Financial planning underpins current government policy concerns around funding retirement for Australia’s ageing demographic. In turn, much of the strategic investment advice that supports clients’ transition to retirement relies on accurate, timely research data.
“Advisers aren’t given sufficient tools to educate clients on investment products,” says Dan Miles, co-chief investment officer, Innova Asset Management. He spoke with ConexusTV at the 2014 Dealer Group Research Forum.
Speaking of the research sector broadly, “We need to do a better job,” Miles says. “Products are just a means to achieve a strategy…that’s the bit that clients really want looking after…product is just a means to an end.”
David Wappett, head of MLC’s ThreeSixty Research, cites the importance of portfolio construction insight for financial planners. He also refers to the focus on transition to retirement strategies, Australia’s ageing population, and the unique needs of clients going through that phase.
“As researchers, we’re trying to be more relevant…advisers are very time poor and want to receive information in different ways,” Wappett says, citing videos and webinars as examples.
“The research industry has gone through a lot of regulation, which has forced it to think about the way it operates. And we’re now a lot more focused on the end customer…and what advisers can do with that information,” he says.
The insights of Miles and Wappet were joined by those of senior research figures from Affinia, BT Financial Group, Mercer, PSK Financial Services and Delta Research; and by Graham Rich, publisher of the PortfolioConstruction Forum.
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