Which platforms will stand apart?

Now we have moved past the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) and into ‘business as usual’ mode, it is becoming clearer how the platform market may start to evolve. The key questions are: How will platforms be distinctive enough from one another to justify the 28 or so in the market? And do advisers and their clients really need this many options? For some smaller platforms, the issue of scale is an obvious concern. It is unlikely financial backers will support a business that is not providing them with a return on their investment. Consolidation within the platform industry is likely over...