Published 5th March

Speaking to over 700 financial planning professionals at the 12th annual Conference for Dynamic Planner, the UK’s leading risk based financial planning system, CEO Ben Goss said: “We live in the most extraordinary of times, the speed of change is unprecedented, and technology is driving this transformation.

“In the advice industry, we have our own megatrends. Consumer Duty requires ongoing servicing to be delivered to customers in return for ongoing fees. Capital is being invested at unprecedented levels and demand for advice outstrips supply in this country. In 2022, four million people received advice– but 10 million people wanted it.*

“We know from our research and conversations with organisations delivering wealth management and financial planning services they’re bullish about the opportunities this presents, but there are material challenges that stand in the way of creating the capacity that makes profitable growth possible. While there are blockers such as variable data quality and time-consuming compliance requirements, we also know that new digital technologies such as mobile, AI and personalised content have the power to transform the financial planning and advice industry – not tomorrow, but today.

“We asked ourselves, how could Dynamic Planner help the advice industry remove these blockers and create more capacity? What can we do to enable our clients to harness their full potential to scale their success? Today we are announcing key areas of innovation that will deliver just that.

“The first is accurate data, we now use the latest ‘low code technology’ in conjunction with continuously deepening integrations that are important to our clients, adding Salesforce, Zoho and Durrell, recently, with more to come. With these new data flows we’re proud to say that our clients delivered annual reviews to over 338,000 households in the last 12 months, and that across the whole of Dynamic Planner users now 80% of advisers produce reviews in 35 minutes or less, 20% complete them in less than five minutes.

“The next key area is ever faster and more accurate automated analysis. In the past year, we’ve introduced the ability to value DFM models in the review process and launched our Single Strategy Mapped service, designed to deepen the accuracy of risk analysis within Dynamic Planner. Today we are launching DFM performance reporting for client reviews. At launch we are providing performance across over 900 DFM portfolios from 53 providers meaning that annual reviews for clients holding DFMs is as efficient as those holding packaged products.

“And to revolutionise the digital customer experience, we are launching Tram™ – keeping your financial plan on track – our latest innovation designed to help organisations scale success with engaging financial planning that is immensely valued by their clients. We’ve been working on this development for the last two years, but it’s something we’ve dreamt about for 20: putting the financial plan in the palm of the hand.

“The Dynamic Planner System now has modules which cover a client dashboard, profiling, reviews, recommendations, cash flow planning, research and suitability as well as added deep capabilities in firm administration, MI and target market configuration integrated into the most widely used platforms and practice management systems.

“We’re leading the way with R&D spend in the financial planning space and as a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner we’re making use of the technologies in Microsoft Azure, including OpenAI, to innovate for the future. We’re curious about the possibilities for AI and hyper-personalised content in financial planning and we’ve taken the first steps on that journey.

“I feel the same sense of possibility today that I did in the late 90s as the Internet emerged. Technology is transforming financial advice and there is so much we can achieve. We want to help advice organisations to digitise in a Consumer Duty world and demonstrate the ongoing value of services. We want to enable firms to engage clients via a meaningful digital experience so they can attract their next generation. And we want to create capacity in the advice process to drive the productivity gains they are looking for. We’ve built the digital future of financial planning for the advice industry to use today.”

Published 5th March

Dynamic Planner, the UK’s leading risk based financial planning system, has launched ‘Tram™’, a brand-new digital engagement app white labelled to financial planning organisations and designed to keep customers engaged with their financial plan like never before.

Powered by Dynamic Planner, Tram™ – keeping your financial plan on track – does the following:

  1. Helps firms meet the needs of Consumer Duty and deliver ongoing value to support their ongoing service and fees;
  2. Delivers meaningful digital engagement which appeals not just to existing clients but also to the next generation of a firm’s clients and;
  3. Creates capacity for firms so that they can grow and scale their business.

Uniquely Tram™ tracks clients’ progress against their financial plan, goals and agreed risk level, provides daily valuations and delivers personalised content aligned to their target market. In line with Consumer Duty it places the outcomes the customer is looking for at the centre of the service. It is available for both Apple and Android phones. Tram™ offers end clients true digital engagement and is designed to ensure they feel special, gain reassurance from their adviser and want to return regularly to the app.

Ben Goss, CEO, Dynamic Planner said: “We have been working on the development of Tram™ for two years, but it is something I have dreamt of bringing to life since founding Dynamic Planner. The idea of putting the financial plan in the palm of your client’s hand so they can keep track and you can deliver value 24/7 – but with low marginal cost – is transformational.

“Transformational for your clients and their access to your help and advice, but also in terms of the cost to serve clients and the capacity it can put back into your business. With Consumer Duty shining a spotlight on adviser ongoing charges and demonstration of value, creating capacity in the financial advice process in order to scale is paramount. Tram™ will offer valuable time and efficiency advantages at scale to advisers, as well as an enhanced ability to attract and retain the next generation of clients.”

Tram™ harnesses the API technology on which the Dynamic Planner digital planning and advice platform is built and also takes advantage of the multiple integrations in place between the Dynamic Planner platform and relevant CRM/practice management systems, platforms providers, custodians and asset managers. It is white labelled so that advice firms can align the look and feel with their own brand, offering clients a seamless experience.

Ben Goss continued: “The world is now mobile led and financial services is consumed more than ever via apps. We’ve invested heavily in the UI to ensure that Tram™ is every bit as slick and appealing as the best of any apps already on your client’s phone. We have also blended our expertise around best practice behavioural finance with best practice design, creating an app clients will want to come back to.

“Tram™ literally puts you, the adviser, in the client’s pocket – it will strengthen the partnership between adviser and client, and powered by Dynamic Planner’s technology, it will drive the future of digital financial planning and advice.”

Tram™ is currently live with a number of advice organisations, with Dynamic Planner opening up usage to a wider group of early adopters post its annual conference.

Dynamic Planner, the UK’s leading risk based financial planning system, has boosted its data analytics offering with two Data Engineer appointments.

Saranya Vadrevu and Rohan Nandi have joined Dynamic Planner’s Data and Analytics Team led by Business Intelligence Manager, Abhishek Vethanayagam. Together they will drive data-led decision making and provide advanced analytics solutions across strategic initiatives. Saranya will lead the development of data services for advice firms, and Rohan will lead the development of data services for asset managers.

Abhishek Vethanayagam, Business Intelligence Manager at Dynamic Planner said: “With a wealth of experience in data engineering, machine learning, and prescriptive analytics, Saranya and Rohan will enable Dynamic Planner to harness the power of data to support strategic decision-making, optimise processes and drive business growth through the development of data services for the industry.

“This year will see us supporting advice firms and asset managers with key Business Intelligence and Management Information, as well as beginning to explore how AI can be incorporated to drive innovation. Rohan and Saranya will play a key role in this and I look forward to moving our plans forward with them.”

Dynamic Planner, the UK’s leading risk based financial planning system has opened registrations for its 12th annual Conference on 5th March at 22 Bishopsgate in the City of London.

This year’s ‘Scaling Success’ themed event, will see hundreds of financial planning professionals attend to hear how they can scale advice businesses through leading, end-to-end technology; scale client data through innovative, integrated systems of record; and scale loyal client bases with good outcomes running through their core.

CEO Ben Goss will provide his annual keynote which will reveal exclusive announcements and the latest news from Dynamic Planner. Delegates will also take away unique and valuable insights from exclusive speakers, as well as from the UK’s leading Chief Investment Officers, analysing today’s outlook for global markets and investment portfolios on the 2024 CIO panel.

Yasmina Siadatan, Chief Revenue Officer at Dynamic Planner said: “Join us at our not-to-be-missed 12th annual Conference for 2024, once again in the heart of City. Come and experience the power of the financial planning community and explore how together we can scale success for your clients, for you and for your business.

“Anyone who has attended in the past knows that our annual Conference always promises to be a fantastic occasion. We look forward to welcoming clients and prospective clients to our Scaling Success themed event on Tuesday 5th March.”

Delegates can register here. Anyone unable to travel to the event can join as a virtual conference delegate, live streaming keynotes and all Main Stage sessions in broadcast-quality. Dynamic Planner’s 2024 Conference agenda can be found here.

Dynamic Planner, the UK’s leading risk based financial planning system, has launched a pioneering approach to single strategy fund mapping.

Available from today, Dynamic Planner’s Single Strategy Mapped Service is designed to assist the advice industry in making the most accurately informed decisions when it comes to single strategy fund selection. The Single Strategy Mapped Service takes single strategy fund selection to the next level, giving advice firms the ability to create diversified portfolios with far greater accuracy, and clearer, more representative risk look-through to ensure suitability.

Through the precise mapping of instrument-level holdings data against Dynamic Planner’s risk factors and Asset Risk Model, Single Strategy Mapped Service provides greater accuracy and efficiency in the use of single strategy funds, and for the first time, with the same rigour as multi asset solutions.

Dynamic Planner achieves this by sourcing single strategy fund holding data directly from fund providers, rather than via third parties at broad asset allocation level, which enables a level of granularity not previously possible. In addition, with the increasing responsibility assigned to fund managers and how their funds are used through regulation such as Consumer Duty and PROD, Dynamic Planner is also able to support the different asset management models that are emerging as a result.

Chris Jones, Chief Proposition Officer at Dynamic Planner said: “As financial markets have evolved and become more complex, we have ensured that we accurately analyse the underlying holdings of the solutions that we risk profile and map them to our risk factors within our trusted Asset Risk Model. Dynamic Planner users who also build advised portfolios have asked for the same level of granularity and we are pleased to be able to support them with the Single Strategy Mapped Service.

“The new service will provide them with a level of granularity not previously possible, greater efficiency and accuracy, and all within one system with a consistent level of risk throughout. However you organise your business and decide to meet the needs of your clients Dynamic Planner can support you.

“From a PROD and Consumer Duty perspective the Single Strategy Mapped Service also enables the fund manager to more simply and clearly communicate whether a fund is intended to be distributed as a solution or part of a portfolio.

“Recent geopolitical events have raised the awareness and importance of things such as duration, cap size and location within a traditional asset class not only amongst our users but also their clients. We hear that being able to view and discuss this using Dynamic Planner has been very helpful with solutions and we are pleased to support single strategy funds in the same way.”

Key Benefits of Single Strategy Mapped Service

The Single Strategy Mapped Service is part of the research journey in Dynamic Planner which continuously evolves to support the needs of users and now includes:

Not a Dynamic Planner user? Schedule a free no-obligation demo with a business consultant and experience the full functionality of Dynamic Planner.

In what has been a challenging year from both an economic and regulatory perspective, resilient advice firms are embracing change and looking to the future, reveals new research from Dynamic Planner, the UK’s leading risk based financial planning system.

Published today, Dynamic Planner’s third annual Spotlight Report ‘Resilient and Embracing Opportunity: The financial advice landscape in 2023’, has found that while regulation was cited by 1 in 4 as being the no 1. headache for 2023, firms have shown their mettle, with 9 out of 10 confident they have met the key outcomes of Consumer Duty despite the significant challenges it presented.

Technology has been a key enabler, with 85% of the group, drawn from one of the largest advice communities in the UK – the 6,950 users of Dynamic Planner – saying it has improved their ability to serve clients, and close to three-quarters believing it is also helping them to meet regulatory requirements.

Yasmina Siadatan, Chief Revenue Officer at Dynamic Planner said: “The financial advice industry has embraced technology and its ability to help firms meet regulatory requirements, whilst unlocking productivity gains and deepening client relationships. Advisers were faced with a significant test this year in the form of Consumer Duty – but despite the challenges, the mood is one of resilience and looking to the future.”

Overall, the picture that emerges from this year’s survey is of a thriving industry. Firms continue to increase adviser numbers, and the vast majority of advice professionals are serving more clients than they were three years ago. However, 2023 undeniably brought challenges in the form of a more difficult economic environment and a major regulatory deadline. As a result, the picture is more nuanced than it was in 2022.

Key findings for 2023 include:

Yasmina Siadatan continued: “Overall, despite the economic environment and regulatory shift, the mood is positive, and some of the challenges may be easing as 2023 draws to a close. Although Consumer Duty implementation has not been easy with firms viewing regulation as their biggest headache – they also are confident they have got it right.

“Firms are making significant productivity gains through the use of apps, tools and other new technologies, allowing advisers to service more clients more efficiently. As these efficiencies grow, firms could unlock the ability to service lower-value clients – something they currently identify as too time-consuming for the profits available.”

Download the full Spotlight report.

Dynamic Planner, the UK’s leading risk based financial planning system, has analysed the data* of almost 17,500 advised investors views on the importance of sustainability.

As COP 28 gets underway, Dynamic Planner has found that while investing sustainably remains an important factor, as willingness to take risk increases the importance of sustainability reduces. The analysis showed that of those investors in risk profile 10, Dynamic Planner’s highest risk level, 6 out of 10 viewed sustainability as of low importance **

Chart showing the relationship between an investors risk (1-10) and sustainability (low to very high profiles)

Dynamic Planner also found that a larger proportion of men (39%) than women (26%) view sustainability as something of low importance, while (32%) of women view sustainability as of medium to very high importance compared to men (21%).

The stereotype that younger clients have a greater preference for sustainable investments due to supposedly being more values-driven and having a greater desire to seek investments that align with their views were not borne out in the analysis, with no apparent differences across any of the age groups.

In terms of which aspect of sustainability is held in highest regard, more investors said the ‘G’ of ESG is a priority as it means investments help companies treat all stakeholders fairly. Even a proportion of around 70% of investors who consider sustainability to be of low or some importance, agree with this statement, 17% and 51% respectively. Surprisingly fewer placed as much importance on ‘E’ – that investments help to improve the environment. The ‘S’ – that their investments should help improve people’s living conditions was the lowest priority of the three ESG factors. However, of those who view sustainability as of high and very high importance, a higher percentage strongly agreed that it is priority to help improve the environment, compared to improving living conditions and treating stakeholders fairly.


Chart showing importance placed on ESG statements

Louis Williams, Head of Psychology and Behavioural Insights at Dynamic Planner, said: “Our analysis paints a nuanced picture of attitudes towards investing sustainably and ESG factors. Events like COP28 which bring the world together to focus on issues such as climate action have ensured that many people understand the importance of acting in a sustainable way. However, using the power of their investments to shape the world for the better is perhaps limited for some due to the greater focus on trying to achieve a better return.

“We have found those investors who are more comfortable with increased financial risk are prepared to invest in market opportunities that go beyond the realms of companies that act in a sustainable or ESG risk managed way. This may be because climate change and risks of stranded assets have not yet been properly understood or their appetite for not missing out on certain market sector returns is still the overriding motivation. There also may well be some investors who want their fund managers to engage (by remaining invested) to bring about change.”

* Research has been undertaken using data from Dynamic Planner’s sustainability questionnaire, an industry first when it was launched in 2021 and created by the team behind the UK’s leading risk profiling process. A client’s sustainability preference is profiled on a scale, like their attitude to risk, providing you with a foundation for a conversation and enabling you to match it with solutions with ESG ratings available to research in Dynamic Planner.

Dynamic Planner also offers clients access to independent and whole of market ESG research of more than 32,000 funds. Guard against greenwashing and trust that the research is objective and is rigorously completed by a 200-strong team of analysts at MSCI, a world leader in the field which has been doing it longer than anyone else.

** Risk Profile 10 – Likely to contain very-high-risk investments such as emerging market shares and a small amount in high-risk investments such as shares in UK and overseas developed markets.

Dynamic Planner, the UK’s leading risk based financial planning system, is now risk profiling the world’s oldest collective investment fund, F&C Investment Trust. Launched in 1868, F&C Investment Trust Plc is managed by Columbia Threadneedle Investments with Head of Asset Allocation (EMEA), Paul Niven, being the Trust’s Fund Manager. It is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index managing over £5bn in assets1.

Chris Jones, Chief Proposition Officer at Dynamic Planner, said: “We are delighted to welcome F&C Investment Trust to Dynamic Planner. When it comes to investment trusts, F&C is a household name, and having launched in 1868, it is the oldest collective investment.

“In recent years we have seen profound changes, both in the way advice is given and how technology is helping to power advice. If a 157 year old Investment Trust can embrace technology, then so can you. In a client focused world, understanding the client outcome that a solution can deliver is more important than its structure, and appropriately including Investment Trusts enables advisers to maintain a consistency of approach when assessing suitable investment solutions.”

Steve Armitage, Co-Head of UK Wholesale Distribution at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, added: “We are delighted F&C Investment Trust has been added to the suite of investment solutions being risk profiled by Dynamic Planner. Through our longstanding partnership with Dynamic Planner, advisers are now able to select portfolios that are aligned to their clients’ individual risk requirements from across our range of Multi Asset solutions, including our low cost, active CT Universal MAP range, our risk targeted CT MM Lifestyle range and now F&C Investment Trust.”

1 Total assets as at 31.08.2023 of £5.4bn – source: F&C Investment Trust & Global Trusts (fandc.com)

Dynamic Planner, the UK’s leading risk based financial planning system, has announced a new integration with CURO from Time4Advice.

Advisers using the integration will be able to move clients’ data and reports between CURO and Dynamic Planner efficiently and securely. Once in Dynamic Planner’s single system, all client information and valuation data will automatically pull through to different processes. Room for error is removed and advice firms will be enabled to quickly and accurately provide clients with the information they need, when they need it.

Yasmina Siadatan, Chief Revenue Officer at Dynamic Planner said: “Data, data security and MI are fundamental to the growth of our financial planning partner firms which is why we are committed to our long-term strategy of continuously improving the flow of information to and from Dynamic Planner.

“Today we are delighted to announce our two way integration with CURO, the latest in our growing suite of strategic integration partners, consisting of the major back offices and platform providers. We know we help transform efficiencies of partner firms and look forward to driving further integrations as we build out the Dynamic Planner ecosystem.”

Roland Rawicz-Szczerbo, Founding Director of Time4Advice said: “For too long the disconnected nature of the legacy technologies in common use has frustrated the potential of our industry, creating an advice service that is limited in reach, neglecting the vast majority of people that need, but cannot afford, quality financial advice. Leveraging modern, enterprise grade technology, Time4Advice’s integration of CURO with Dynamic Planner is the first step in the delivery of a fully integrated ecosystem for financial advisers. We are all about challenging the inefficiencies manifest in today’s outdated technologies and look forward to working with Dynamic Planner and our other strategic technology partners to drive change in an industry that desperately needs it.”

This latest integration is the continuation of Dynamic Planner’s commitment to solving industry wide inefficiencies, a strategy at the heart of the firm’s vision.

Not a Dynamic Planner user? Schedule a free no-obligation demo with a business consultant and experience the full functionality of Dynamic Planner.

The Scottish Widows Platform is now live for valuations in Dynamic Planner, the UK’s leading risk based financial planning system.

This new integration with the Scottish Widows Platform enables Dynamic Planner users to onboard and value new clients and existing clients in preparation for their client review or cashflow planning, and benefit from the new integration to seamlessly pull in the data at a time they want.

The integration will run alongside the existing Advance by Embark integration while Scottish Widows completes its migration of Advance clients to the Scottish Widows Platform, later this year.

Financial planning firms can now use Scottish Widows’ technology, powered by FNZ, and backed by Lloyds Banking Group, to access over a hundred fund managers, thousands of mutual funds, UK listed equities and Exchange Traded Assets within Dynamic Planner’s one system.

Chris Jones, Proposition Director at Dynamic Planner said: “The Scottish Widows Platform is now live for valuations in Dynamic Planner, and financial planners can begin to onboard and value clients ahead of Advance by Embark Platform closing. For a limited period of time, both integrations can be used. This is yet another example of our commitment to ensuring our users can support their clients throughout and deliver increasing value more efficiently.”

Ross Easton, Head of Platform Propositions at Embark Group said: “We’re pleased to have seamlessly integrated Dynamic Planner with the Scottish Widows Platform. This delivers against our aim to be the most connected platform in the market, Scottish Widows Platform now has bulk valuation coverage with the significant majority of UK CRMs.”

This latest integration is the continuation of Dynamic Planner’s commitment to solving industry wide inefficiencies, a strategy at the heart of the firm’s vision.

Not a Dynamic Planner user? Schedule a free no-obligation demo with a business consultant and experience the full functionality of Dynamic Planner.