BT to launch tailored model portfolio capability

Speaking at the BTNext roadshow yesterday, BT's head of SMSF, Craig Lawrenson, said the tailored portfolio capability will be launched in July this year.

"[The portfolios] are centrally created, centrally rebalanced and managed, incredibly easy to implement and are based on the principle of ensuring complete portfolio transparency so you can see all underlying investments within the portfolio," Mr Lawrenson said.

Mr Lawrenson also announced that the BT Panorama platform is now used by 1,600 SMSFs and has 2,200 registered advisers.

"While BT Panorama has quickly gained pace with advisers, we're also seeing strong engagement from SMSFs and now have 1,600 Australian SMSFs using the platform," Mr Lawrenson said.

BT general manager, platforms and investments, John Shuttleworth is confident of further growth for the platform.

"The future looks bright and there is more to come with BT Panorama this year. It's full steam ahead and we're working to deliver tailored model portfolios and additional portfolio construction capability in the coming months. We will also have available a complete superannuation offering by the end of the year," Mr Shuttleworth said.

These developments follow comments from earlier this year, when Mr Lawrenson told ifa sister publication SMSF Adviser he has a "very clear mandate" to broaden the relationship Westpac has with its existing SMSF clients.

"I'm extremely excited by the opportunity of driving the SMSF business for BT and leveraging our strong history on the investment administration side [as well as] all our strong relationships with advisers," Mr Lawrenson said at the time.