Whitman launches advisor-driven wealth management mobile app in Malaysia

• Integrates bespoke advisory services with fintech innovation
• Delivers personalised wealth management solutions

WHITMAN Independent Advisors on June 7 launched iWealth, Malaysia’s first advisor-driven online wealth management mobile application.

Presented as a mobile application (app), iWealth seamlessly integrates bespoke advisory services with fintech innovation to deliver personalised wealth management solutions capable of helping Malaysians achieve financial freedom.

“Holistic wealth management was traditionally offered as a premium offline service to high net worth clients and the upper middle-class. iWealth’s arrival will democratise the wealth management industry and make it possible for every Malaysian to achieve financial freedom,” remarked Whitman Independent Advisors managing director Yap Ming Hui.

Yap continued, “iWealth’s low entry cost makes it more affordable and appealing to millennials, as it supports them in building their personalised roadmap to financial freedom. In the past, they may not have had the opportunity to do so due to the high advisory fees charged and higher minimum asset requirement.

“Riding on technology, iWealth will deliver holistic financial solutions in a manner that suits the new generation of consumers, whose demand for greater convenience, accessibility and affordability is insatiable. Until now, there hasn’t been any fintech innovation in the market quite like iWealth which can proudly claim to help Malaysians grow their wealth in a holistic and affordable manner.”

iWealth addresses the lack of empowerment and financial foresight of today’s younger generation. Due to limited financial resources, millennials cannot afford to make mistakes when purchasing financial products that are not best aligned to their financial goals, nor products that would deplete their funds. Financial service providers who choose to sell products to unknowing consumers without first referring to their client’s roadmap to financial freedom further compound the situation.

Yap remarked, “iWealth’s compelling value proposition is going back to basics and offering the user a holistic, and tangible roadmap to help them achieve their financial freedom. Without a roadmap to act as a guide, it is very challenging and almost impossible for anyone to achieve financial freedom in a structured manner, let alone make any financial decisions that would positively impact them in the future.”

iWealth seamlessly integrates offline holistic wealth management disciplines with a whole new online user experience. It aggregates, analyses, and organises financial information such as assets, liabilities, income, and expenses conveniently on the mobile app.

Based on the user’s financial profile, iWealth highlights gaps and opportunities to improve one’s financial position as well as provide personalised strategies to achieve financial freedom.

iWealth will help users understand the impact of life events on personal finances (making a home purchase, starting a family and investments), by providing tangible step by step solutions to navigate these important decisions.

Meanwhile, an annual report card is generated to help users’ gauge and measure their wealth management progress against the original recommendations. In short, a roadmap to financial freedom at your fingertips.

Yap foresees more enhancements being made to iWealth’s functionality to ensure that the app continues to capture evolving needs and solve consumer pain points.

He said, “The digitisation of advice is inevitable and we are excited to be at the forefront of that journey.  The future of wealth management is about empowering people to have full visibility of their financial position. In addition, our technology can advise people on what to do, therefore removing the uncertainty that exists in day-to-day financial decision-making.”

He continued, “What is going to set us apart from current online wealth management products is our hybrid offering. Unlike robo advisors, iWealth would provide some hand holding support in the form of human licensed wealth managers who are available to assist users with their annual action plan implementation and ensure that users keep track with what they set out to achieve.

“After all, who is better at handling human emotional challenges than a fellow human? Most robo-advisors for example, do not have a human wealth manager to hold your hand and provide assurance after a significant market correction.”

iWealth is FREE to download on iOS and Android. For a fee of RM480 a year, users can subscribe to the iWealth+ package and enjoy step by step guide and holistic wealth management strategies developed by professional wealth managers anytime, anywhere. The service includes:

• Access to your personalised financial document such as income & expense statement, balance sheet and strategic asset allocation statement, all housed in an organised manner on your mobile phone
• Financial health check
• A tailor-made roadmap to financial freedom
• A custom-made action plan with strategies to help you achieve your desired financial freedom
• An annual report card to measure your wealth management progress
• Online consultation sessions with a dedicated wealth manager

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