Financial Network Investment Corp

Two Southern California-based financial planning and brokerage firms said Tuesday that they will merge in a deal that will create one of the nation's largest independent firms in that field. Financial Network Investment Corp., a Torrance-based concern with about 1,000 financial planners, said it agreed to acquire certain assets of American Pacific Securities Corp., a Pasadena-based firm with about 500 planners.

Two Southern California-based financial planning and brokerage firms said Tuesday that they will merge in a deal that will create one of the nation's largest independent firms in that field. Financial Network Investment Corp., a Torrance-based concern with about 1,000 financial planners, said it agreed to acquire certain assets of American Pacific Securities Corp., a Pasadena-based firm with about 500 planners.

Capital Commercial/NAI has leased 1,724 square feet of office space at the Westlake Office Park on Westlake Boulevard to Financial Network Investment Corp. Terms of the multiyear lease were not disclosed. David Powell and James Kottra, principals with Financial Network Investment Corp., will double the size of their advisory firm after moving this month from the Westlake Corporate Center. John Burnham & Co. and City Pacific Corp. represented Powell and Kottra.

Aetna Inc. said it will buy Torrance-based Financial Network Investment Corp., a closely held brokerage, to increase its sales of annuities and other investment services. Terms of the purchase weren't disclosed, though the Wall Street Journal reported that the purchase price would be about $50 million. FNIC offers investments and advice through more than 2,400 independent financial planners and 177 offices in 35 states.

Lyn Perry of Wilshire TV & Stereo has been elected chairman of the Westlake Village Chamber of Commerce for 1997. Joining Perry on the board are Gwyn Petrick of State Farm Insurance, chairman emeritus; Dave Melton of Camarillo Community Bank, treasurer; and Paula Weiser of Weiser Litho as secretary. The vice chairmen are Dennis Predmore of State Farm Insurance, business services; John Grace of Financial Network Investment Corp.

* "Ready Now for the Roaring 2000s?"--the 10th annual economic forum by Investor's Advantage and the Westlake Village branch of Financial Network Investment Corp.--will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Forum Theater. The speaker will be Bruce Johnstone, senior investment strategist with Fidelity Investments in Boston. The cost is $15 if paid by today, $20 after. Make reservations at 495-2077. * A free seminar on charitable remainder trusts will be held at 7 p.m.

Like many Americans, when it comes to building a retirement nest egg, Ventura County residents are depending less on pensions and increasing home values and more on investments, says John Grace, manager of the Westlake branch of Financial Network Investment Corp. And with good reason, he said. "The Dow Jones industrial average went up about 1,000 points [to about 5,000] between December 1994 and December 1995," he said.

Financial-services giant ING Group agreed Wednesday to pay $7 million to settle charges that its brokerage units in El Segundo and three other U.S. cities took improper payments from mutual funds to promote their products.

* Bill Trester of Ventura received the Achiever Award for Janitorial Services at a national convention for ServiceMaster Residential/Commercial Services. Trester owns a local franchise of ServiceMaster Commercial Cleaning Services. Edgar and Terri Lawson, owners of ServiceMaster by Lawson in Ventura, also received Achiever Awards at the national convention. The Lawsons were recognized for achievements in Disaster Restoration and Residential Services. * David A.