I picked up a head cement from my local shop that looks like a thin varnish. It works great, really soaks into the head, and doesn't really build up at all.
I ordered some alignment dots from decal connection. I've installed them on one of my 3 piece fly rods, and they seem to work pretty well so far. I ordered the smallest little dots that they offered, and it seems reasonably functional. The only down side IMO is that you have to apply finish over the decal on the male side of the ferrule. Not my first choice for looks, but still not that bad.