Shannon Bernasconi
WealthO2 has launched an app on both Apple and Android to provide advisers and their clients with more flexible and streamlined access to their investment information.
Shannon Bernasconi, co-founder and managing director of WealthO2, said: “Advisers have been looking for smart phone access to their clients’ investments and super via an app, as a way of providing transparency on their holdings, returns and how they are progressing towards their goals,” she said.
“While increasingly we are seeing all ages of clientele utilising apps, it’s the next generation of adviser’s client who have viewed the issues from the Royal Commission and are even more aware of possible hidden fees and lack of transparency.
“Coupled with the new Your Future, Your Super reforms and the right of the consumer to transparency of assets, performance and of fees, a digital experience is key to advisers demonstrating value and trustworthiness to their clients, and also achieving strong client engagement.”
The new WealthO2 Client Portal app is a native app built to deliver easy and flexible access for advisers’ clients to their investment (including superannuation and pension) information. The UX usability based upon heuristic principles for app design contributes to the effectiveness, efficiency, and client satisfaction of the new app. It is the first in the market from an “on HIN” full-service platform provider.
According to the EY Global Wealth Management Research Report 2019[1], the preference for mobile applications had doubled since 2016. The report also showed that mobile apps were the preferred channel for 41% of clients for engaging with their financial adviser, followed by websites, face-to-face interactions and phone calls.
Ms Bernasconi said these numbers have only increased since the COVID-19 outbreak and the huge take-up of technology and virtual communications.
“Investors are much more comfortable with using technology to access all kinds of information and data than they were even a year ago, and advisers have also told us that many clients are more engaged with their financial strategies and processes thanks to the ease of technology.
“Taking the next step and providing investors with the capability to check their investments on their personalised app will only enhance engagement and interest.
“The new generation of investment platform client-centric, using technology innovation to deliver a digital client experience, to make advice more affordable, advisers more profitable and replaces revenue bias from products to customer service orientated design,” Ms Bernasconi said.
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