By Brad Powar, Chief Technology Officer
“Having run my own directly authorised firm for almost 10 years, I’ve enjoyed being able to sit back and let my network take on the research, responsibility and running of the back-office system. Whether we love them or loathe them, back-office systems are the backbone of a well run IFA practice and having used the major players in this market, XPlan are up there with the leaders when it comes to their MI reporting, fee reconciliations and data integrations.
One of the highlights of being a ValidPath Member is not having to be involved at all in the fee and income reconciliation process. I previously employed someone just for this function, so to be able to rely on the network to do this for me has allowed me to streamline my business and increase profitability. The tech available as part of my ValidPath package is what I would choose myself, without all the hassle and cost of managing individual licences.”
– Eugénie Cameron FPFS MSCI, Chartered Financial Planner, Director
At ValidPath, we believe data is a powerful asset for IFAs aiming to grow their businesses and deliver exceptional client service. Rather than viewing data entry as a tedious necessity, we see it as a chance to enhance efficiency, uncover valuable insights, and unlock new opportunities for the Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs) in our network.
As a ValidPath Member, you gain access to our suite of integrated technology – interconnected software that transforms your data into actionable intelligence for you and your clients. This allows you to streamline operations, meet your security and compliance requirements, and focus on what you do best: delivering first-class financial advice.
Here’s how it works.
Our guiding principle for data is simple: you should only need to enter it once. We strive across all of our technology suite to minimise double entry and improve Member our experience.
This approach underpins our commitment to integrated technology, minimising admin tasks and ensuring seamless operations. We provide four key software tools designed to empower our Members and enhance their practices:
Xplan is an all-in-one financial planning and wealth management platform that supports IFAs through every stage of the advice process – from discovery to implementation and ongoing reviews. With client data and documents stored in one central location, Xplan makes managing your financial advice business simpler than ever.
CashCalc’s financial calculators add precision to your cash flow plans. Whether it’s a pension forecaster, mortgage calculator, or school fees estimator, CashCalc seamlessly integrates with Xplan with its detailed fact-finder that feeds directly into Xplan, CashCalc ensures smoother financial planning and enhanced accuracy throughout the advice process.
Defaqto, integrated into Xplan, is a research tool that enables IFAs to easily analyse financial products and identify the best options for their clients. Its Star Ratings system provides an unbiased assessment of products based on their features and benefits, rated from 1 to 5 stars, helping advisers find the most suitable products to match client needs.
ATEB Suitability provides intelligent suitability report writing software designed for financial advisers. The platform offers customisable templates that can be tailored to reflect a firm’s style, content, and brand, streamlining the creation of compliant and comprehensive client reports.
At ValidPath, we’re proud to offer our Members a cutting-edge solution to streamline their onboarding journey with ValidPath : our proprietary Network Management Platform (NMP). As the first network to digitise the Member onboarding process, NMP embodies our commitment to making data an asset, not a liability. With NMP, data is only entered once, reducing the administrative burden and eliminating manual duplication.
NMP is specifically designed to manage the entire Member lifecycle, from initial onboarding to ongoing support and management. It also plays a crucial role in managing compliance, including supporting the AR Regime, and helping our Members meet all necessary regulatory requirements. With NMP, ValidPath continues to lead the way in innovation, making data easier to manage, enabling smoother operations, and helping our Members focus on delivering exceptional client service.
Effective data management remains an untapped opportunity across much of the financial advice industry. At ValidPath, we’re always innovating and developing in-house solutions to help our Members harness the power of their data. Xplan serves as a central hub, offering a cohesive system and a single source of truth for storing and managing data.
Our integrated technology also streamlines onboarding, enabling IFAs to bring on new clients quickly and efficiently. This not only enhances the client experience but also frees up time for Members to focus on delivering outstanding service.
Beyond boosting efficiency, our systems prioritise security. With built-in encryption and two-factor authentication (2FA), Members’ data is fully protected. By simplifying data and security management, we empower IFAs to spend less time on tech admin and more time on their clients.
Our mission is to make it easier for our Members to deliver high-quality, personalised financial advice. By championing Member independence and utilising cutting-edge software, we enable IFAs to reach more clients and provide tailored advice with confidence. Our innovative approach to data management is just one way we’re building a strong support system for our Members, helping them succeed in an ever-changing financial landscape.
When you join ValidPath, managing your data becomes an asset, not a burden. We handle the complexities, so you can focus on what matters most – delivering exceptional advice and service to your clients.
Learn more about joining ValidPath