PriceMetrix is introducing what it says is the first ever market-based pricing tool for financial advisors to help them charge appropriate prices for their fee-based or managed account business.

The Toronto-based practice management software firm says its new FeeCheck solution allows financial advisors to compare their proposed fees with others at their firm or in the broader marketplace to learn whether they are under pricing, appropriately pricing their services, or charging a premium.

“As more advisors turn to fee-based products to better serve clients, they need reliable reference points to determine their pricing,” says Doug Trott, President, and CEO of PriceMetrix. “FeeCheck is the first product to give advisors benchmark fee pricing information, allowing them to determine the pricing strategy that best suits their products and clients.”

The company draws upon data from 20,000 full service advisor books in its secure database to power FeeCheck and refreshes the data monthly to ensure maximum accuracy and current market relevance.

“Building and managing a successful wealth management practice means getting the right clients and tailoring the right products and investments to meet their needs,” says Trott. “It also means that advisors have to price their services properly to ensure they’re aligned with the value being delivered to clients. FeeCheck gives advisors the information they need to do just that.”

FeeCheck is easily accessed during the account opening process. An advisor enters a few simple facts into the system about the account he or she is interested in pricing and FeeCheck’s statistical engine does the rest. It looks for the most appropriate comparison accounts and displays comparable fees based on actual market behavior. Advisors can see how their potential fee compares to the market in a number of ways, including the median fee charged by other advisors or the top quartile for particular types of accounts. Advisors can also easily perform ‘what if’ scenarios to determine how a change in price or desired return on assets would affect their competitive pricing.

“FeeCheck is a powerful tool for retail wealth management firms and their advisors,” concludes Trott. “Being able to compare their potential fees to their peers or the wider marketplace enables advisors to price with confidence.”

IE