Guardian offers planners new platform
By Vishal Teckchandani
Tuesday 15 June 2010
Guardian Financial Planning (Guardian) will offer its financial planners a new platform that combines both life insurance and investment products.
The platform, Vantage Portfolio Solutions, has Asteron's Lifeguard life risk product along with more than 200 managed funds and the top 300 Australian stocks on its menu, Guardian executive manager Steve Browning said.
Vantage is a white-labelled version of Colonial First State's (CFS) FirstWrap but is specifically designed for Suncorp-owned Guardian.
The offering would suit clients with more sophisticated advice needs, Browning said.
"Many of our advisers have clients with money to invest, and having reached their concessional contribution limit in super of either $25,000 or $50,000, depending on their age, are looking for alternative investment platforms," he said.
"The return of people's appetite for investment following the global financial crisis means that clients are looking for innovative ways to invest, while maintaining a life risk product paid for through that vehicle."
He said Australia had a significant underinsurance problem and Vantage would enable investors to access cover through super and non-super structures, making insurance affordable.
"This new way of investing, coupling life risk with investment, is a client solution for its time," Browning said.
"Early feedback from our advisers is that this will be a boon for both them and their clients."
Vantage will also be available to advisers of Suncorp-owned dealer group Cameron Walshe, he said.
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