APFS and Lonsdale stick with VisiPlan
By Rebecca Evans
IWL has successfully renegotiated its ongoing VisiPlan software contracts with two dealer groups — Associated Planners Financial Services (APFS) and Lonsdale Financial Group (LFG) — until 2006, and is in talks with several other firms over renewals.
APFS and LFG outsource their back-office arrangements to Zurich Financial Services Dealer Back Office Services (DBOS) and according to IWL executive general manager business partnerships Tizzy Vigilante, the combined business of the pair amounts to approximately 800 VisiPlan users.
The re-signing of both dealer groups follows on the heels of IWL announcing its latest enhancements to the VisiPlan software, with the addition of a secure data transfer system.
A new feature, Visi-TrustedNetwork (VTN), will provide automated data feeds and straight through processing (STP) capabilities to users of IWL’s suite of products.
The VTN technology allows advisers to order funds online from the portfolio management module of the VisiPlan desktop software using straight through processing, with client portfolio information automatically updated when orders are fulfilled.
“IWL’s future product development road map is controlled by advisers for their and their clients’ benefit,” Vigilante says.
She adds the successful re-negotiation of the two contracts has strengthened IWL’s market share in what is traditionally a competitive space.
“IWL is committed to working closely with its clients, both via its industry unique client advisory boards and also on an individual basis,” Vigilante says.
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