I hope you like the new site design of FPPad! I worked with Daniel Yeoman of AdvisorShip.com to make it happen.
Here are this week’s stories of interest:
Banner Year for Account Aggregation, But Pricing Questions Remain from RegisteredRep.com
[Account aggregation isn’t the niche service it once was a few years ago. With web services like Mint.com and Blueleaf able to consolidate accounts into one simple dashboard, advisers recognize the need to deliver the same capabilities to their clients.] Driven by client demand, technology advances and increasing advisor interest, 2011 has been a banner year for account aggregation, but wealth managers are divided on how to price the service.
TD Ameritrade Upgrades Veo Open Access Platform Integration With DocuSign, Laser App from Financial-Planning.com
[If you want to operate a paperless office, the last thing you need is a custodian who requires a wet signature from clients on a physical piece of paper. TD Ameritrade’s integration of electronic signature capabilities from DocuSign closes the loop in what was once a frustrating aspect of trying to be completely paperless.] This week, TD Ameritrade will roll out an upgrade of its open architecture platform’s integration with cloud-based electronic signature system DocuSign, as it streamlines DocuSign’s pairing with financial form-filling software Laser App.
FP Tech Survey: Redtail Tops Microsoft Outlook for Advisor CRM from Financial-Planning.com
[Which is it? Advisers have finally wised up and stopped using Outlook as their CRM, or has Redtail been the beneficiary of advisers looking to transition many of their essential tools to the cloud? I say it’s the latter.] Microsoft Outlook moved down to second place — overtaken by Redtail — in the CRM software category this year. It was the first time in the history of Financial Planning’s annual tech survey that Outlook was not in first place.
Schwab’s New View from FA-Mag.com
[Custodians are in an arms race to be the best integrator out there. Read Joel Bruckenstein’s take on Schwab’s latest efforts.] About a year ago, leading up to the Schwab IMPACT Conference, Schwab Advisor Services laid out its technology road map for the future. Since that time, however, the company has been rather quiet about its integration initiatives.
