MLC completes platform revamp
MLC will present its new look MasterKey platform to the market next week when it goes live with a raft of changes announced late last year aimed at enabling advisers to more efficiently service a broader range of clients.
The enhancements include the new MLC MasterKey Investment Service, new insurance product MLC MasterKey Protection Essentials and an enhanced margin lending offer, National Margin Lending.
One of the key aims of the new offerings is to allow advisers to provide retirement advice to people in their thirties and forties, according to MLC head of investment solutions, Anthony Waldron.
“It is now common knowledge that Australia is facing a significant challenge called the retirement savings gap. One of the ways to close this gap is for people to take control of their finances much earlier in life,” Waldron said.
“People in their 30s and 40s have different needs to retirees. They are in a wealth accumulation phase and need advice on wealth protection and debt management as well as superannuation and investments,” he added.
The new insurance offer has been designed to provide an uncomplicated solution without the bells and whistles most clients won’t ever use.
“Wealth protection is critical for the thirty-something market as this is the segment that has the highest levels of debt and therefore has an equally high amount of risk if an unfortunate event occurs which prevents the primary bread winner from going out to work,” Waldron said.
Recommended for you
A quarter of advisers who commenced on the FAR within the last two years have already switched licensees or practices, adding validity to practice owners’ professional year (PY) concerns.
Integrated wealth and financial services group Rethink has launched a financial planning arm called Rethink Wealth to expand beyond property investing and into holistic wealth management.
While adviser numbers continue to slowly creep back up, the latest Wealth Data analysis reveals they would actually be in the green for the calendar year if it weren’t for so many losses in the limited advice space.
Iress has appointed a chief AI officer to spearhead the fintech’s strategic focus on AI, with chief executive Marcus Price describing how the technology opens the doors to a “new frontier for wealth advice”.