The Findings
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The future of banking – think palm of your hand rather than the cash dispenser
As regulatory changes, shifting demographics and advancing technologies transform the face of banking, the industry must evolve. In order to succeed in this brave new world financial institutions must embrace technology, review partnership models and enhance customer experiences.
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The future of pensions
Few prepare for the unexpected but experience shows perhaps we should... Yesterday’s promises are increasingly expensive: the National Insurance Fund is predicted to breach its funding solution by 2032, but reforms have tended to be piecemeal and lacking in a clearly agreed long term objective. Customer experience in current retirement solutions is neither easy nor convenient and does not engage customers or equip them to make informed decisions. From buy outs and longevity, to member options and super funds, we look at how the pension landscape is changing. Technology in the retirement industry lags behind other sectors and the pressure to keep up with ongoing regulatory change has constrained innovation to create more affordable and sustainable solutions. What will pensions and savings policy look like for future generations? Will pensions even exist? “Doing nothing” is no longer an option and eventual collapse is inevitable without major reform.* *(Source: EY report – The future of retirement – A vision for pensions delivery.)
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The Future of Platforms
With platforms being a market that has seen significant growth in the last five years, doubling from £250bn to £500bn assets under administration (AUA), with more customers than ever deciding to use a platform to manage their money, what do we think about the FCA's proposed remedies to improve competition? Is it encouraging that the FCA has recognised the important role of platforms in the value chain? How can the market truly deliver the benefits it is intended to provide? What do you want from a platform – a transactional hands-off relationship or a long-term, deeper relationship with a business that can offer practice management support for the growth of your business for the benefit of your client? Platforms hold a huge amount of data on fund flows, contribution levels, withdrawals, dividend reinvestment, cash management etc – and are uniquely placed to see trends across clients at an aggregate level across all advisers within your business, all advisers in your region and across all advisers using the platform –in total – what value might this platform insight be of to you as a business owner and for your advisers and paraplanners?
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The Future of Saving Accounts
Do customers just invest based on rate or do they offset this against ease of withdrawal, brand or service?
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The future of social media – attention is the currency which counts
Cutting through the cluttered media landscape and engaging with clients on social media platforms is increasingly challenging. As social media evolves and new entrants and mediums emerge it is essential Financial Services have an effective strategy to capitalise on the opportunity and grab the attention of its customers.