After a successful pilot, Schwab Performance Technologies(R) (SPT) has announced the roll out of Schwab OpenView Mobile, a customizable app that RIAs can use to create a turnkey, branded mobile presence for their firms, enabling 24/7 connection with clients.
SPT will work with participating firms to create the firm-branded app and each firm will then submit their app to Google Play and iTunes App Stores.
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Neesha Hathi, senior vice president, Advisor Technology Solutions for Schwab Advisor Services, said: "Looking to the future, it is clear that the RIA office must evolve to keep up with emerging client needs and competitive forces," said Neesha Hathi, senior vice president, Advisor Technology Solutions, Schwab Advisor Services. "Mobile technology is a must-have for advisor firms looking to grow and build relationships – both with today’s clients and with the next generation – because it allows the advisor to deliver the ‘know me’, anywhere, anytime service clients expect."
Schwab OpenView Mobile was first announced at IMPACT 2013, where Hathi identified mobile, cloud-computing, big data and integration as four key trends that will drive the success of an advisor’s business in the future.
Hathi added: "Technology is playing an increasingly important role in helping advisors scale their business, enhance the experience of their clients and differentiate their brand."
According to Schwab’s 2013 RIA Benchmarking Study, 73% of advisors currently invest or plan to invest in mobile technologies, and the most recent Schwab Independent Advisor Outlook Study found that seven in ten advisors are focusing on differentiating their firm to stand out from the pack.
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By GlobalDataSchwab OpenView Mobile – How it Works
SPT will work with advisors to customize their app to reflect their own brand, including adding their firm logo, contact details and choosing icons and colors. Once the app has been customized, the advisor will post it on Google Play and iTunes App Stores where their clients can find it by searching for the firm’s name.
An RIA can customize the experience they want to create for their clients by including advisor news, promotional content, contact information and a website link, as well as real-time data on their Schwab accounts.
Mark Balasa, co-CEO and CIO at Balasa, Dinverno and Foltz, said: "The creation of a branded app for our firm provides us with a tremendous opportunity to connect with clients through their mobile devices, a channel where we know clients are spending an increasing amount of time and expect to be able to find information quickly and easily. With the touch of a button, the app enables us to make another connection with our clients strengthening our service with them, without over-extending our client-facing people to do so."
Hathi added: "The app is another way Schwab and SPT help advisors remain competitive by using technology to support the client experience. This new app is available to advisors at a fraction of the cost it would take for them to build one on their own."
