According to results from a new survey, MiFID II and GDPR have been the top two headaches for investors in 2017, in a poll of 300 users of Intellifo’s Intelligent Office management software.
When asked to rank a number of issues that have been the biggest challenges for their businesses during 2017, the results were as follows:
1.MiFID II
2.GDPR
3.Cyber security
4.Recruiting staff
5.Robo advice
6.Merging with another firm
7.Selling your business
However when asked to rank a number of issues that presented the biggest opportunities for business in 2017, the results showed:
1.Pension freedoms
2.Existing clients recommending new clients
3.Staff expansion
4.Robo advice
5.Merging with another firm
6.Selling your business
These results suggest that whilst the impending EU regulatory switch ups have been worrying for some investors, the other new freedoms that these rules will bring have been seen as the biggest opportunities of the year.
Nick Eatock, Executive Chairman at Intelliflo added: “It’s interesting that robo advice ranks slightly higher as an opportunity rather than a challenge during 2017 in the survey.
It’s a good sign that advisers realise they don’t have to be left out in the cold when it comes to offering a robo advice solution themselves and that doing so is a way to build more business in a profitable way.”
Robo advice also did well when looking ahead to 2018. Intelliflo asked respondents to rank what they see as the biggest challenges for the business over the next 12 months, and the results showed:
1.Complying with MiFID II
2.Being ready for GDPR by May 2018
3.Cyber security
4.Recruiting staff
5.Robo advice
6.Preparing for Brexit
Additionally, when asked what, they see as the biggest opportunities for business in the upcoming year, the results showed:
1.Growing the business through existing clients recommending new clients
2.Pension freedoms
3.Robo advice
4.Recruiting staff
5.Growing the business through acquisition
6.Merging with another firm
Rob Walton, Chief Operating Officer at Intelliflo commented: “Although MiFID II comes into effect at the start of the year, our survey reveals the concerns advisers have about being fully compliant with it.
“It also shows there is anxiety around being ready for the GDPR. The good thing is advisers are waking up to the fact that the GDPR cannot be ignored and action must be taken sooner rather than later to be compliant with the new rules.”
This article first appeared on http://www.digitalwealth.news/
