Suitebox unveils virtual advice offering
New Zealand software start-up Suitebox has set its sights on the development of virtual financial advice with an overhaul of its existing online solutions in a bid to "combine a digital experience" with the face-to-face interaction of a human adviser.
According to SuiteBox chief executive, Richard Mannell, the new features will allow Suitebox's online collaboration solution to be used by any financial adviser in Australia and New Zealand, allowing them to view, save and share any video records from a client meeting and all historical meetings.
SuiteBox can now also be used as a standalone solution or as an integrated solution with planning software.
"As anyone in this space will tell you, the challenge is the cost of traditional human advice and that's where SuiteBox comes in," Mannell said.
"Now SuiteBox users can leverage our virtual collaboration tools with any advice technology and smart digital experience to offer low-cost, effective and efficient virtual advice."
The move comes on the back of an announcement by Suitebox's founder and creative director, Craig Meek, at the 2015 Afiniation Fintech Showcase in Sydney last month that it will be partnering with Midwinter Financial Services to help promote financial inclusion by providing an array of offerings to regional communities in Australia that currently lack adequate access to financial advice.
Mannell said that Suitebox will be unveiling more new clients shortly as it seeks to expand its influence in Australia and New Zealand.
"SuiteBox has had an unprecedented level of interest since the recent Afiniation Showcase, and we will be making an announcement shortly on major new clients and integration partners," Mannell said.
Recommended for you
As the first quarter of 2024 comes to a close, Money Management looks back on the corporate regulator’s bans and AFSL cancellations in the financial advice sector.
Insignia Financial is holding ‘relatively steady’ onto its rank as Australia’s second-largest financial advice licensee after the Godfrey Pembroke exit but Count is hot on its heels.
Liberal senator Slade Brockman has said the government needs to have a “cold hard look” at the level of regulation in the financial advice space and the costs of running a business.
FAAA chief executive, Sarah Abood, has warned changes in the first tranche of the QAR legislation around advice fees documentation could create more work for advisers rather than less.