Architas  

Architas launches digital adviser tools

Architas launches digital adviser tools

Architas is introducing a set of digital adviser tools to help clients understand what they are investing in and try to break down the barriers some feel about investing.

The understanding risk tool is aimed at helping clients understand what their risk appetite could mean for potential returns and advisers can then see how that level of risk could fit to an Architas fund.

Meanwhile the explore funds tool allows allows advisers to show their clients the breakdown of the Architas funds in an "interactive and dynamic" way.

Article continues after advert

Leanne Barnham, head of global distribution marketing at Architas, said the firm has developed the tools in partnership with advice firms which had worked with the company since it was launched 10 years ago.

She said: "We have developed the new tools in partnership with these advice firms to help facilitate more interactive, detailed conversations and provide clear information about our funds to their clients.

"Helping clients understand more about investing is a key priority for us. We feel it is really important for asset managers and advisers to come together to do this and I think these tools are a great first step.

"We understand the increased focus on ensuring client suitability, not only at the start of the relationship but on an ongoing basis and we want to work with advisers to help them do this."

She said the understanding risk tool would allow advisers to map other popular risk models to see where clients sit on the EValue scale and which Architas funds are available in that risk level.

The explore funds tool would allow advisers to create bespoke reports with geographic and asset class breakdown, a list of all underlying funds as well as performance updates.

Garrett Harbron, head of wealth planning at Vanguard Europe, said: "Advisers who understand the interplay between trust and satisfaction will make an exponential difference to their business, and to their client outcomes."

He recognised there was an advice gap and that matters because financial advice is the best response response to the retirement crisis in the UK.

"Investors are confronted with a choice of literally thousands of funds, all of them offering uncertain outcomes, most of them requiring complex management and many of them expensive to the point of self-defeat. This has led to a sharp increase in demand for advice," he said, adding that advisers are now deploying automations in ways that seem to have the potential to help close that gap, quite often with the help of asset managers.