Technology

ALLIANCE Trust Savings has successfully transferred the administration of over 4,200 Close Investments Limited (Close) ISAs, PEPs and share plan wrappers to its open architecture investment platform.

Many IFAs are still trialling the platform market before committing to one or more partners, a study by Defaqto suggests.

Life companies are beginning to count the cost of creating full wrap platforms which few advisers are ready to use, Skandia claims.

Standard Life is to accelerate the rollout of its wrap platform in 2008, but wishes to do so in a ‘controlled manner'.

AXA Distribution Services insists it will not follow in the footsteps of Friends Provident and underestimate the wrap challenge.

Cofunds has announced its CEO Charlie Eppinger has become chairman of the platform firm.

Wrap platforms have now reached a ‘proliferation peak', and the industry will begin to consolidate, according to Nick Blake, wrap sales manager at Standard Life.

Matthew Craig takes a look at the Australian wrap market and asks what lessons the UK marketplace can learn from it

Technology-based business models are an attractive option for many adviser firms. However, Keith Hare urges advisers to think carefully before making a choice - you may already have the best solution

GROWTH in the use of open architecture platforms has largely been "sluggish" over the past 12 months, with further consolidation likely to be key in shaping the market in the future, according to research company Defaqto.