Russell announced launching an advisor-oriented app, while Fidelity announced an update on its existing one.
Russell Investments announced Nov. 17 that it had launched an iPad-enabled version of its HelpingAdvisors.com website to give advisors mobile access to tools like the Economic Indicators Dashboard, the Business Cycle Index and the Helping Advisors blog.
“In 2010, 64% of asset managers polled by Cerulli Associates indicated that they planned to introduce downloadable applications for mobile devices on advisor websites,” Timothy Noonan, managing director of capital market insights for Russell’s U.S. advisor-sold business, said in a statement. “In a similar vein, we developed our iPad-optimized version of Helping Advisors in direct response to feedback we were hearing from financial advisors–that mobile computing devices help them meet their client needs more rapidly.”
The website was launched in 2009 and the iPad version was launched this month. In October, 10% of traffic to HelpingAdvisors.com was through mobile devices.
“Being in sync in terms of technology is just one more way that advisors can engage and work effectively with clients, and so they are increasingly turning to tablet and mobile devices instead of paper to deliver an integrated client experience in a more efficient way,” Noonan added.