Brokers-planner collaboration ‘sensible’

Planners and brokers working together is a “sensible collaboration” whether it’s a partnership or under the same structural banner, Steve Cullen, chief officer of advice at QInvest, told ifa.

“I think if you value the total customer relationship then it’s about [addressing] the total needs rather than just one part of it,” he said.

Cullen also said the reaction from QInvest planners to collaborating with brokers has been “very positive”.

“They were encouraged that members, particularly in the accumulation stages of their lives, will have one more element of their financial balance sheet that QSuper can help them with,” he said.

QSuper members will have access to the service as part of the fund’s “member for life” philosophy, Cullen said.

“We do recognise that for people in the family and career builder stages of their life, their mortgage is really one of their priority issues financially. We saw the opportunity there and so we moved on that,” he said.

“We’ve seen the opportunity, others may see that in time, but we’ve certainly seen that as a priority, that’s why we’ve moved on it at this point.”