Infocus set to launch new financial advice solution


Infocus Wealth Management has announced they are launching a direct-to-consumer advice solution which will integrate both Morningstar data and investment management services from Ibbotson Associates Australia.
Set to be launched in May, the advice solution will incorporate Morningstar's wealth forecasting engine to project an investor's future wealth and provide asset allocation recommendations, allowing users to then manage their own investments or seek further advice from Infocus' team of 200 financial advisers across the country.
Infocus' managing director, Rod Bristow, said this initiative is a continuation of the company's approach to innovation and will help reduce barriers for consumers seeking financial advice.
"[We want to] deliver financial advice that helps improve the lives of Australians from all walks of life," Bristow said.
"This not only gives clients flexibility about how they want to engage with financial advice, it also means Infocus advisers will benefit from direct consumers who may also need more personalised financial advice at some point in the future."
Infocus confirmed that assets invested through their direct-to-consumer advice solution will be invested in separately managed accounts offered by Ibbotson Associates Australia, part of the Morningstar Investment Management group.
Morningstar Australasia's chief executive, Heather Brilliant, said the partnership with Infocus was geared towards helping investors improve their financial future.
"The deployment of [our] wealth forecasting engine will enable Infocus' clients to more clearly formulate their financial and retirement savings goals and determine how they can more effectively work towards achieving them," she said.
"They'll also benefit from the expertise of our investment management group."
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.