Technology

In the first of a series of articles looking at back office technology systems, Mik Cons, managing director at 1st Software reveals what his firm is doing to help intermediaries manage the firm's back office needs.

Resarch into IT spending by intermediaries has found half spent up to £5,000 in the year to March but that 43% of advisers claim they are not getting enough IT support.

Standard Life has rolled out a new portfolio management service on its extranet which gives financial advisers improved online valuations for client policies and now includes details of Sipps and mutual funds.

Prudential has updated its pruadviser extranet to provide a search facility which allows intermediaries to search for policies without the need for plan numbers.

IFA network Sesame has taken its first step into web-based support training with the launch of a new service to be rolled out online over the next few months.

Packagers have voiced their concern at recent development of the BM Solutions website as further moves designed to cut them out of the mortgage market.

Friends Provident has added the portfolio planning section of Distribution Technology's Dynamic Planner to its online tools and created additional functionality specifically for its extranet.

The Investment Management Association and online data provider Financial Express have this morning unveiled new fund pricing tools for consumers.

Standard Life has rolled a new webcast facility to help IFAs understand how its web tools work and explain the company's thinking on terms of products and services offered.

Mike O'Leary, chief executive of Marlborough Stirling, says intermediaries should see no hiving off of The Exchange as a result of today's bid announcement.