Key benefits of robo-advisors in Fintech
Future of advice: boutiques for some, robo-plans for the rest
Westpac chief executive Brian Hartzer says the growing cost of providing personal financial advice, including sky-rocketing regulatory costs, is creating a bifurcated financial advice market, with specialist boutiques serving customers willing to pay more for bespoke plans, while banks – sensitive about their reputations following the Hayne inquiry – shift to an automated model supplying general advice to the masses. After Westpac announced it would no longer provide personal advice, leading wealth advisers also said the traditional model of major banks seeking to provide cheap, personalised advice funded by cross-selling products was now dead, following the royal commission, and agreed “robo advice” would emerge as the way of delivering financial […]
Trust deficit means fintechs will fly
Leading fintech founders believe the fallout from The Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry is a great opportunity for them to wrest market share from the major banks. They believe their existing focus on customers is a serious competitive advantage they can exploit as mainstream financial services businesses reposition their operations subsequent to the release of the final report last week. Jason Wilby, director of insurtech Huddle Insurance, says for too long, there has been an imbalance of power in the financial services sector. “Now is the time for new and emerging fintechs to flip the financial services industry on its head, for the […]
Why you should invest, not save, for your kids
While parents want to be able to provide the best for their kids, it’s hard to save for their little ones’ futures when interest rates are slumped at historic lows. Even with regular deposits, cash attracting just 0.5 or 1 per cent interest in a savings account might not amount to all that much. However, if you choose to invest for your kids, you could potentially net each child an extra $35,000 by the age of 21, according to Patrick Garrett, chief investment officer at robo-adviser Six Park. “There’s a growing awareness of the power of compounding interest but also a willingness to consider investment portfolios because most people who are […]
Robo-advice growth a worldwide trend
A new survey reveals the robo-advisory is increasing in competition across both the Asia-Pacific and European markets. Research from data and analytics company GlobalData’s Wealth Managers Survey found that the robo-advisory market is increasing in competition globally, with more start-ups entering the wealth management industry year by year. According to GlobalData wealth management analyst Sergel Woldemichael, traditional wealth managers across the globe in previous years had a widespread level of agreement that robo-advice would seize market share. “However, as of 2018, the level of agreement that Asian-Pacific and European wealth managers will lose market share to robo-advisors is beginning to align,” Mr Woldemicheal said. To read more, please click […]
Millennials seeking financial advice from millennials
Younger people are shunning their parents and older professionals when it comes to getting guidance on all things financial, a new study has shown. Instead, the research from consumer advocacy group Adviser Ratings has found millennials are seeking other members of their generation to give them a helping hand. “They want to find advisers who have similar goals and life experiences… someone who understands that they’re not looking for the same conventional advice their parents got,” Adviser Ratings CEO Mark Hoven told Your Money Live. “It’s a lot more about lifestyle.” That’s partly because advice tailored to older generations isn’t as applicable to those in an earlier life stage. “It’s a fact that […]
Wealth scandals open door for new entrants
A global data provider believes neobanks and robo-advisers stand a good chance of gaining traction in an industry where incumbents are plagued with scandals. Following the news that troubled wealth giant IOOF could face several class action lawsuits, GlobalData believes the damage to public trust in the financial services industry will have significant long-term implications for how Australians invest. Andrew Haslip, head of banking content for Asia Pacific at GlobalData, said superannuation has a prized place in the heart of many Aussies and allegations of misuse of client money in this area are particularly damaging on top of a string of other banking and wealth-related scandals. It has given the […]
Competition in SMSF market tipped to turn as robots enter
A panel of financial experts have staked their bets on robo-advice as the future of SMSF investment. The panel, which was hosted by the SMSF Association and included representatives from the Australian Taxation Office, ASIC, Investment Trends, SuperConcepts and OpenInvest, emphasised the need for SMSF members to keep up with technological advancements in order to continue investing wisely and maximising their assets. In the aftermath of the royal commission’s findings, trust in advisers in Australia is at an all-time low. As a result of such sentiment and the current advancements in technology and AI (artificial intelligence), the expert panel suggested the way forward for SMSF investors will likely be engagement with […]
