Financial advisers hit native iPad suite spot

Dull pension planning gets Apple zest

Finanza & Futuro Banca, Deutsche Bank's network of financial advisers in Italy, is piloting an advisory suite that runs natively on iPads.

Finantix Wealth Apps, interactive needs analysis and visual financial planning software, is used in face-to-face meetings with prospects and existing clients.

The software guides the adviser through a series of steps intended to engage clients in discussions about their financial needs and goals and then helps the adviser define optimal financial strategies.

The highly visual advisory applications improve communication between advisers and clients, said Paolo Abiuso, head of business services at Finanza & Futuro Banca.

"Making the advisory process relevant, fast and even entertaining is a key objective for all players in the industry," said Alessandro Tonchia, founder and director of Finantix.

"We believe that our Wealth Apps, along with the form factor of the iPad, can greatly contribute towards this goal.

"We envision a future in which tablets will be the primary channel for client-adviser interactions," he added.

Finanza & Futuro Banca has more than 1,250 advisers with €9bn assets under management. The Finantix Wealth Apps are part of a larger suite of apps aimed at retail financial products for affluent and high net-worth client segments.

It is intended that the iPads will entirely do away with the need for paper presentations and forms, the staple of financial advisers currently.