Acquisitions of platform providers should include more financial advisers consultation where white labelling is involved, according to the Association of Independently Owned Financial Planners (AIOFP) executive director, Peter Johnston.
The issues arising from acquisitions such as that of Oasis Asset Management by OnePath (then ING Australia) in 2006 related to client ownership and equity, according to Johnston.
"These sales have resulted in the transfer of client ownership – the core asset of all practices – and it must be addressed as a high priority," Johnston said.
AIOFP said it expected its members to demand more involvement and equity in financial products and platforms in the future.
"Especially as a number of national dealer groups, who built the business with their white label Oasis products, received nothing from the sale to acknowledge both their contribution and efforts."
AIOFP predicted a paradigm shift within financial services whereby financial advisers in growing numbers will demand greater control and management over their clients.
Furthermore, "properly structured" private label platforms is another strategy which could address financial adviser demands.
Johnston said poor inflows in recent times have seen a change in some of the major institutions as they adopt a more "conciliatory" approach.
