The events, which are open to all intermediaries, will include live demonstrations of the new ‘Comparator’ technology as well as broader technical and regulatory guidance on platform due diligence and the use of wrap and fund platforms in the run up to RDR.
Each regional event will be hosted by a leading platform provider or IFA distributor including AXA, Skandia, ThreeSixty, Tenet, Standard Life, Fidelity Funds Network, Cofunds and Seven IM.
Prominent industry experts will host interactive sessions for adviser attendees to better understand how platforms can be aligned to client segmentation and comply with the FSA’s CP10/2 Platform Thematic Review.
Holly Mackay, managing director of The Platforum, will host a presentation on the due diligence of platforms, which historically has always been thought of as a complex area.
She said:
“Whilst many advisers and indeed their clients have already embraced the tremendous advantages which platforms can provide, the legal and in particular due diligence aspects can appear rather daunting.
"We have worked very closely with Capita to ensure that this new service provides an incredibly simple, yet sophisticated, tool to give advisers much greater confidence in using and advising on the benefits which wrap services and fund platforms can provide.”
William Watling, business development director of Capita Financial Software, added:
“The last decade has seen a major change in the IFA investment market and now with the wider investment choices introduced by platforms, along with the transparency of the RDR changes, improving both client servicing and due diligence has never been more important.
“We feel confident that these free sessions will ensure all attendees leave with a better understanding of how platform comparison technology can offer a very real and valuable service that will not only help to streamline the business process, but importantly significantly reduce time and cost burdens.”
EVENT LOCATIONS & TIMETABLE
- Edinburgh (Standard Life) 22nd June
- Southampton (Skandia) 25th June
-London (Seven IM) 6th July
-Manchester (ThreeSixty) 13th July
- Leeds (Tenet) 14th July
- Bristol (AXA) 16th July
- London (Cofunds) 20th July
- Birmingham (Fidelity Funds Network) 22nd July
