Seccl, the Octopus-owned embedded investment platform, is powering the launch of a new platform for PlanHappy, the software, training and support services firm that helps financial planning practices to improve their client experience and grow their business.
Founded by experienced financial planning practitioner Neil Parker, Plan Happy specialises in supporting individual advisers and smaller firms who want to offer a fantastic financial planning service to their clients.
Its methodology was developed in concert with thousands of clients at Joslin Rhodes, the award-winning £200m advisory practice that Parker founded in 2001 – before spinning out as a separate company in 2018.
The new platform will complement PlanHappy’s existing range of training, software and support services, providing a ‘one-stop-shop’ for practices looking to streamline the financial planning process for advisers and their clients.
Connecting via Seccl’s API, PlanHappy has built its own bespoke front-end interface for clients, with an adviser portal to follow. The team is also actively working on building analysis software, with longer-term plans to incorporate cash flow modelling tools.
Neil Parker, Founding CEO of PlanHappy, said:
“PlanHappy has been built by advisers, for advisers. As a result, we have a deep understanding of what advisers need from a platform (and what they could do without). We were convinced that the platform experience most advisers receive isn’t up to scratch – at times actively hindering productivity rather than supporting it. It was only natural, then, that we add a platform of our own to our growing range of productivity-boosting services.
“We wanted to go beyond the typical white label model and take much greater control of the overall experience that advisers and clients receive. In particular, we were adamant that the platform should be deeply embedded within our existing adviser portal, not bolted on as a separate tool, something that was only possible thanks to Seccl’s API-first construction. They’ve been exceptionally open to our ideas throughout.”
David Ferguson, CEO of Seccl, added:
“PlanHappy is a business that truly comprehends the adviser’s needs, and we’re excited to be part of the ecosystem they’re building. Their approach aligns with the growing demand among advisory firms for fully integrated digital solutions, replacing outdated manual processes. This partnership empowers advisers to grow their businesses while focusing on delivering exceptional service to their clients.”