Advisers confident of transacting on the 'net
Nearly four out of five financial planners feel confident enough about using the Internet to perform online transactions for their clients, according to a Colonial First State Internet survey.
Nearly four out of five financial planners feel confident enough about using the Internet to perform online transactions for their clients, according to a Colonial First State Internet survey.
Colonial First State e-commerce head Daniel Maurice says the underlying message of the survey is that the scepticism of earlier years is decreasing.
“General level of confidence in the Internet is definitely on the way up,” he says.
Maurice says the survey results show that advisers understand the Internet and that a clear majority feel confident about using it for transactions.
The three most common functions advisers are using on Colonial’s FirstNet Adviser site are accessing their client’s portfolio summaries and account balances; looking up transaction histories; and confirming initial investment details.
Further proof of the increasing comfort levels is that almost half the respondents already using the Internet for client transactions say it is their preferred tool. Advantages highlighted are the immediacy and the ability to quickly see client details, as well as 24 hour access.
Demand for educational tools is also high among advisers, and access to further information is a key factor for them. Maurice says improving knowledge is important not only to continue educating advisers and their support staff, but also to pass information on to investors.
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