The ten year gap in financial services technology
In my estimation, technology in traditional financial services lag other industries by about a decade. Having trouble remembering what your online life was like in 2006? Here’s a benchmark: Facebook, Twitter, and the iPhone are each more than 10 years old. Sure, the word fintech has been all the rage the past couple of years, but it’s not a good sign when the word “tech” is wrenched into a moniker to explain what the companies involved actually do. We don’t refer to Uber as “taxitech,” just like we don’t think of Airbnb as “hoteltech.” It just works. It’s how we live. I’m not sure who coined the term fintech, but I can confidently say it’s been popularised […]
Budget 2016: An opportunity for Investors to embrace Automated Investment Advice
Treasurer Scott Morrison’s moves to enact measures to allow everyday Australians to boost their superfunds can only be welcome. Specifically, allowing those who have been out of the workplace due to childcare or illness to make top up payments on their return to work will go some way to addressing the fact that women in Australia typically retire with much smaller funds than men. Ignition Wealth CEO Mark Fordree believes that despite the headline contribution cap being reduced for those under 50, the catch up provisions are a great opportunity for everyday investors to maximise the potential of their investments and superfunds. It is essential for long term wealth […]
Crowdfunding still too costly says Sharesight chief
New crowdfunding rules would still put equity raising online out of the reach of investment app Sharesight, says chief Doug Morris. About 80 per cent of the New Zealand company’s tens of thousands of customers (it won’t disclose exact figures) are Australian, with the rest mainly in NZ and Canada. It “crowdfunded” 75 per cent of NZ$2 million ($1.88 million), or roughly $1.5 million, from them earlier in December, cutting out the need to pay for advisers other than a lawyer. “We did a miniature crowdfund amongst our own clients. Most of our clients are investors,” Mr Morris said. “We surveyed the customer base and asked them would you be […]
