Eight ways we helped Financial advisers in 2020

2020 was for many financial advisers the biggest test of their investment propositions since the Global Financial Crisis. Volatile markets reinforced the need for an effective investment research and analysis tool as an integral part of their advice process, and a reliable working relationship with their DFM.

With a 55% increase in the use of FE Analytics during the market downturn of February and March, and record inflows into FE Investments, it’s clear that Financial Advisers are both relying on and trusting our services. Below are eight ways that we helped Financial Advisers in 2020.

Flexible risk profiling
We started the year by announcing FE Investments' availability via Dynamic Planner. With the inclusion of Dynamic Planner, FE Investments' portfolios are now aligned to a wide choice of risk mapping software, giving financial advisers the flexibility to choose a risk profiling software that suits the needs of their business and clients. Learn more.

Platform availability
Not long after, we were also able to announce that the FE Investments' portfolios were added to the James Hay platform so by February we were available on 12 of the leading investment platforms. Further platform availability was introduced throughout the year and FE Investments is now available on 17 leading platforms; Advance by Embark, Aegon, Acentric, AJ Bell. Aviva, Embark platform, Fidelity Funds Network, Fusion, James Hay, Novia, Nucleus, Old Mutual Wealth, 7IM, Standard Life Wrap, Standard Life Elevate and Transact.

Improving usability
At FE Fundinfo, we are always looking to evolve and improve our services. Therefore, throughout March and April we gave parts of FE Analytics a bit of a makeover to improve usability. Based on user feedback, the changes helped clients access the full range of FE Analytics functionality and get the most out of their subscription. Learn more here.

An innovative Managed Portfolio Service
In partnership with Standard Life Wrap platform, FE Investments introduced an innovative new service that allows for the automation of tax planning and management within an award-winning model portfolio service. The Individually Managed Account service, available with our Mosaic Portfolios on the Standard Life Wrap platform, combines some of the benefits of bespoke discretionary management within a managed portfolio service that has been designed specifically for clients with more complex requirements. Read more here.

Lockdown Learning
Over the months of May and August, we offered free access to our FE Analytics Training Academy ‘Modular Course + Certification Package’ for advisers. We took over 1,300 registrations for the free ‘lockdown learning’ training, which was incredibly well received. Additionally, in place of our annual Training Roadshow, we held a number of training webinars for our clients ensuring that all our clients are equipped with the knowledge to use our systems to their fullest.

MPS Directory
In 2020 we signed up our 50th model portfolio service to our MPS directory. Many of the UK’s leading MPS providers are included within the Directory, with recent additions including James Hambro & Partners, HSBC Global Asset Management and Tribe Impact Capital. The popularity of the MPS Directory has grown steadily during the last five years since its launch and now more than 1,300 adviser firms regularly use the directory. Read more here.

Funds dashboard
This year, in a joint venture with Square Mile, we introduced a new fund dashboard to make it easier for advisers to access a large range of fund information in one place. Taking inspiration from food-labelling, the Fund Dashboard was designed to provide a comprehensive view of key fund characteristics, to support informed fund selection. Read more here.

Quarterly market updates
As events moved online, so did our quarterly market updates. Each quarter we held a number of market update webinars, hosted by our Investment Strategist Ed Margot. The webinars focussed on market trends and the effect of key events, such as the covid-19 pandemic, the U.S. election and Brexit. For the next quarterly market update, see our events page here.

If you would like to know more about FE Analytics, FE Investments or how we can help you and your clients make better investment decisions, please get in touch.

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