Counting on success
Chris Freeman
BT Financial Group will remain an approved platform provider for financial services group Count Financial for the next five years.
The independently-owned dealer group currently administers more than $5 billion in funds in Count-badged versions of BT’s wrap platforms, a figure that is expected to double in five years.
Commenting on the deal, BT Financial Group head of wrap solutions Chris Freeman said the Count-BT relationship spans 20 years, and Count has been one of the largest contributors to the development and evolution of the wrap platform, having played a significant role in shaping some of BT’s recent platform developments.
“As one of Australia’s largest platforms, we’ve been able to use our scale to invest back into our platform to improve functionality, deliver straight-through-processing enhancements, fully integrate systems such as life insurance and margin lending and work with some of Australia’s largest fund managers to reduce the cost of investing through programs such as BT Wrap Advantage,” Freeman said.
Count Financial chief executive Marianne Perkovic said the comprehensive nature of BT’s platforms means Count advisers can fulfil a range of investment, superannuation, gearing and insurance needs across a diverse customer base.
“BT’s commitment to the platform space has led to considerable investment to improve systems and integrate new functionality that makes it easier and faster for our advisers to manage their clients’ needs,” Perkovic said.
Recommended for you
ASIC has released the results of its first adviser exam to be held in 2025, with 241 candidates attempting the test.
Quarterly Wealth Data analysis has uncovered positive improvements in financial adviser numbers compared with losses in the prior corresponding period.
Holding portfolios that are too complex or personalised can be a detractor for acquirers of financial advice firms as they require too much effort to maintain post-acquisition.
As the financial advice profession continues to wait on further DBFO legislation, industry commentators have encouraged advisers to act now in driving practice efficiency.
