When does a platform become a partner?
If there’s one message that comes through loud and clear in this month’s issue, it’s that advisers expect much more from platforms than simply somewhere to hold client assets.
That might sound obvious, but the expectations placed on platforms have changed dramatically over the past few years. As the industry continues to evolve, tax planning becomes more complex, client expectations rise, and AI reshapes technology, which means advisers increasingly need partners that help them work smarter, not harder.
In short, they want platforms that genuinely support their businesses.
What advisers really want
We begin with an exclusive interview with M&G’s Chris Hudson, who explains why bringing PruFund onto third-party platforms marks an important step in giving advisers greater flexibility when building client portfolios.
From there, we explore the platform landscape from every angle. Scottish Widows looks at why adviser feedback should shape platform innovation, while NextWealth examines one of the industry’s biggest frustrations: the continuing gap between the data advisers need and the data they’re actually receiving.
Intelliflo explores how technology, automation and AI can give advisers something that’s often in even shorter supply than data: time. Transact discusses how platforms can help firms balance increasing regulatory demands with commercial growth, while the lang cat asks what advisers genuinely value in a platform beyond basic administration.
Seccl argues that integration may prove more important than AI itself, Quilter explores why platforms should become true business partners, and Parmenion reminds us that, despite all the technological change, good client outcomes remain the ultimate goal.
Together, these articles paint a fascinating picture of where platform technology is heading and, perhaps more importantly, where advisers want it to go.
Beyond the platform
Elsewhere in the issue, Matt Williams rounds up another month of IFA Talk podcasts, while our In Focus feature looks at the changing shape of business development in financial advice.
Clifton Wealth Partnership also offers a refreshingly honest account of selling an advice firm, sharing lessons that only someone who’s been through the process can really give. Meanwhile, our very own Chloe Gronow tells the remarkable story of RC Brown’s Glenn Meyer, whose journey from wheelchair to completing a 37-mile charity walk is a powerful reminder of resilience and determination that can be transferred across almost any scenario, either work or personal.
We round off the issue with our Mortgage & Property Investment section, covering first-time buyers, changing borrower profiles and building confident advice teams in an increasingly competitive market.
As always, I hope you enjoy the issue. If it sparks a new idea, challenges an assumption or simply reassures you that everyone else is grappling with the same challenges, then we’ve done our job. Happy reading!
Jenny Hunter
Deputy Editor, IFA Magazine
