With a consolidated network of fewer, yet larger dealer groups, Insignia has dubbed the re-shaping of its wealth arm as the “corporatisation of financial advice”, while also revealing a figure of $463,000 revenue per adviser in its 1H22 results.
It’s the first results report under the new Insignia brand and the first time it has openly stated revenue generated by each adviser.
The group’s strategy to streamline its business as part of its Advice 2.0 model has led to smaller practices unsuited to Insignia’s model leaving, although the group noted some smaller practices banded together.
Speaking to Professional Planner shortly after the group’s H122 results call, Insignia chief executive Ronato Mota called this the “corporatisation of financial advice”.
“There’s no doubt as part of Advice 2.0 that some smaller practices have departed,” Mota said. “We are having fewer firms that are larger, so [the advice practices] are more corporatised.”
Insignia’s view is far from unique in the industry, with the expectation that efficiencies from large scale businesses will generate better profit margins.
However, Mota maintained this direction is a positive for advisers and clients.
“With larger practices you can actually put the infrastructure and technology in place to create efficiencies that are required to ensure the advice is high quality,” Mota said.
“The real positive is we’re committed to making sure we invest in technology to continue to support advisers and we’re there to help support that growth.”
Insignia had 1,765 advisers at the end of 1H22 – up from the 1,167 recorded on Professional Planner’s 2021 licensee owners list.
This included over 400 advisers from its acquisition of MLC Advice that was completed last year.
Overall, the group is in steady shape financially reporting a 79 per cent increase in underlying net profit after tax.
The firm is also on-track to break even on its ex-ANZ aligned licensees by end of FY22 and MLC Advice by FY24.
The ex-ANZ aligned licensees improvement is attributed to its revised fee model and a contraction in adviser numbers to improve practice sustainability.
However, the MLC Advice path still involves work improving business growth which will include the re-launch of the Bridges brand.
“When we acquired MLC it was considered a bold acquisition and transaction,” Mota said. “That boldness and strategy around that has translated into results and outcomes.”
Platforms carry the show, advice takes hit
Platforms contributed roughly 70 per cent of operating revenue according to the H122 results, while advice and asset management each contributed 15 per cent.
Platforms held $227 billion in funds under administration and generated EBITDA of $219.6 million, while the advice business reported a loss of $31 million.
After the final stage of the Evolve21 migration, the Evolve platform administered over $42 billion in client assets across 298,000 accounts.
The Evolve23 program will be the next phase for the group, which will migrate $40-50 billion in client funds from acquired platforms onto Evolve.
I completely disagree and am insulted by Mota’s suggestion that smaller practices are not capable of embracing infrastructure, technology or efficiencies – the simple fact is that it suits Insignia to have larger practices as it is beneficial for their bottom line. This has fa to do with “ensur[ing] the advice is high quality” and everything to do with financial results.