Advisers need to engage with technology



Financial advisers will be able to effectively target the millions of Australians not receiving financial advice if they engage actively with technology solutions and engage in speaking engagements on the public level, according to Sydney-based IT firm, YTML.
Speaking at the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) conference in Canberra last week, YTML (Your Technology Made Lite) chief executive, Kevin Liao, said that planners could benefit from using technology tools to drive engagement across financial advice.
Liao said that close to 80 per cent of Australians do not currently access any form of financial advice, but that new industry technologies were focused on retaining the 20 per cent of active advice seekers, rather than engaging new clientele.
"While there are a number of fancy, cool, new technologies out there with robo-advice and digital advice, the reality is all these technologies are relatively passive."
For advisers to reach the 80 per cent of Australians without financial advice providers, partnering with technology firms or websites is likely to drive engagement, according to Liao, who said Search Engine Marketing designed to attract consumers to websites still counted as a passive use of technology.
Liao said specific technology tools in the robo space were key to advisers tapping into the market and driving the financial advice sector.
Liao also urged advisers to communicate with local groups including sports clubs or community groups to seek out potential new customers.
Recommended for you
Digital advice tools are on the rise, but licensees will need to ensure they still meet adviser obligations or potentially risk a class action if clients lose money from a rogue algorithm.
Shaw and Partners has merged with Sydney wealth manager Kennedy Partners Wealth, while Ord Minnett has hired a private wealth adviser from Morgan Stanley.
Australian investors are more confident than their APAC peers in reaching their financial goals and are targeting annual gains of more than 10 per cent, according to Fidelity International.
Zenith Investment Partners has lost its head of portfolio solutions Steven Tang after 17 years with the firm, the latest in a series of senior exits from the research house.