The adviser world returned from the July 4 holiday ready to spend some money on technology.
First Trust became the latest asset management firm to buy a direct indexing fintech with its acquisition of Veriti. It’s going to be interesting to see how these firms differentiate their offering and convince advisers that their direct indexing product is superior to the dozen others on the market.
And as XY Planning Network co-founder Michael Kitces put it on Twitter, the trend demonstrates how difficult it is to disrupt the asset management business. Truly innovative technology is more likely to get acquired before it can seriously displace the incumbents.
The other major deal of the week was Envestnet’s purchase of fee and billing fintech Redi2. The deal expand Envestnet’s ability to serve asset management firms, and I broke down why advisers are increasingly turning to automated billing fintech. It’s also interesting to see Envestnet — which has had a turbulent 2022 with rumors swirling about a sale, some office closures and the relocation of its headquarters, a departing president and a corporate restructuring — opening up the wallet for a fintech company.
Learn what is fintech here.
Read on for the rest of the week’s fintech headlines.
Independent advisers using SEI for technology and investment management will soon have access to Holistiplan, a tax planning software that automates the process of reviewing a client’s tax returns. With clients expecting advisers to provide more financial services, tech like Holistiplan can help advisers add tax planning to their repertoire.
The partnership with SEI, which has 7,500 advisers on its network, has the potential to be a big win for the rapidly growing Holistiplan. The firm claims it has added 10,000 users since launching in 2019 and already has a significant market share lead over its competitors, according to the 2022 T3 Inside Information adviser technology survey.
Independent Advisor Alliance, a hybrid RIA, is partnering with a Cornelius, North Carolina-based computer repair service called We Handle Tech to launch a new technology firm dedicated to supporting financial advisers. The aptly named We Handle Tech: 4 Advisors will provide IT solutions and software, help mitigate cybersecurity risks and ensure firms are compliant with regulators.
It’s not just a clever name, what’s interesting about this initiative is the idea of helping advisers with both hardware and software needs, as well as setup and training. Services like this could also help deal with the integration problem facing many advisers.
While industry statistics pointing to a succession crisis can cause alarm, advisor-owners should be free to consider a middle path between staying solo and catching the surging wave of M&A.
New joint research by T. Rowe Price, MIT, and Stanford University finds more diverse asset allocations among older participants.
With its asset pipeline bursting past $13 billion, Farther is looking to build more momentum with three new managing directors.
A Department of Labor proposal to scrap a regulatory provision under ERISA could create uncertainty for fiduciaries, the trade association argues.
"We continue to feel confident about our ability to capture 90%," LPL CEO Rich Steinmeier told analysts during the firm's 2nd quarter earnings call.
Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.
Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.
