more than welcome contact me at 800-326-7235, x.5885.

To date, American Funds has not been interested in establishing a link with Relius Administration as MFS and others have.

Kelly Robinson
Manager, Relius Administration Pension Support