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Selling from platforms will soon become the norm across the industry, IFAs at last week's Platform Advantage conference have said.

The delegates heard predictions from platform provider Cofunds warning that a growing reliance on platforms would see advisers whose business model is based on high commissions being squeezed by their holistic counterparts.

Mark Waters, IFA for Brighton and London-based advisers Hamilton Bradbury, criticised the event for failing to offer sufficiently indepth discussion of the changing market for financial advice. But he agreed with the Cofunds analysis, saying: "It is without question the way things are moving forward. We use them almost exclusively now.

"The days for transaction IFAs taking taking high commissions are really over, or will be soon."

Sidney French, director for Surrey-based Grayside Financial Services, also agreed. He said: "I'm already considering my options because I think it's the way the market will go in the future."

John Barton, IFA for Surrey-based Blacktower Financial Management, added: "I'm generally positive about platforms."

Cofunds marketing and propositions director Alistair Conway, addressed the event, saying: "Our judgement of the market is that we're going to see a growth in those just selling products and a growth in holistic advisers, with the transaction adviser getting squeezed.

"I think the advice process has become ridiculously complex, partly because of regulation but partly because the consumers needs have become more complex."