Given the rapidly growing demand for digital fact-finding solutions in the advice marketplace, Advice Revolution has recruited Thom to drive further growth of their business. They have successfully capitalised on this market trend to date, with their tools currently being used by over 50 businesses and their user growth doubling, quarter on quarter, over the last 9 months. The future for Advice Revolution looks equally bright, with a highly qualified and accelerating pipeline of large practice clients, which will continue to grow via Thom’s appointment.

Shaun Green, Founder and CEO of Advice Revolution says on Thom joining their team “There has never been more demand for digital fact-finding tools and we want to remain at the forefront of digitising data collection for the advice industry. We are delighted to have someone of Helen’s calibre join our team and spearhead the next phase of our growth, as we continue on our mission to help more advisers run their business like it’s 2022”.

Thom says about joining Advice Revolution “I’ve never worked for a product that has such a positive reaction from advisers and practices. Whether you’re a large or small practice, it can be picked up and used straight out of the box. This is so important for businesses that want to innovate quickly and grow”.

According to Netwealth, the need for digital fact-finding solutions has never been higher. Their 2021 AdviceTech report found that over 40% of advisers plan on adopting digital fact-finding over the next 24 months, representing the highest planned uptake across all categories of advice technology.

Advice Revolution’s tools have helped advice businesses from over 30 licensees to streamline their processes, improve their client experience and drive significant efficiencies in their back office. This is helping firms to create more profitable and scalable service offerings, while better realising their existing investments in technology and people.

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Merit Wealth (a part of Easton Investments Limited group along with GPS Wealth) is replacing its existing self-managed super fund (SMSF) advice application with Seido, recently releasing it to its 400 strong network of accountants with limited SMSF authorisations nationwide.

According to YTML chief operating officer Piew Yap, the power of Seido is its ability to allow businesses to differentiate their value proposition to clients and its deep connectivity between financial apps which can significantly cut the cost of doing business.

“We are excited to have an innovative group like Merit Wealth using Seido,” he said. “Since Seido’s launch in October last year, the number of users has increased steadily, now exceeding the 700 mark. We anticipate continued strong growth in both user numbers and app partners over this calendar year.”

“With increasing regulation and higher client expectations, the most successful advisers will be those who have the technology that empowers them to efficiently deliver outstanding advice,” said Grahame Evans, executive director, Easton Wealth.

“We made a decision to move to YTML/Seido platform because it is a truly integrated solution that will enable our network to be more agile while maintaining compliance with their obligations both from a quality advice perspective and a recordkeeping perspective.”

He added: “Seido does not allow a final SOA to be produced until we have vetted the document and tracks all versions and inputs ensuring a compliance trail is created. Importantly, it’s integrated CRM ensures the proper record keeping for advice files separate to any accounting files.”

YTML’s focus is on deeply integrating third-party fintech solutions into Seido, giving users the choice and flexibility to build their own integrated financial ecosystem from a range of fintechs.

Following the successful launch of Seido, YTML has announced it is expanding its team with the appointment of Helen Thom to Head of Distribution, bringing more than 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry to YTML.

Thom previously spent four years at financial services technology provider Midwinter Financial Services where she was most recently General Manager, Distribution. In her time at Midwinter, Thom was Head of Distribution and a Senior BDM in 2015.

Prior to this, Thom held roles at Ignition Advice (previously Ignition Wealth), Decimal, AMP, AXA and RetireInvest.

Thom has worked with a range of stakeholders including dealer groups, practices, advisers and accountants to deliver technology solutions to improve and strengthen their business efficiencies and processes.

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Manish Prasad and Helen Thom

The Ignition Wealth Leadership Team yesterday announced the appointment of Helen Thom as Head of Sales, effective immediately. Helen boasts an exceptional pedigree, having served at Midwinter, Decimal, AMP and RetireInvest.

Manish Prasad (Ignition Wealth CEO) tell us, “As Ignition Wealth continues to expand, we will maintain our focus on a capabilities and culture mindset. Helen Thom represents this perfectly. She is an absolute leader in her field of expertise having lived through the advice technology revolution. She has an incredibly determined work ethic and she’s a lot of fun. We are delighted that Helen is joining the team.”.

Helen is extremely well respected in the industry and holds an enviable reputation for her can-do attitude and her passion for rich goals-based engagement, decision support and advice. Helen has a practical hands-on understanding of the needs of both the consumer and the professional working in the advice industry.

Helen says, “In my early career in the advice software space I was hands-on, trialing and piloting the first advice platforms and training paraplanners in different types of technology. From the beginning, I have always been very passionate about making the digital experience intuitive and effective so that these professionals can provide the very best customer experience to their clients.”.

Helen is enthusiastic about the opportunity at Ignition Wealth. She is grateful for the privilege of having worked with some of Australia’s leading digital advice firms and thankful to the mentors who have guided her over the years. In turn, Helen is renowned as an empowering team leader, building her team for success.

Looking to her new role, Helen shares, “It’s exciting to be joining Ignition Wealth at a time of such transformation. I’m looking forward to working closely with enterprise clients, but even more exciting is the opportunity to take decision guidance out of financial services and into endless new industries with myriad applications.”.

As Ignition Wealth expands globally, recruiting and retaining the best staff is a key deliverable across all areas of the business. The firm will continue to scale up rapidly in 2018, doubling the headcount by the end of 2019.

Manish predicts, “Ignition Wealth is well placed to keep momentum through the sales cycle with a strong sales team, leading product design capabilities, and a distinguished development team able to support our client needs in Australia and around the world.”.

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Helen Thom, who was initially hired as a Senior Business Development Manager back in April 2015, has been appointed internally to lead the Distribution team as it continues to expand in 2016. This follows the resignation of Peter Burns at the end of 2015.

Managing Director of Midwinter, Julian Plummer has expressed his excitement for the new appointment, saying “Helen has extensive expertise in the financial planning industry, with 15 years of experience under her belt and considerable management ability. We are so excited to have her passionate enthusiasm leading the charge for what is shaping up to be a big year for us already.”

“It is definitely a new chapter for the team and as the company as a whole, and we are confident of Helen’s ability to take us to the next level.”

As part of the expansion, Midwinter has also elected Evan Polos as Head of Support and Robert Koorey as Business Development Manager (both internal promotions) – and several new hires within the customer service and support division currently underway.

Speaking of the team expansion Mr Plummer has said “2015 was a period of rapid growth for us and a massive year for FinTech in general. With many new clients coming on board and with Midwinter’s Digital Advice Solution due for release a couple months from now, it was evident we needed to accommodate for the demand to ensure that Midwinter continues its good reputation of quality customer service, training and support.”

“From our client’s point of view we are seen as highly accessible, so we definitely don’t want that to change just because our customer base is growing. By expanding the distribution team, we are guaranteeing that we continue to adequately meet the needs of all our clients – both large and small.”

Plummer continued, speaking about the current interest and growth in the FinTech space “There is so much happening in planning software at the moment – APIs expanding the breadth of planning application, the onset of digital, virtual and remote advice, straight through processing (STP) to registry systems and increasingly complex SMSF requirements – there is a need to have a team which speaks the language of advisers and is also conversant with the latest technology trends.”

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