Forget Hayne, here’s four ways technology will remake financial advice
Technology’s waves have swamped plenty of other industries, so it’s hardly a surprise they are washing over the provision of financial advice. So much so, there’s talk of yet another “-tech”: as in, AdviceTech. So what’s accelerating the pace of digitisation of financial advice? Four key themes come to mind: First, providers realise the current advice offering does not resonate with customers. It’s a poor “experience”. Stats suggest only one in five Australians gets financial advice. Second, the royal commission into financial services has made it abundantly clear the dominant advice model has too many conflicts of interest. Regardless of whether the inquiry separates product manufacture from providing advice, it […]
Robo-investment – Retirement takes the crown
A customer insights study by automated investment service Six Park has found that more than half its clients are using the robo-investment service to grow wealth outside of super (36.5%) and for retirement savings (28.6%). These long-term goals ranked higher than the desire to save for property or saving for short-term goals such as holidays and weddings. The study results were released as Six Park celebrates its second birthday. The highest percentage of customers using their Six Park investment as a way to generate wealth outside super came from age groups under the age of 45, suggesting that long-term investing is increasingly a focus for younger generations. “It’s very encouraging […]
The fintech transformation
According to one fintech expert, brokers could soon be replaced by smart speakers. But will customers embrace such a technological leap? Until the early 2000s, the process of booking a holiday involved trips to multiple travel agencies, hours thumbing through glossy brochures, and more sit-down meetings than the average mortgage currently requires. Today it’s a task that can be completed on a mobile phone during a coffee break. There are many reasons why the travel industry experienced such a shift, from the lure of competitive prices to the convenience of consumers becoming their own armchair agents. People simply wanted to take more control. Seeing the same demands echo throughout the […]
Insiders say they think ethereum is a better investment than bitcoin
When it comes to cryptocurrency investments, there’s plenty of room for debate over which digital currency is the best bet. But for one group of investors, the choice is clear: According to new data from New York-based law firm Foley and Lardner, a group of insiders say that among cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, Dash, and Monero, they believe ethereum to be the best bet. Foley and Lardner surveyed a mix of investors and business executives about trends relating to cryptocurrencies. Among the questions they asked was which digital currency they believed to be the best investment opportunity. The most popular pick? Ethereum, the three-year-old blockchain technology that’s been largely used as […]
WealthO2 passes half a billion FUA
WealthO2, the fintech for financial advisers, has surpassed half a billion in funds under administration, an increase of more than 60% in six months.
Credit cards on the decline as Visa says we have passed ‘peak plastic’
Australia has reached “peak plastic” and credit card transactions will now start to decline, as people increasingly adopt mobile and wearable payment technologies, according to the new country manager of Visa. In his first interview since becoming the head of Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific at Visa in January, former local head of Citibank’s consumer banking operations Julian Potter told The Australian Financial Review the tipping point for change in consumer payments preferences would come when things like Myki or Opal cards could be stored on your phone in a digital wallet. “I use my phone and it just took a few goes and then the habit set […]
Does your FinTech company feature on the Australian FinTech Directory?
Over the past 3 years, the team here at Australian FinTech have built up the No.1 website for FinTech companies in Australia to be showcased to the world. We do this through the Australian FinTech Directory which can be found on our site here. The Directory features over 550 FinTechs operating here in Australia. It’s a long way from the beginning when the first 60 companies were listed and we thought ‘there might be about 100 in total’…. If you’re company is not featured on the Australian FinTech Directory, please let us know. And if your logo has changed, you have a new CEO, or would like to update your […]
Should The Reserve Bank of Australia Issue a Digital Currency?
During a recent Australian Business Economists forum, the Head of Payments Policy Department for the Reserve Bank of Australia, Tony Richards, had a lot to share on cryptocurrencies and distributed ledger technology in the Reserve Bank’s perspective. Of particular interest was whether the bank might consider issuing a digital version of the Australian Dollar. According to Richards, Bitcoin and many other cryptocurrencies were largely impressive and admirable, but flaws in their design coupled with limited usage within Australia made them unnecessary and hence there was no need for the bank to issue a new digital version of the Australian Dollar. The Bank’s Approach To Cryptocurrencies Australia can boast of having […]
