Displaying items by tag: FinTech

The number of annual pension transfers has risen 64% since 2018, according to a new report.

Phil Smith, founder and former group CEO of Embark, has been appointed as a non-executive director at fintech and support services firm Fintel.

AJ Bell, the SIPP and platform provider, has acquired mobile phone fintech Adalpha to increase its digital offering to financial advisers.

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AJ Bell is buying the Adalpha group of companies, including Ad Alpha Solutions, for an undisclosed sum.

Adalpha is developing a mobile-focused investment platform proposition for financial advisers which allows transactions and account details to be done mostly via a mobile phone. 

AJ Bell says the Adalpha platform will only be available via financial advisers.

According to the FAQs released today: “Adalpha is currently developing a simplified platform proposition for financial advisers delivered to customers via a mobile and tablet app. In essence, advisers will be provided with the software infrastructure they need to support an entirely digital service model for clients who are suited to that form of relationship and advice process.”

Manchester-based AJ Bell says it believes that this ‘simplified proposition’ has the potential to complement the company’s existing adviser platform business, AJ Bell Investcentre. 

Adalpha’s staff will join AJ Bell.

Andy Bell, chief executive of AJ Bell, said: “Financial advisers need a variety of propositions to match a diverse range of client needs. The Adalpha team are working on a simplified, mobile focused platform service that will broaden our offering to financial advisers and help them service a wider base of clients.” 

Dave Tanner, chief executive of Adalpha, said: “Our vision has always been to develop technology that helps financial advisers service a greater number of clients. Advisers should have the choice and capability to deliver their service remotely or face-to-face. As part of AJ Bell, we will be able to further develop our mobile led services and help increase clients’ engagement with their adviser.”

AJ Bell was established in 1995 and operates in the advised and direct-to-consumer sectors via AJ Bell Investcentre (adviser) and AJ Bell Youinvest (direct-to-consumer). It offers SIPPs, ISAs and General Investment / Dealing Accounts.

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Adviser tech firm O&M, part of fintech Iress, is to provide free CPD-qualifying webinars on drawdown for advisers.

Savings sector trade body TISA and fintech Altus have launched an online self-assessment tool, the Vulnerability Radar, to help firms “understand and identify” how to support vulnerable customers.

A petition against scrapping the pensions dashboard has garnered more than 100,000 signatures.

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Tens of thousands have called on Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey not to shelve the proposal, with the count up to 126,527 at the time of writing.

The petition, on website 38 Degrees, reads: “The Welfare Secretary Esther McVey wants to 'kill off' a new government website which would help millions of people keep track of their pensions throughout their careers, because she thinks it's not the Government's job to help.

“Without it millions of pension pots are at risk of being lost.

“According to estimates by the Department for Work and Pensions, 50 million pension pots will be lost by 2050 without an official website to help workers to keep track of savings through their careers.”



It added: “A huge petition signed by thousands of us will show the Government we expect them to keep their promises and continue to roll out the pensions dashboard.”

The success of the petition has been backed by fin-tech firm Origo and managing director Anthony Rafferty said:

“The petition launched by 38 Degrees, in response to media reports that the pensions dashboard might not go ahead has passed 100,000 signatures, showing the depth of feeling and the support that the initiative has in the country.

“The benefits of the pensions dashboard are easily seen and have clearly struck a chord with people.

“We at Origo have been passionate supporters of the pensions dashboard since the initiative was launched, believing it is essential to help individuals engage with their retirement planning, particularly in the new pensions environment which was ushered in with the Pension Freedoms.”

A software tool designed to predict the success of long-term retirement strategies has completed a seed-funding round.

The much-vaunted Pensions Dashboard, a project to allow pensionholders to view all their pension savings in one place, will move a step forward next week as developers compete to build potential applications.

Parmenion has been recognised in the FinTech50 list for 2015 as "one of the hottest" financial technology businesses in Europe.