Australian IFAs, Investment Managers & Platforms

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With the greater transparency in fees and investment product costs in the wake of the FoFA reforms, advisors are looking for the most cost-effective means to invest in products and securities. Advisors need to detail to their clients what goes into their own charges, and so will appreciate providers that make it easy to map out costs. Platforms are first and foremost ranked by the investment fund range they offer, with almost half of survey respondents listing this as an important feature in making a platform attractive. A platform seeking to strengthen its appeal to advisors should look to ensure that the selection of investment funds is competitive in comparison to other platforms, although many other features also figure prominently in terms of advisors’ priorities. Most Australian financial advisors see growing their customer base as the primary challenge facing their industry over the next two years, with client retention a concern for more than half as well. Advisors are clearly worried about their ability to attract clients and will want providers that can help.

Scope

Verdict Financial’s “Australian IFAs, Investment Managers & Platforms” analyzes the relationship Australian financial advisors have with their product and platform providers based on our 2015 IFA Survey. The brief details the current use of platforms and the service arrangements advisors are seeking from their product providers. In addition to exploring the current relationships advisors have, the brief looks at the best lines of attack for platforms looking to build their advisor network.

What else does this report offer

• Insight into the business concerns of Australian financial advisors post-FoFA.

• An investigation of the main features advisors look for in their platforms.

• Market share of the leading platforms in use by Australian financial advisors.

• Advisor ranking of the best platform packages in the market.

• Key features that prompt switching among advisors.

• Key recommendations for product manufacturers in what they can do to better appeal to Australian advisors.

Reasons to Buy

Understand key trends in the Australian advisor community’s perception of product providers.

Understand how advisors are evaluating their platforms.

Target those features that advisors most value.

Improve advisor retention by understanding the services advisors most want from product providers.

Colonial First State
BT Financial
Asgard
Macquarie
MLC
AMP
IOOF
Netwealth
ANZ
Perpetual

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Key findings

Critical success factors

IFAS ARE A KEY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

Retail distribution has long been a platform-focused channel in Australia

Assets invested via platforms rose to A$640.5bn in H2 2015

The bulk of retail wealth in Australia is ill-suited to investment via advisors or platforms

PLATFORMS REMAIN THE DOMINANT CHANNEL FOR ADVISORS

Platform features

Fund range is key but a well-rounded platform is also important

Advisors are focused on growth and will want providers that can help them achieve this

Platforms need to be aware that advisors are under enduring cost pressure

The majority of IFAs rely on multiple platforms

Platform alternatives are few and niche but increasingly sought after

The wealth arms of the Big Four dominate the top platforms by use

A gap between use and top ratings suggests some churn in the platform market is likely

PRODUCT PROVIDERS ARE REGULARLY BUT INFREQUENTLY REVIEWED

Advisors do not have the time to review providers more than quarterly or annually

Shortcomings in fund range and performance prompt platform reviews

Keeping charges competitive is key to improving IFA retention

ADVISORS ARE INCREASINGLY INTERESTED IN USING THIRD-PARTY ASSET MANAGERS

AUM under third-party managers is still a fraction of advisors’ total client assets

Asset managers should position themselves as having strong specialist expertise

RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT IS KEY

Training is the key support service that advisors seek from platform providers

Keeping up-to-date is a constant challenge and obligation for advisors

Advisors need constant contact with their platform providers

Digital interaction with platforms has become the norm but direct contact is appreciated

APPENDIX

Abbreviations and acronyms

Definitions

Future of Financial Advice (FoFA) reforms

Independent financial advisors (IFAs)

Managed discretionary account (MDA)

Separately managed account

Methodology

Verdict Financial’s 2015 IFA Survey

Bibliography

Further reading

About Verdict Financial

Disclaimer

Table

N/A

Figures

Figure 1: Platforms have matured as a key source of AUM

Figure 2: The Australian retail savings and investment market is domited by superannuation funds and deposits

Figure 3: Fund range is the top draw in a platform for persol fincial advisors

Figure 4: Growth remains the top concern for fincial advisors, filly eclipsing regulation

Figure 5: Advisors like platforms that pass on the savings of the wholesale products in the form of lower costs

Figure 6: Almost half of Australian advisors are operating more than one platform

Figure 7: Platforms from the Big Four domite the market

Figure 8: Colonial First State has the most attractive platform package in the market

Figure 9: A third of fincial advisors review their providers quarterly

Figure 10: Investment fund range and cash magement accounts will prompt a platform review

Figure 11: Cheaper platforms motivate IFAs to consider switching providers

Figure 12: A majority of advisors are placing some of their client AUM with third-party investment magers

Figure 13: Client preference for specialist advice drives third-party asset magement use

Figure 14: Advisors want their partners to help them up-skill in new products and regulations

Figure 15: Product providers should accommodate IFAs’ need for regular communication

Frequently asked questions

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