The ARIA Investment Platform is described by the independent wealth manager as “modular”, comprising of iPortfolio, a fund research and portfolio management tool and ARIAIP, the wrap platform which uses SEI as its custodian.
Matt Brittain, director and portfolio manager at ARIA said: “ARIAIP is about putting the adviser back at the centre of the distribution channel and ‘in-sourcing’ product providers – insurance companies, trustees and even DFMs are all available to the adviser at the touch of a button on their customised wrap platform.”
ARIA said, while the proposition has been built for firms looking to build a centralised investment proposition with in-house model portfolios or external discretionary fund managers, it also supports trading in almost 10,000 funds, 100 different exchanges and 38 currencies.
Furthermore, ARIAIP offers a range of bond and pension wrappers, some of which are electronically integrated to support straight through business submission as well as full client relationship management functionality, product illustrations and financial planning tools.
In addition to providing its own absolute return discretionary portfolio management solution, ARIA said it has completed agreements with Morningstar, Parala and Charles Stanley so the platform has range of different investment styles and portfolio constructions. ARIA added there are a number of other discussions with other product providers ongoing.
“The platform reports performance not just on funds, but discretionary portfolios too, so advisers can compare each DFM on a like for like basis, including volatility, and over specific performance periods too. Asset allocation changes and commentary are provided on the platform by each DFM so advisers can follow portfolio changes,” added Brittain.
“Moreover, each DFM solution can be accessed using a single risk profiling solution. That brings transparency of charging between different investment propositions too. To be a truly open architecture solution, we knew from the outset that that meant offering a variety of discretionary propositions as well, but felt we could add value in determining complementary offerings.”
