FSP adds PlanTech to software stable

Traditional risk and customer relationship management (CRM) software provider PlanTech will take on some of the large advisory software providers with enhancements to its flagship Proplanner offering.

To be released by Christmas, Proplanner Version Two will contain significant upgrades to its investment planning capabilities that will “move it toward the capabilities of an Xplan or VisiPlan”, said PlanTech managing director Tony Smith.

“We have completely integrated a single stop solution for risk and investment planning, CRM and practice management, so I think we’ve hit a real sweet spot with Proplanner,” he said.

But Smith conceded the upgraded program will not, in the short-term, include some of the more complex functions currently offered by Coin, VisiPlan and Xplan.

“There are certain demographics of advisers and dealer groups who will use our product in preference, but there are certain groups who are at the complex end that will need more complex forecasting functions.”

Smith said PlanTech will look to move into more complex modelling “over time”.

News of the software upgrade came as Financial Services Partners (FSP) announced that it had struck a deal with PlanTech, which will now be available to FSP’s 170-plus financial planners for CRM, risk advising and simple accumulation business tasks.

FSP managing director Geoff Rimmer said the new deal will not disturb FSP’s existing relationship with Coin Software.

Rimmer’s assurance came despite their yearlong relationship with Coin recently hitting some turbulence.