ARTICLES

A greater focus on the client makes for better business.

In today's increasingly complex world, consumers need quality financial advice more than ever. Yet many advice firms are struggling; overburdened by regulatory and compliance obligations that are making it difficult to scale their business and keep fees affordable, resulting in more work for not necessarily any more profit. Too often, these are the advisors that are failing to capture the opportunity to modernise their business in response to changing industry requirements and customer needs.

The effective management of goals based investment portfolios requires strong investment skills together with ample time and resources, but in return, rewards financial advice firms with satisfied clients and superior business outcomes. 

Strategic asset allocation, the hallmark investment approach of financial advisory firms who use risk profiling to determine a client’s investment portfolios, is under the spotlight, with an increasing number of investment firms questioning whether the strategy remains appropriate in light of the seismic shift seen in financial markets over the past decade.

Part 1 of this article examines why advisors are increasingly moving to outsource the investment function of their financial planning business when implementing a goals based investing approach. The next step is to consider a suitable investment and administrative structure that will support the advisor in delivering the key objective of goals based investing; tailoring each client’s portfolio to ensure it meets their unique objectives.

Dynamic Asset Portfolio Manager, Jerome Lander, discusses the risks of strategic asset allocation - particularly during the very difficult market conditions we face today. He argues that unless you're prepared to change the way you manage your client's money, there's really no way to manage that risk.

A market correction can spell disaster for a financial planning business. Time is lost calming clients’ nerves rather than building your business, some clients may even leave after seeing their capital shrink and your income may plunge along with the market. But this is not true for all financial planning firms; some businesses thrive during weak market conditions, which provide them with an opportunity to demonstrate their value. 

In this episode, we speak to Matthew Walker from Dynamic Asset about Dynamic Asset Allocation, Goals Based Investing and the Association of Goals Based Advice.