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Quilter CEO on ‘deepening’ IFA links with improved platform

“One of the things we'll be doing this summer is taking the platform and putting it on everybody's mobile phones and iPads,” said Feeney.

This will allow advisers’ clients to access their portfolios, pensions, and their Isas.

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“That was not possible with the other platform,” said Feeney.

Quilter Cheviot’s discretionary portfolios will all be available on the platform imminently from its pension wrappers.

“We’ve got to make sure we’re continually innovating, bringing new functionality, new products and new digital capability to our advisers,” said Feeney.

When asked what advisers like about the platform, Feeney said it was intuitive, easier to navigate, has far greater functionality and product depth.

For example, yesterday Quilter added 40 new portfolios to its model portfolio services in response to adviser and client demand.

Hybrid advice

Later this year, Quilter intends to pilot its hybrid advice service. This will combine digital and video technology with human beings, ie, Quilter’s advisers.

“We’ll also be able to launch it to a wider, mass affluent market. But it’s real human beings, not robots,” Feeney said. “We’ll be dealing with individual people, but on a more digital, remote basis.”

On Quilter's capital markets day in November, Stephen Gazard, Quilter Financial Planning chief executive, said the hybrid advice service would cater to customers who prefer to manage parts of their portfolio themselves, for example.

Feeney added: “Everyone’s talked about robo-advice and how it’s the future. I’ve always said it’s definitely not the future. And it’s certainly not the present. The battle is not man versus machine. It’s the man with the machine in the wealth markets.”

ruby.hinchliffe@ft.com