In an Australian first, Infocus Wealth Management (Infocus), a leading non-aligned wealth manager, will launch a direct-to-consumer advice solution in May this year. The advice solution will incorporate the Morningstar Wealth Forecasting Engine and investment management services from Ibbotson Associates Australia, part of the Morningstar Investment Management group.
The Wealth Forecasting Engine is a dynamic simulator that projects an investor’s future wealth and provides savings rate, retirement age, and asset allocation recommendations for all life stages. The Wealth Forecasting Engine is designed to help users better understand estimated savings and retirement expenses, including the probability of achieving their goals in different market conditions. Assets invested through Infocus’ direct-to-consumer advice solution will be invested in separately managed accounts offered by Ibbotson Associates Australia.
Rod Bristow, Managing Director of Infocus Wealth Management, said: “This initiative is a continuation of our innovative approach, delivering financial advice that helps improve the lives of Australians from all walks of life. In addition to outcomes from consumer-driven inputs that can be provided anywhere, anytime, Infocus’ direct advice solution will be part of our overall offer supporting consumers seeking financial advice. Our direct advice solution will reduce barriers to taking action, delivering the freedom of a better financial life with just a few clicks,” he said.
“The way it works is that based on user inputs, the Wealth Forecasting Engine projects a client’s future wealth and provides savings rate, retirement age, and asset allocation recommendations for all life stages. Clients can then choose to manage their own investments, or seek advice from one of our nearly 200 highly qualified and experienced financial advisers around the country. This not only gives clients flexibility about how they want to engage with financial advice, it also means Infocus advisers will benefit from direct consumers who may also need more personalised financial advice at some point in the future,” Bristow said.
Heather Brilliant, CFA, Chief Executive Officer of Morningstar Australasia, said: “We’re pleased to be working with an innovative wealth management group such as Infocus, which is committed to using technology to help investors improve their financial future. The deployment of the Wealth Forecasting Engine will enable Infocus’ clients to more clearly formulate their financial and retirement savings goals and determine how they can more effectively work towards achieving them. They’ll also benefit from the expertise of our investment management group.”
