RIA Technology Integration:
The True Opportunity Cost of Inefficiency.
In an environment where RIAs are competing with advisors at firms like wirehouses
with large technology departments, it can be challenging for them to compete head-on.
“RIA Technology Integration: The True Opportunity Cost of Inefficiency,” a whitepaper
conducted by the independent research firm Aite Group, and commissioned by NFP Advisor
Services Group, explores the benefits of technology integration —
which was found to boost advisor revenue by as much as 30 percent.
It also explains why leveraging an integrated, outsourced platform is the most realistic
way for them to obtain a fully integrated technology environment.
James Poer, CIMA
President, NFP Advisor Services Group
As president of NFP Advisor Services Group, James Poer is dedicated to helping independent
financial advisors fulfill client needs and meet financial goals through a unique
integration of leading technology and service and an open architecture investment
platform. The group serves independent financial advisors with a varying scope of
business affiliations, including independent RIAs and hybrid advisors, through NFP
IndeSuite.
James is responsible for driving overall strategy and the day-to-day management
of NFP Advisor Services Group, developing and maintaining relationships with NFP
owned firms and member firm producers, and leading marketing and operations.
He served on the advisory boards of the Financial Planning Association and the Investment
Management Consultants Association, and is a Certified Investment Management Analyst
and licensed registered representative holding FINRA Series 7, 63, 65 and 24 licenses.
He received his Bachelor of Science from Texas Christian University and is a graduate
of the Securities Industry Institute at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton
Business School.
Alois Pirker Author, “RIA Technology Integration: The True Opportunity Cost of Inefficiency”
Mr. Pirker is a research director at Aite Group, specializing in trends in the wealth
management market. He has published extensively on the registered investment advisor
space, financial planning, separately managed accounts, and advisor-focused platforms
and tools.
Mr. Pirker has been quoted in media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg,
Dow Jones, Reuters, American Banker, Registered Rep., Investment News and Financial-Planning,
and has presented his research at major conferences.
Mr. Pirker holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees (Diplom-Ingenieur)
in applied computer science from the University of Klagenfurt in Austria. He also
studied at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland, where he
wrote his master’s theses on data management.