Our Strategy
Our aim is to be the no.1 provider of software and services for clients and UK financial advisers.
Our strategy is focused – we make financial planning easier for clients and their UK financial advisers. We do this by harnessing technology, allied with high quality human service.
We prefer to insource, and so we own and develop our own software:
- The Transact retail investment platform
- The Time4Advice (T4A) adviser practice management solution (CURO)
Factors that underpin our strategy
UK market focused
We are solely focused on the UK intermediated retail investment market. Our wrap platform ‘Transact’ was created to enable advisers to consolidate their clients’ investments using tax efficient wrappers and to provide a wider range of investment choice.
We operate an open architecture platform, allowing advisers to choose from a wide range of funds and investment wrappers via the Transact platform with access to around 16,000 assets including OEICs and Unit Trusts as well as bank term deposits and securities traded on major stock exchanges.
Where appropriate, we link with providers of financial planning tools and technology to enhance end-to-end portfolio management. This includes linking with a wide range of adviser back-office system providers, access to tools such as cash flow modelling, trust service providers, third party Discretionary Investment Managers and specialist Self-Invested Personal Pension providers, and more.
Continuous innovation
We own and develop the software behind our service. Each year we invest significantly in the development of our platform, allowing us to adapt quickly to market and regulatory change where necessary. We listen carefully to client and adviser feedback and use this to shape our service and technology to support their on-going financial planning needs.
Exceptional service
The service we provide is just as important as our technology and products. We deliver a premium service through a high-touch client service team, helping advisers and their clients manage the complexities of financial planning as efficiently as possible.
Our head-office-based client service teams are split into small, regionally aligned teams, rather than product silos, and deal with queries across all assets and wrappers. With no call centre mentality, our service teams can offer a personal service and build strong relationships with advisers. In addition, when you call, you are put straight through to a person; we do not use tedious call-routing services.
Our Business Development Managers and Adviser Support Managers are regionally based and provide comprehensive on-boarding and ongoing support and training. Advisers also have direct access to day-to-day sales support, technical support, online chat and co-browsing.
Operational excellence
We set ourselves the highest standards of operational excellence and are committed to dealing with instructions as fast and as accurately as possible. We have rigorous system checks and carefully monitor our service levels, always aiming to improve.
Transparent pricing and a sustainable business model
All our charges are clear and transparent. We adhere to a policy of ‘responsible pricing’, meaning we only reduce our prices when comfortable that doing so will have no negative impact on service levels or revenue.
Our platform is run on proprietary technology, meaning we are in full control of the client experience, are not reliant on external providers and can react quickly to client and industry demands.
Operating in this way has helped create a financially strong and sustainable business model.
DISCOVER MORE: Read our Annual Report for year ending 30 September 2023. Download