Need someone to chat with? Someone from Strong Funds may be available. The Menomonee Falls fund complex has assigned up to five of the registered reps that typically take investor calls to be available for Web-based chats. The service is for retail investors who use the Strong Web site.

To initiate a real-time chat, visitors need only click on a "Chat with Rep" icon. If all of the reps are busy chatting, the icon is not shown on the site. In addition to chat, the visitor and the Strong rep are also able to "share" web pages and complete forms together.

"What we are offering that is unique is that we can proactively approach people to help them out if they look like they need help," explained a Strong spokesperson. "If someone looks like they are having trouble we kind extend an invitation to them."

Strong customized software from a third-party provider to create the chat tool. The spokesperson declined to identify the software creator.

Currently the service is available only to retail investors, not financial advisors who work with Strong.  

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