Matthew Esler

Padua Solutions, a leading innovator in financial advice technology and services, has acquired Wealth Data, Australia’s premier provider of structured adviser and licensee data, superannuation and SMSF insights.

The acquisition follows Padua’s recent successful capital raise, initially targeting $5 million but significantly oversubscribed, closing at $7 million. The capital raise was supported by funds managed by Acorn Capital as cornerstone investor, marking its third investment in Padua Solutions.

Funds from the capital raise will support strategic acquisitions and technology enhancements – including digital automation and AI – to further strengthen Padua’s leadership in tech-enabled financial advice solutions. Wealth Data founder Colin Williams joins Padua Solutions as part of the acquisition, reporting to Rudy Haddad, Padua’s head of data, research & technical advice.

The acquisition significantly enhances Padua’s capabilities in delivering adviser, superannuation, and SMSF insights, directly supporting Padua’s mission in empowering advisers to build stronger futures for more Australians.

Key benefits for Padua’s clients and the broader financial services industry include:

• Enhanced Wealth Insights: Wealth Data provides Australia’s most comprehensive and structured financial adviser and licensee data, superannuation and SMSF insights enabling more targeted, effective adviser support and client engagement.
• Improved Market Intelligence: Access to deeper insights into adviser and licensee, superannuation and SMSF trends supports Padua’s clients better understand market dynamics, enhancing their strategic decision-making and competitive advantage.
• Immediate Client Benefits: Wealth Data’s existing relationships across platforms and institutions will broaden Padua’s client base, offering immediate opportunities for enhanced service delivery and collaboration.
• Increased Industry Influence: By acquiring Wealth Data, Padua reinforces its leadership position and commitment to supporting the advice, superannuation, and SMSF community, fostering a healthier and more informed financial services market.
• Greater Innovation Potential: The integration of proprietary adviser, superannuation, and SMSF insights enables Padua to drive ongoing innovation in data analytics and AI, benefiting advisers and institutions with continuously improving solutions.

Matthew Esler, co-Founder and CEO of Padua Solutions, said, “The acquisition of Wealth Data is a significant step forward in our vision to deliver the most powerful and actionable insights to the financial services industry. Colin Williams and his expertise will significantly enhance our offering and our ability to support our clients’ growth and success. The strong response to our capital raise reflects confidence in our strategic vision, and we look forward to announcing additional acquisitions soon.”

Colin Williams, founder of Wealth Data, added, “Joining Padua presents an exciting opportunity to further enhance how our data insights drive positive outcomes in financial advice and financial services. Together, we will continue innovating to deliver unparalleled value and insights to the industry.”

Matthew Sheehan of Acorn Capital and a director of Padua Solutions said, “We believe that with its technology and data, Padua is poised to revolutionise the advice sector.  The acquisition of Wealth Data is a step to achieving this goal and we are excited to continue to support Padua’s ongoing growth and look forward to their continued success.”

This strategic acquisition underlines Padua’s commitment to continually raising the bar in financial advice through advanced technology, robust data solutions, and exceptional client support.

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Advisers delivering value to clients rather than waiting for FoFA: survey

A recent survey of professional advisers has revealed that their main focus is on delivering value and services to their clients rather than waiting for FoFA to be finalised.

The survey was conducted by the Advice Leaders Forum (ALF), started by a group of industry stalwarts seeking to better understand industry trends and to share those with ALF members.

Surveyed advisers say they want to focus on increasing and improving communication with existing and potential clients, rather than being distracted by FoFA:

• 90% of participants expressed an interest in developing a comprehensive communications plan to attract & retain clients
• Over 50% wanted to add specialist SMSF and risk capability to their client offers

“The survey showed us that everyone is over FoFA and much more interested in getting on the front foot with their clients. Advisers all report a strong willingness to do the right thing with their clients and are facing competition from all angles”, said Rachel Staggs, of SRS Coaching and Consulting, one of the founding ALF members.

‘However, what appears to be getting in the way of this priority for Advisers is their need for improved operations, efficiencies, talent and better support from their Licensee”, according to Ms Staggs. Ms Staggs added that “the Business Insights Survey indicated that leaders in the industry are getting caught up in day-to-day operational activities like recruitment and compliance, when they would much rather be thinking about how, what, and when they can communicate with clients.”

Ms Staggs continues: “In the 2014 landscape, FoFA is no longer the concern it once was. Only 10% of advisers are worried about FoFA, whereas about 30% of advisers are reporting concerns over the impact and risk of low cost products on the market.”

“Digital media, social networking, interactive websites allowing for mobile phone access are all top of mind for advice professionals. Advisers want to create a personal brand so that they are seen to be valued experts (81%).”

“It’s about defining your client value proposition, identifying and communicating your point of difference to the market. 2014 will see advisers continue to look to the consumer as they minimise other distractions.”

“One of the reasons why we have launched the Adviser Leaders Forum is to respond to these challenges and opportunities with meaningful content and expert advice.”

The Advice Leaders Forum will run a series of webinars and online-interactive content to allow Advice businesses to have quicker access to the information they need in order to communicate and market their business, grow both inorganically and organically while developing leadership and human resource capability. Content will be developed and delivered by the Advice Leaders being; David Fotheringham and Bob Neill from Seaview Consulting , Tony McDonald from T and C Consulting, Cholena Orr from Profusion Group, Rachel Staggs from SRS Coaching & Consulting, and Colin Williams from HFS Marketing.

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Nimble is a Social Business Platform that combines relationship management and social engagement into an affordable web-based solution. 

It integrates LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Google, email contacts and conversations into one seamless, intuitive environment, empowering small businesses in today’s socially connected world to attract and retain the right customers.

Created by Jon Ferrara, the founder of GoldMine, a pioneering SFA/CRM product, Nimble is the only solution on the market that integrates the “4 Cs” – contacts, calendar, communications and collaboration – to enable professionals to effectively manage the way they see, hear and connect with their company’s most important asset: their business contacts.

“The problem today is our contacts and our communications are in too many places,” said Jon Ferrara, CEO of Nimble.

“Between IM, text messaging, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Skype and email, we can’t keep track of it all. Trying to manage all of this in eight different tabs on your browser isn’t the solution. We created Nimble to solve our own needs and we’re bringing it to the world to help small businesses solve theirs.”

Colin Williams, Director of Humble Financial Services, states, “We are excited to announce this new solution partnership with Nimble.  We are pleased to offer our customers Nimble which unifies email, calendar and social channels in one application.  This will allow our customers to easily see all of the communications made with their contacts no matter where the conversations took place.

Nimble is the next evolution in relationship management – a social relationship manager that makes it fun and easy to nurture personal and business relationships.

The post Humble Financial Services announces solution partnership appeared first on AdviserVoice.

During this open commentary the Industry Thought Leaders will share with you  some of the aspects they believe are critical in developing and sustaining a  quality business. Topics that will be covered are:

1. Ownership & Management by Bob Neil

2. How a business should operate by Jim Stackpool

3. How marketing can position your business for success by Rachel  Staggs

4. How to leverage technology by Colin Williams

Have your pens ready and your mind open as you discover what it takes to  build a quality advice business. Your questions will be answered.

This is the very first in our monthly series of Q&A as a panel of  Industry Thought Leaders and we look forward to you joining us. Spots are  limited to 100 so book now to avoid disappointment!

Q & A With The Industry Thought Leaders

Your questions, your issues, your problems  answered by a panel of Industry Thought Leaders During this Free Live Interactive  Webinar

It’s about open discussion and commentary

It’s about giving you access to a collective group of Industry Thought  Leaders

It’s about inviting you to have your questions answered, every month

It’s about adding value to your business

It’s about real time answers to your real time questions every month

It’s about passion, energy and focus.

For more information and to book your webinar seat  click here

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