Elevate, the platform run by Axa Wealth, is to bolster its back office solutions with two new partnerships which the firm expect to be in place by the end of the year.
The platform has already launched a “deep integration” with partner Distribution Technology in February this year and is set to partner with two other solutions from Iress - XPlan and Adviser Office.
Stephen Owen, head of Elevate Proposition at Axa Wealth, expected the integrations to take place by the end of the year. Mr Owen added that Elevate is currently negotiating with one other back office partnership but the client cannot be named at this time.
Mr Owen said: “Essentially we believe if we can facilitate advisers then its of mutual benefit - there will be more assets on the platform which benefits us and for advisers, it enhances the speed and convenience in terms of recommending on the platform.
“Technology is the space to watch in the platform market, whether this is upgrades to platforms or the increased ability to use platforms on mobile devices or the increased integration of adviser technology.
“Advisers are increasingly conscious of the value platforms add to their business and deliver for their clients. As such we are determined to make an adviser’s job easier, save time for them and other staff in the business, and ultimately reduce the costs of advising clients.”
This follows Axa Wealth’s recent announcement that a series of changes would be made to the platform in preparation for the new pension rules to be introduced in April 2015.
At that time, David Thompson, managing director of Elevate at Axa Wealth, said: “The 2014 Budget was a seismic quake, where the industry was required to step up to provide access to the new freedoms and flexibilities that were introduced.
“Elevate has met this challenge by enhancing our pension proposition and reviewing our charging structures.”
