Chapter 3: The Market And The Platform Service Provider Flashcards
‘Guided sales process’
A platforms internet site enables the investor to filter the available asset range according to their view on risk and exposure.
Robo-advisor
Reflects a risk rating performed electronically within a portal which then leads to a portfolio being suggested to the client.
What does Platform business model do?
This enables the investor( and their adviser) to view their entire portfolio on a single screen; place bit and sell orders via the platform’s technology, and see details of executed transactions, income payments and corporate actions.
More about platform business model?
Aggregates investor-level transactions, resulting in a smaller number of market trades each being of higher value, producing greater operational efficiency.
Benefits to investor of Platform model
- A wide range of assets are available
- Centralised paperwork (single statement gives info on all assets and wrappers on request)
- A single ISA or pension plan within the platform can hold funds from various providers
- increased flexibility to switch assets
Benefits to the advisor/discretionary investment manager of platform models.
- simplified administration
- efficient buying and selling of investment on behalf of clients
- increased time to spend on advising clients and achieving sales
- integration into existing back-office systems.
Benefits to the product provider of the platform model
- administration costs can be reduced significantly as only one account is maintained by the register, in the name of the platforms nominee company
What four components may a platform consider having:
- web portal
- a transaction processing and settlement service
- a custody service
- ancillary and value added services
What can the web portal do ?
Enables users to see current state of.
-Holdings
-Instruct Activity
-Access other services
What might a platform investor wish to review on a web portal?
- One or more wrappers individually
- The combined picture of the wrappers
- How the portfolio(s) have performed in comparison to benchmark
What is a ‘switch’?
An asset sale together with a corresponding asset purchase to reinvest those proceeds
What does a custody service do?
Any assets taken into the platforms care are held securely for the investor - whether as investments or cash
What does a custody service ensure for exchanges of money for investments ?
That they take place correctly while also ensuring that clients assets are separate from any assets of the platform itself
What do Ancillary services include?
Value added services such as:
-CGT calculators
-Portfolio modelling
-Risk management tools
-Administrative tools
An example of administrative tools in Ancillary services
Ability to access fund literature and other investor information documents
Data entered when transferring a new client’s existing portfolio onto the platform.
• Identification of the asset (name/ID)
• Quantity held
• Original cost of the asset
• Who is currently holding the asset in custody
• The product/wrapper in which the asset is held
• Current value of the asset
What happens once data is entered on the platform?
Update dashboard with details of the holding
Are advisors paid commission by AFM?
No
How are advisors instead paid by AFM?
They charge investors a fee for their services, which may include supply of the platform service.
What activities are subject to a specific charge?
• Asset buys/sells
• Electing to vote at the company meeting of an asset held in the portfolio
• Property investments within SIPPs wrappers
What rules has the FCA created for platform operators, fund managers and product providers?
Consider financial value of their offering to retail investors.
As part of Consumer duty financial firms must ensure
• Any customers receiving a similar service should pay a similar charge
• The charge should be proportionate to the firms services for the customer
What Determines a clients investment strategy
• Growth or income
• Timescale
• Attitude to risk
• Investment knowledge
• Existing investments and debts
What two distinct types of test that firms must perform on clients did the MIFID introduce?
In cases of transactions
• Suitability assessment
• Appropriateness test
What is the point of a suitability assessment?
To collect information on the clients level of knowledge and experience, risk tolerance in order to make a personal recommendation.
Benefits of the platform model to investors.
• Wide range of assets available
• Single statement with all holdings
• Increased flexibility to switch assets within an ISA
Benefits of the platform model to advisers
• Simplified administration
• Increased time spent on advising clients not admin
• Reduced time spent building a portfolio from various providers
• Simplified switching reduces time client out of the market
Benefits to the product provider of a platform model
• Reduces admin costs
Which fund switching method exposes the client to market risk?
Sequential
Market risk is where the market price of an asset declines.
Key factors to consider that are common to each investor but will vary by investor are:
• Time Horizon
• Return Requirement
• Risk tolerance
Best definition of a platform
One stop shop for investors to purchase many different funds
Best definition of a platform
One stop shop for investors to purchase many different funds
Which party is least likely to sign a Service level agreement (SLA)?
The Platform Client
Regulatory changes that impact clients?
Post RDR
Clients now pay a platform service charge- previously the product provider rebated part of the annual management charge back to platform operator
What are the Clients investment objectives? 6
- Capital growth and income
- Timescale
- Attitude to risk
- Investment knowledge
- Existing Investments and debt
- Liquidity needs