AMP Financial Planning (AMP) and Westpac have both launched new services designed to make financial advice more accessible for consumers.
Following the success of its ‘walk-in’ retail advice practice in Sydney’s west (see: AMP Opens First Retail Financial Planning Centre), AMP has announced the opening of a second centre in the Melbourne suburb of Camberwell.
Designed to help remove some of the barriers that prevent people from seeking financial advice, AMP Financial Services Managing Director, Craig Meller, says the centre will be home to 18 self-employed financial planners.
“The launch of the new centre in Camberwell helps remove some of the barriers to give people to access quality, affordable financial advice and experience the difference it can make in their lives.
“We selected Camberwell because it’s a great central hub for the people we want to reach,” he added.
According to Mr Meller the Sydney centre planners met with nearly 1,500 customers during the first 12 months of operation.
In similar news, Westpac has launched a ‘virtual’ financial planning service, which it says will allow customers in remote locations to talk face to face with an adviser in Sydney.
The service utilises real-time technology and video-link, allowing the planner to speak face to face with their client, and to share documents on the spot.
Launching the service in Karratha, Western Australia, Rob Coombe, Group Executive Retail & Business Banking, said regional customers could now have access to exactly the same service provided to those living in more urban areas.
“We are delighted to be bringing this service to customers living in a region which has shown strong demand for financial planning services but which in the past has suffered from the tyranny of distance. Westpac has been able to overcome this hurdle with a dedicated solution,” Mr Coombe said.
“The technology we are using is secure, scalable and cost-effective, and we plan to roll this out into regional Westpac branches using the infrastructure which is already in place.”
