Technology

Accountant and consultant Grant Thornton's Private Client Services advisory business is set to finish rolling out its new software solution from 1st Software by June this year, which should "increase efficiencies".

An industry-wide e-business forum is being launched today to stimulate discussion about technology development and improve the profitability of all financial services firms.

CoFunds, the investment platform, has plans to expand into the life and pensions after this morning announcing Legal & General has bought a 25% stake in the firm.

IFA directory provider IFA Promotions may eventually 'switch off' all traditional media marketing and concentrate on marketing only through online services and search engines.

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.