Television financial commentator and business owner David Koch has joined with consumer advocate Christopher Zinn to drive forward the new independent online platform for financial planners and consumers Adviser Ratings.
The platform, which includes a directory of 20,000 financial advisers across Australia and allows customers to find, rate and review advisers, has also announced a move into educating Australian investors, many of whom have DIY superannuation funds.
Koch is a pioneer in the financial planning space, having created Money Management and Personal Investment magazines in the late 1980s and is now a shareholder in Adviser Ratings.
Koch said: “Over the last few years, the financial planning industry has faced a torrid time, plagued by numerous financial planning scandals. Adviser Ratings is an important initiative to rebuild consumer confidence in the industry.
“I am especially excited to be involved in Adviser Ratings’ foray into the financial literacy space and educating consumers about how to maximise the benefits of using a financial adviser and investment. It is effectively the Trip Advisor for the financial advice sector, where consumers can share their investment experiences and recommend advisers to others.
“I’m constantly asked by consumers what I think is the best investment, and I always reply ‘good advice’. The follow-up is always ‘where do I find good advice?’ Adviser Ratings is the perfect solution to that query,” he added.
As part of this expansion into education, Adviser Ratings with the support of the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) will produce a new publication, “The Really Simple Guide to Financial Advice”.
This will be distributed to the over 3,000 members of the AFA and to all the advisers registered on Adviser Ratings, while also being available to the general public at newsstands and airport lounges across the country.
In addition, Adviser Ratings is launching a new online Consumer Literacy Centre, focused on financial advice, hints, tips, tricks and traps in investment.
Spokesman for Adviser Ratings Christopher Zinn said “As a consumer-led organisation, we want to work with the industry to ensure consumer confidence is rebuilt largely by creating transparency in advice.
“With David’s help, we believe the initiatives will bring the consumer and industry closer together by not only rebuilding trust and transparency, but also helping answering the simple question, ‘how do I find a good financial adviser?’”
Creator and managing director of Adviser Ratings Angus Woods said “We are empowering consumers and planners through disruptive technology and will be making further announcements about our expansion in the financial services in the near future”.
Source: Adviser Ratings