The SimplyBiz Group has today announced the launch of a new and exciting end-to-end financial planning system calledCentra.

Powered by Defaqto, Centra, provides a ‘one stop shop’ for advisers, supporting every step of the advice process. This system, designed to save time and improve the quality of the advice process being made available, free of charge to SimplyBizGroup Members via a staged roll-out.

Centra, which has been in development for over twelve months, offers access to goals-based financial planning tools, product research, pre-populated suitability reports and a complete centralised investment process. The system has been developed following feedback from advisers seeking a more streamlined process for providing advice and a one-stop-shop for all their reports and tools. It is the first of its kind in the industry, bringing together the best of breed technology suppliers into a single, streamlined process.

The SimplyBiz Group has collaborated withDefaqtoand Intelliflo to develop Centra, with some components within the solution developed byOxford Risk, Finametrica, Morningstar and Moody’s.

Dan Russell, Managing Director of SimplyBiz Investment Services, commented:

“The most important aspect of Centra is that it was designed and created by advisers.  Our Members told us they wanted greater efficiency in the advice process, a seamless link from financial planning to research and suitability reports, greater support in making suitable investment recommendations, and support to deliver a better customer experience.Centra delivers on every one of those requirements.

“Centra is a single system. The entire breadth of functionality available – from Know Your Client information, through to risk, goals based planning, research, suitability and client management – is accessed through just one login.

“The SimplyBiz Group team has brought sixteen years’ experience and expertise to the development of Centra, combined with the best third party partners in the market and, of course, an ongoing dialogue with the advisers who use our services.  Together, we have created a truly exceptional solution in Centra and I’m very excited to be able to offer this new service to firms we support.” 

Zahid Bilgrami, CEO of Defaqto, added:

“The SimplyBiz Group is a highly successful and forward-thinking business and we are delighted to have worked closely together with them throughout the development and build of Centra.  The easy-to-use and fully integrated nature of every component of Centra is unique and we’re thrilled to hold such a prominent role in the delivery of this vitally important and useful system.”

Centra will be rolled out to Members of The SimplyBiz Group over the first quarter of this year, with practical demonstrations and workshops taking place at the Group’s upcoming events, regular online training opportunities and a dedicated on-boarding team dedicated to helping advisers get up and running on the Centra system.