Today FE fundinfo, a leading investment management financial and technology company connecting the investment and adviser community, and Just, a leader in individual retirement income, care and defined benefit de-risking, announce the integration of FE fundinfo’s market-leading cashflow modelling tool, FE CashCalc, and Just’s guaranteed income producing asset.
The integration will allow financial advisers to incorporate Just’s Secure Lifetime Income (SLI) solution into cashflow models for clients aged 55-90. The guaranteed income generated reduces sequencing risk and is uncorrelated to other assets held in the retiree’s drawdown portfolio, providing a diversified and more sustainable income strategy, as well as potentially enabling higher long-term portfolio and income values. The highly visual nature of FE CashCalc, coupled with its comprehensive financial planning and digital onboarding tools, helps advisers present clients with engaging representations of their financial futures, supporting better retirement planning and client outcomes through a sustainable income stream.
Following the announcement, the integration will be available on 26 April 2024.
This integration follows the publication of the findings from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) thematic review of retirement income advice. It highlighted the importance of suitable retirement income advice in the post-pension freedoms landscape. As more consumers opt for flexible solutions, advisers play a crucial role in helping clients make informed decisions to meet their retirement income needs. This integration directly addresses these challenges by providing advisers with the tools to demonstrate the value of their advice and the potential benefits of incorporating guaranteed income solutions into retirement portfolios.
FE fundinfo is expanding its capabilities for financial advisers and fostering partnerships that drive growth in the fund industry. The integration of FE CashCalc and Just’s guaranteed income producing asset delivered through its SLI solution exemplifies this mission, streamlining how financial advisers build bespoke solutions that match the financial needs of their clients.
FE CashCalc supports the entire advice process, with its cashflow modeller enabling advisers to create visually engaging plans that facilitate client discussions and ensure suitability. The integration with Just’s SLI solution enhances the platform’s capabilities, allowing advisers to deliver robust financial plans and better outcomes for their clients.
Stephen Ford, Adviser Product Strategy Lead at FE fundinfo, said: “We are thrilled to announce this integration between FE CashCalc and Just’s SLI solution at a crucial time, given the FCA’s recent review of retirement income advice. The review highlighted several areas for improvement, including the need for more consistent and appropriate use of cashflow modelling and the importance of thoroughly considering clients’ capacity for loss.
“This integration directly addresses these shortcomings identified by the FCA and forms part of our ongoing commitment to expand our capabilities to support financial advisers in helping their clients plan effectively for retirement. By combining the power of FE CashCalc and Just’s SLI, advisers can better assist their clients in making the most of their money with the right products for their needs.”
Stuart Slegg, Head of Retail Investment Solutions at Just Group, said: “We are delighted to be working with FE fundinfo to make available compelling solutions to advice firms seeking innovative ways to best meet the objectives of their retiring and retired clients.
“The FCA’s review reminds us that advisers need to treat decumulating clients, what we call the spenders, differently to savers because of the more complex range of risks they face. It’s imperative that in order to deliver personalised outcomes to clients, advisers should have access to powerful and comprehensive financial planning tools. We are excited to work with FE fundinfo to incorporate our guaranteed income producing asset, delivered by our innovative Secure Lifetime Income solution, to ensure more certainty over investment outcomes when clients need it the most.”
