Technology

Lifetime Group, the wrap platform provider 70% owned by Norwich Union since a £13m deal announced last October, has lined up Millfield and Tenet as the first national IFA groups to adopt its technology.

Back office technology providers 1st Software, Synaptic Systems and Quay Software are all in the process of shifting their technology operations behind the scenes onto a new system of coding which should make it easier to manage software offered.

In the first of a series of articles looking at back office technology systems, Mik Cons, managing director at 1st Software reveals what his firm is doing to help intermediaries manage the firm's back office needs.

Resarch into IT spending by intermediaries has found half spent up to £5,000 in the year to March but that 43% of advisers claim they are not getting enough IT support.

Standard Life has rolled out a new portfolio management service on its extranet which gives financial advisers improved online valuations for client policies and now includes details of Sipps and mutual funds.

Prudential has updated its pruadviser extranet to provide a search facility which allows intermediaries to search for policies without the need for plan numbers.

IFA network Sesame has taken its first step into web-based support training with the launch of a new service to be rolled out online over the next few months.

Packagers have voiced their concern at recent development of the BM Solutions website as further moves designed to cut them out of the mortgage market.

Friends Provident has added the portfolio planning section of Distribution Technology's Dynamic Planner to its online tools and created additional functionality specifically for its extranet.

The Investment Management Association and online data provider Financial Express have this morning unveiled new fund pricing tools for consumers.