INVESTMENTS
ADVISER STORY
CANSQUARED LIMITED : A TECHNOLOGY SUCCESS STORY
In our recent half-year survey , our Members and Clients cited that their top three opportunities for the remainder of 2021 were re-engaging existing clients , creating greater efficiencies and building value for the future . The survey also told us of an increased consciousness of health and general wellbeing from respondents , and a need to be mindful of a growing pattern of vulnerability amongst clients . We sat down with Geoff Matthews of Cansquared Limited to discuss how his firm has harnessed technology to help effectively engage his clients , the efficiencies it ’ s delivered and what that means for his new work / life balance and the future of his firm in 2021 and beyond .
Can you share a little bit about your business journey ? Certainly , I became a SimplyBiz Member back in September 2020 . For the last eight years my advice business has been primarily focussed on corporate business and group pensions . And , over the last 20 or so years , I ’ ve set up a number of group schemes and , certainly , under auto enrolment , I ’ ve set up over 90 different company schemes . Some small , some not so small and some quite big . A lot of my existing business comes from those group schemes and the employers and employees who work for those companies .
How did you operate before you implemented technology into your firm ? I used to operate very much on a face-to-face basis . I ’ ve been a face-to-face guy for a long time ; in fact since I joined the industry 44 years ago . I would have email and telephone calls but , even my larger corporate clients , that were spread all over the UK , would get a face-to-face visit . Prior to joining SimplyBiz and going directly authorised , I was a network member and the only technology I used was a research tool and their chosen back-office system .
What was the driver for adopting technology ? I think the start of the process was making the decision to leave my network and go directly authorised . The next turning point was probably the pandemic hitting . I knew I was going to change my back-office system once I left the network , but at that stage I had no real idea what intelliflo office could do . Luckily , there ’ s another SimplyBiz Member in my office building that I know well , and they gave me several pointers on the system ’ s capabilities . I had an initial look and soon realised it would be perfect for my business . My application went in around May 2020 and we didn ’ t know then how long this situation would last . Frankly , we still don ’ t know , but I knew it would be a while and that building these processes into my business would be vital for it moving forwards , not just now , but in many years to come .
What were your goals when you implemented new technology into your firm ? Firstly , it was about my clients and to encourage them to engage with this technology to the best of their ability and really hold their hands through it . continued on the following page E
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