Peter Chun

UniSuper is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Ignition Advice, the world’s leading digital advice technology provider.

This is the first partnership of its kind in Australia and will provide members with accessible, affordable personal advice, at scale, covering superannuation, insurance, investments, and retirement options.

UniSuper is extending its award-winning financial advice and education proposition to service those members who wouldn’t ordinarily seek advice – the “missing middle” – with a digital advice service.

From June this year, UniSuper will initially provide its members with access to personal advice on their investment options via the MemberOnline Portal or the UniSuper mobile app. Personal advice on contributions, insurance, and pension drawdowns, will be progressively rolled out.

UniSuper’s digital advice platform will be powered by its award-winning education, guidance and advice team and support members with simple and user-friendly help, guidance and advice at a time that works for them.

Members will be guided through a journey and series of prompts to understand their needs and based on responses, receive a personalised recommendation. Members can then, in numerous scenarios, instruct the platform to implement their advice directly.

If the need arises, members will have the opportunity to engage with a UniSuper Advice colleague at any stage throughout their journey on the platform. Some, but not all, additional services may be provided at no additional cost.

UniSuper knows that small decisions made early can make a meaningful difference in retirement and this is an opportunity to support all members with access to quality personal advice.

Peter Chun, Chief Executive Officer, UniSuper, said: “Our goal is to provide great retirement outcomes for our members, we know that advice provides financial security for those preparing for and in retirement.

We want to ensure that each member has access to advice that’s tailored to their needs and helps meet their goals for a better retirement.” “While some members have complex financial situations requiring a detailed plan, many have simpler needs but still want expert guidance to build their financial confidence and support their retirement plans. Through digital advice, we can offer this advice in a fast and scalable way, increasing accessibility for all members.”

Terry Donohoe, Chief Executive Officer, Ignition Advice said: “We are thrilled to partner with UniSuper, one of Australia’s largest and most respected superannuation funds, to bring this innovative digital advice solution to its members. UniSuper’s demonstrated ambition and vision, underpinned by their award-winning service cements their place as global thought leaders in the space. With our mission being to ‘close the advice gap’, this partnership is a significant step towards achieving that goal.”

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In this role, Mr Speirs will be responsible for driving sales and developing strategic partnerships to expand Ignition’s presence in the APAC market.

Mr Speirs has over 25 years in the Australian wealth management industry, most recently as head of portfolio solutions at Bravura Solutions. His experience also includes Westpac and Macquarie Bank.

Mr Speirs will be based in Sydney and report to Eric Welsby, Ignition’s chief commercial officer.

Terry Donohoe, Ignition group chief executive officer, said, “Darren has an extensive background in successfully delivering sales growth and building client relationships. His deep understanding of the APAC wealth technology market from advice through to member administration will be instrumental in furthering our successes in the region, which are a core part of our global growth strategy as the leading global advice technology for financial services institutions.

“Ignition’s unique and purpose built, omni-channel digital advice platform has been engineered for financial services institutions, delivering transformational efficiencies and scalability to our global clients.  The platform enables increased agility at scale and optimisation of advice distribution channels which ultimately empowers financial services institutions to deliver greater volumes of financial advice through enhanced customer experiences,” Mr Donohoe said.

Mr Speirs said, “I am looking forward to working with the team to build Ignition as the market leading SaaS advice specialist for institutions that need to quickly and efficiently scale their advice propositions across multiple distribution models.”

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Mr Mahoney brings a wealth of experience and expertise in building wealth management and advice platforms in Australia and the United Kingdom.

In this role, Mr Mahoney will lead the company’s platform and product division, to meet the evolving needs of institutional clients and further strengthen Ignition’s position in the industry as the company scales up its business both in Australia and overseas.

Mr Mahoney has held senior leadership positions in fintech and institutional firms including SS&C, Bravura, Blackrock Solutions, Macquarie Bank, Colonial First State and BT Financial Group. Most recently, Mr Mahoney was chief technology officer at Mason Stevens.  He will be based in Sydney and report to Ignition Group chief executive officer, Mr Terry Donohoe.

Mr Donohoe said: “Enda’s deep understanding of design thinking, cloud-based platform expansion and proven ability to drive transformational change in culture and process make him a great fit for this new role.

“We are confident his expertise will play a pivotal role in shaping our future growth and enable us to deliver even greater value to our clients,” he said.

Mr Mahoney said: “I am looking forward to working alongside a talented team dedicated to transforming the way financial advice is delivered.

“The team has created a ground-breaking platform that will meet the challenge of scaling our business to meet the global demand for our services.  The high calibre of the team in Australia and globally, as well as the cutting-edge engineering, continues to lead the way in the provision of hybrid digital advice.”

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Based in the UK, Mr Lambden has over 30 years of experience in financial services, particularly in investment management, with his most recent experience as a Chief Executive Officer at J O Hambro Capital Management.

Mr Lambden has also been Chief Investment Officer at Baring Asset Management, and spent over 15 years at Schroders Investment Management in various roles, including Global Head of Equities, Chief Executive Officer of Australia, and Head of Australian Equities. He is currently a non-executive director of Quilter Financial Planning, having joined that board in March 2020 and has also served as a non-executive Director of RWC Investment Management.

Ignition chairman Peter Meurer said Mr Lambden’s appointment brings a wealth of international experience and knowledge to the business as it continues to grow.

“Ken’s extensive credentials and global experience will greatly assist Ignition in achieving its strategy of becoming the leading global digital advice provider for financial institutions,” Mr Meurer says.

“His appointment strengthens the support that our new global CEO, Terry Donohoe, has on the ground in the important UK and European markets.”

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Will comes to Ignition with 20 years of industry experience across a range of sectors, having worked at wealth managers, insurance providers and retail banks. Prior to joining Ignition, Will was Head of Account Management for Bravura Solutions, a global provider of software solutions. Before that he was a Director within Deloitte’s Technology Consulting practice, specialising in digital transformation.

In his role as Ignition’s new COO for Europe, Will’s responsibilities include overseeing client services associated with Ignition’s Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) proposition, working closely with existing clients and overseeing the business expansion to onboard new clients within the UK and Europe.

Ignition launched in the UK in May 2021 and was appointed by wealth manager M&G Wealth to deliver the firm’s new digital advice offering for its advisers and customers.

Terry Donohoe, CEO Europe, Ignition, said: “We are pleased to welcome Will to Ignition’s growing global team. Will’s extensive industry expertise and understanding will be extremely valuable as we continue our expansion. The UK remains at the forefront of the digital advice revolution and our hybrid technology is already allowing firms to capitalise on this, combining digital assistance with human expertise to offer a superior experience for their customers.”

Will Drew, COO Europe, Ignition, added: “I am delighted to have joined Ignition and I’m excited about the scale of evolution in financial advice provision that we will see in the next few years. I look forward to supporting our clients through an incremental, iterative and controlled transformation approach, and helping them embrace the opportunity presented by hybrid digital advice.”

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Eric Welsby

Ignition Advice, the global provider of advice technology, has appointed Eric Welsby as its new Chief Commercial Officer for Europe.

Eric has over 23 years of industry experience, and has held a number of leadership roles within retail financial services technology firms. Prior to joining Ignition, Eric was the global head of product and strategy for Bravura Solutions, a provider of software solutions for the wealth management, life insurance, and funds administration industries. Before that he held the role of deputy CEO at EQ Investors, a regulated wealth management, traditional advice and hybrid advice business.

As Ignition’s new CCO Europe, Eric will be responsible for the commercial strategy and development of the business through marketing, sales, product development and client service activities to drive business growth and market share.

Ignition launched in the UK in May 2021 and was appointed by wealth manager M&G Wealth to deliver the firm’s new digital advice offering for its advisers and customers.

Terry Donohoe, CEO Europe, Ignition, said:  “Eric’s appointment brings significant international experience and knowledge in sales, marketing and product to our leadership team as the business continues its growth trajectory to bring the benefits of hybrid advice to a wider market.”

Eric Welsby, CCO Europe, Ignition, added: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead the growth of an exceptional technology platform that enables financial institutions to engage with their large underserviced client base. Ignition’s ability to deliver highly configurable digital journeys including Protection, Pension and Investment products across Direct, Hybrid and full Advice channels will unlock significant efficiencies and drive better customer outcomes.”

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M&G Wealth is a wealth management company that provides tailored advice services and investment solutions.  It has £28 billion in assets under management and is part of M&G plc which is a global investment group headquartered in London, England, and listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Expected in the last-quarter of 2021, advice will still be provided by a human adviser but underpinned by digital technology. The service will initially be targeted at the company’s existing customers before being offered more widely and will reduce the time and cost to deliver advice, allowing improved outcomes for those seeking to invest or retire with smaller sums of money.

The service will be delivered through M&G Wealth’s existing advisers and be complementary to the much wider support M&G plc provides to independent financial advisers. 

Richard Caldicott, Deputy CEO, M&G Wealth Advice, said: “We want as many people as possible to access advice in an efficient, understandable, convenient, affordable and sustainable way.

“There is no doubt that there is a large population of investors who would benefit greatly from financial advice but they perceive it to be inaccessible and too costly. This is at the root of the advice gap and something we are fully focused on addressing.

“We want to be innovative, flexible and accelerate our delivery in all aspects of advice through first class digital experiences for our customers. Our whole focus in M&G Wealth is to enable our clients to have the best possible financial futures by building a planet friendly advice service which is accessible and inclusive for all.

“After a thorough due diligence process Ignition Advice is a fantastic partner to enable us to do just that.”

Terry Donohoe, CEO Europe, Ignition, said: “Digitally-led solutions make advice more accessible, easier to navigate and more cost effective, while still retaining the benefits of human relationships.

“Our experience in Australia and the Republic of Ireland has shown us the value of this model to consumers and the potential it has to democratise financial advice.

“We share M&G’s commitment to delivering accessible, inclusive advice for all and we look forward to bringing our tried and tested tech to the UK market with M&G Wealth Advice.”

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(L to R): Mark Fordree and Mike Giles

Fintech Ignition Advice continue their growth with a move into the UK market establishing new teams in London and Edinburgh.

Terry Donohoe, CEO Europe, Ignition Advice says, “We are delighted to bring our class leading digital advice platform to the UK. By bringing advisers and their clients together on the one advice platform, we enable our partners, financial institutions, to truly scale their advice propositions. With rapid implementation times and great user experiences, the Ignition Advice platform provides the flexibility demanded by financial institutions.”

The firm first gained a presence in Europe in Dublin in 2017. Mike Giles, Cofounder and CEO says, “Ignition Advice is well experienced in operating within local regulations, including the pre and post trade transparency requirements of MiFID and the consumer protection standards for insurance firms under IDD. As part of the move into the UK, we are further localising all products for the UK market, over layering UK FCA regulatory standards to meet the needs of British clients.”

David Hempson joins the company as its new Business Development Director UK where he will launch and lead Ignition’s sales effort in the UK. With twenty years of experience in financial services sales, including roles at EValue and FE FundInfo, Hempson brings a deep understanding of the investment and wealth sectors and a passion for digital financial advice.

David Hempson, Business Development Director UK, Ignition Advice says, “Ignition’s proven digital advice technology and the strong appetite from UK financial institutions for customer first digital engagement advice solutions make an exciting combination. We look forward to bringing the UK market live digital advice solutions for insurance, pensions and wealth in 2021. Our simple hybrid technology integrates seamlessly with adviser-led and adviser-assisted customer experiences. The challenges of 2020 have accelerated the need for digital solutions and Ignition Advice is perfectly positioned to help.”

Ignition Advice teams continue to expand globally, with strong hires in both the Dublin and Sydney offices, supporting the UK expansion and servicing new client acquisition.

Mark Fordree, Cofounder of Ignition Advice commented, “Ignition’s highly flexible platform is able to serve the needs of a broad spectrum of financial institutions. Post Brexit, the UK is establishing a strong lead in fintech and digital financial services, and we are pleased to enter the market at this time. Ignition continues to hire leading technologists to our global team to support our growing client base.”

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Manish Prasad

Ignition Advice continues its strong growth strategy, announcing a global partnership with one of the world’s leading financial services and digital technology providers, Avaloq. Ignition is proud to be the first Australian fintech to be admitted to the Avaloq.one Ecosystem.

Manish Prasad, CEO of Ignition Advice says, “Ignition’s accelerated growth comes from a focus on strategic partnerships. With our platform complete and validated, strong distribution partnerships will allow us to quickly scale our enterprise client base. We are delighted to partner with Avaloq to bring our solutions to their global network of clients.”

The Avaloq banking suite provides core banking software solutions to more than 150 of the world’s financial institutions, in more than 30 countries, with over USD 4 trillion in assets managed with its software. Avaloq clients include Barclays, HSBC, Societe Generale SA, DBS Bank, Deutsche Bank, Crestone Capital Advisors LLC, Maybank, LGT and Pictet. Through Avaloq’s extensive network, Ignition solutions can be offered to more than 150 target institutions.

Founded in Switzerland in 1985, Avaloq first launched a core banking solution almost thirty years ago. They pioneered Software as a Service (SaaS) and business process as a service (BPaaS) solutions for banks and wealth managers.

Their extensive third party marketplace Avaloq.one Ecosystem leads a new era of open banking, seamlessly connecting approximately 150 financial institutions with more than 120 innovative fintech solutions globally, allowing collaboration and rapid integration.

Terry Donohoe, COO of Ignition Advice says, “The Avaloq credo of complex problems, simple solutions and delivering live customer benefits in months not years is a perfect fit for Ignition. Our proven bank grade solutions are ready to implement, allowing clients to provide better service to their customers with go live in as little as 90 days.”

In 2020 Ignition has developed a strong distribution through partnership strategy and also recently became a member of the Envizage partner ecosystem. Envizage is a UK based holistic analytics platform that services enterprise clients including banks, insurance firms and asset managers. The partnership will allow Ignition and Envizage to bring digital engagement, goals optimisation, personal financial advice and investment, insurance and retirement product fulfilment to the global market.

Founded in 2014 by Mark Fordree and Mike Giles, Ignition is a global leader in digital advice technology, with unique capabilities to deliver advice across investment, retirement and insurance.

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