10 Top Mobile Apps for Investors: Dalbar

What’s in an app? Not all that share that appellation would smell as sweet to mobile phone users (with apologies to the author of Romeo and Juliet).

That’s why Boston-based research firm Dalbar rated 45 financial services company apps, according to nine distinct evaluation categories including discoverability, branding, design, navigation, engagement, draw, personalization, support and ease of use.

We include one app that succeeded across the board, and nine others that exemplify excellence in each of these nine categories.

(Check out 10 Tech Trends That’ll Rattle the Advisory Industry at ThinkAdvisor.)

“Mobile technology has evolved from a mere novelty into an absolute necessity,” says Dalbar’s managing director, Kathleen Whalen. “It is imperative for financial services firms to not fall in line with their competitors but blaze their own trail.”

Here are 10 app producers that do just that (with the top app first and the rest in no particular order).

1. ETrade Mobile for iPad

iOS

Top Honors: highly rated all-around

Of the 45 apps evaluated, ETrade is one of an elite four (CIBC, Soctiabank and Allstate produce the other three) that Dalbar calls a “trailblazer” — an app recognized for its potential to keep the firm in the customer’s view.

A user can trade stocks, check performance, use a variety of customizable features including notifications designed to sustain user engagement.

“E*Trade Mobile’s easy-to-use and visually appealing app is available to account holders and non-account holders alike. The app provides market data to all and quick and easy access to account details to current clients. New accounts can also be initiated through the use of the app,” writes Dalbar.

Besides its four “trailblazer” apps — those that attained high ratings across categories — Dalbar cites nine “pacesetters” that achieve an exceptional rating in an individual evaluation category. The following nine apps exemplify qualities that financial services companies should be seeking to excel in.

2. RidgeWorth Investments

iOS

Honors: Discoverability Champ

Financial services companies want their target audience to discover their app — that is, locate it and understand its function.

That’s what investment research firm Ridgeworth manages exceptionally. The app is prominently promoted on Ridgeworth’s website, which even has a video tutorial of the app to lower any barriers to use.

“Ridgeworth Investments’ iPad app earned a perfect 5 rating in Discoverability due to its promotion of this investment research app on the firm’s website and for its offering of pertinent information in Apple’s App Store,” Dalbar writes.

3. Franklin Templeton (US) for iPad

iOS

Honors: Branding Champ

You can have the market at your fingertips — fund returns, capital gains indications, thought leadership topic discussions — and never forget that Franklin Templeton Investments is somehow connected to all of this.

That’s because the mutual fund company — with wise old Ben Franklin’s countenance facing viewers on its logo — is subtly embedded everywhere.

“Franklin Templeton ensures that users are aware of exactly whose app they are utilizing without its branding ever becoming overpowering,” Dalbar writes.

Aside from its branding prowess, the app gets high ratings on navigation, engagement and ease of use.

4. Vanguard for Advisors

Android

Honors: Design

The Vanguard for Advisors app’s tasteful design — the execution of the app’s visual elements — make this resource an appealing way to access its product and performance information and market and investment commentary.

“With its use of universally recognized icons, accompanied by legible, well-contrasted text, Vanguard’s menu design leaves no room for questions as to what can be accomplished within this app,” Dalbar writes.

The color combinations are also notably consistent with Vanguard’s branding.

5. T. Rowe Price Personal

iOS

Honors: Navigation