Hi All
There has been numerous great posts around the potential of fintech but no poster to date seem to actually be in the industry. I have started a new thread which is centred on where the Advice space is at in Aus and where Intiger potentially fits.
Disclosure
I work in Fin Services for a relatively well known "product manufacturer". I am not an accountant but I do is future valuations which is subtly different. Accountants focus on P&L, accruals of financials, how to treat money based on legislation, tax, and/or accountancy standards, and simply focused on the now... I focus on future numbers (crystal ball gazing to be honest....). I am not in equities so there is no restraint when it comes to trading. I would welcome anyone in fin services to join in this discussion (esp. if you are a planner) to discuss both the pros and cons of intiger. My success in valuing by ROI is ok, but truth be told, I generally trade more on market sentiment, either on a DT or ST. I do normally trade on undervalued opportunities. I know the "fin planner, adviser, consultant, broker, intermediary... whatever you want to call the in-between guys connecting the end consumer to the product manufacturer" as they are my distribution channel.
Summary
This is a long email, so I will summarise, and break up into different posts and sections for all readers, so you will read what you choose but I hope anyone buying or selling will read (plus DYOR) before doing either.
1. Too much initial focus on Super Advice, Life Insurance Broking will be the initial growth
2. Banks are exiting the dealership space (why did they get in to begin with you should ask), so what role do they play now and its vested interested in something like Intiger? How does Mark Ratnell's appointment play in all this (Yes, I admit I did not call this appointment, has since loaded up more because of this).
3. Industry Fund war against Fin Planning. The war is over. Fin planning is here to stay
4. Why Intiger benefits from FOFA. Efficiency coupled with quality will rule.
5. Robo Advice vs Intiger model, differences, who will win, you decide
6. Is what Intiger doing new?
7. Can we stop focusing on the banks being the only buyers and think about the other dealerships who is likely to buy/advocate this to its authorised reps?
8. What Intiger needs to still do (ie. get its act together as a fintech, tough love from a SH)
1. Summary of Intiger's Potential
* Insurance SOA's are set-up already and will be the initial source of income. Simpler than holistic FP advice to execute. Insurance SOAs will be the building blocks to fine tuning holistic FP solution.
* The war is over Industry Funds are now partnering and/or acquiring Fin practices.
* FOFA means quality advisers remain, and will need to be more efficient with its paper work. Intiger comes into play, 40% cost reduction with "actual people" interaction... massive, which what supports the next point.
* People will not rely on robots dishing out investment "advice". Would you place 50k of your hard earned cash (inside or outside of your super) based on a robo "Q&A"??? on a product manufacturer's website? Advice has always been a personalised relationship game,
* Mark Ratnell will tap into the traditional FP market (ex-chief of FPA is more significant from this perspective), hence non bank aligned. Numerous groups I can name.
* Banks are "product manufacturers" they only care about end consumers buying their products. Intiger is likely to be supported once there is traction. They will follow very quickly once the traditional planner market shows how it is done.
* Aus banks again may have another crack at the Bancassurance model. Banks may again seek to provide the "end to end" advice offering via an efficient and cost effective back office. JVs with overseas Life insurance/annuities players to underwrite the offering
* Damn website needs to be improved if you want to convince consumers you are the real fintech deal
* If it runs to its pontential, the real value is its english offshore processing centre. The Aus FP market is just the start. Specialised/experienced phone based customer service is the key. The US (arguably a very unsophisticated pensions/super platform and advice market) and UK are ripe for the picking. The growth is unlimited and the various offshore corporate structures are already in place for future expansion IMO.
More to come...
Cheers
Expand
(20min delay)