Toronto – March 15, 2020 – Univeris and CIBC Capital Markets are proud to announce that PEAK Investment Services, part of PEAK Financial Group (“PEAK”), is the first mutual fund dealer in Canada to leverage an MFDA-fully integrated optimized ETF solution. ETFs are now a part of the Univeris distribution platform, connecting through the Univeris Omnibus Cloud to CIBC Capital Markets for market access, trade execution, and custody.
PEAK’s network reaches 1,500 independent advisors, professionals, and employees. The company serves more than 150,000 clients and represents over $10 billion in assets under administration. In 2019, PEAK became the first dealer in Canada to offer all its advisors an integrated solution with access to PTFs and will now also benefit from the ingenuity and cost-advantage that comes with a real all-in-one distribution solution, including ease of adoption and time to market.
“In 2016, with the expected increase in ETF volumes in our industry, PEAK was the first dealer to provide an ETF solution to mutual fund advisors. PEAK advisors can have now an opportunity to deliver an optimal solution—including suitability, analytics, fee management, and client reporting—to their clients with ease through the Univeris distribution platform in a smart and simple way. Comprehensive access to ETFs also means that client best interest can be better achieved by combining passive, active, or smart-beta techniques. A lot more investors can benefit from successful financial strategies,” says Robert Frances, Chairman and CEO at PEAK Financial Group. “This is also a win for PEAK as the solution is really efficient from an operational and compliance point of view.”
The Univeris ETF solution is delivered as a simple add-on to the Univeris distribution platform, enabling a seamless user experience and a true hybrid robo-advisor platform. ETFs integrate with existing processes and applications, minimizing training costs and process re-engineering. Univeris integrates operational and compliance capabilities including KYP, ETF-Facts, pricing, distributions, and reporting.
“The mutual funds industry needs to compete by offering securities and low-cost retail products while continuing to transition to fee-based accounts where relevant. It is our job, as leaders in the wealth management software space, to enable our clients to offer all pertinent solutions and also keep these solutions simple and cost-optimized,” says Carmine Tullio, President and CEO at Univeris. “I would like to thank PEAK for being the first to leverage and take advantage of this offer and I would also like to thank CIBC Capital Markets for partnering with us to give our clients market access and custodial services,” adds Tullio.
The solution is delivered to PEAK through FLEX, Univeris’ Secure Cloud version of its platform, and is connected through an Omnibus account at CIBC Capital Markets. CIBC Capital Markets is uniquely positioned to provide a fully-integrated solution that encompasses both leading execution and custody. Combining institutional execution services, prime services, and a retail block desk makes CIBC Capital Markets an attractive partner for the Univeris ETF solution.
Media Contact, Univeris:
Emmanuel Gonnet
VP, Marketing
P: 416-979-3700
Media Contact, PEAK:
Stéphane Dulude
Vice President, Business Development
P: 514.844.6911, ext 2220
About PEAK
Founded in 1992, PEAK Financial Group, Canada’s premier independent full service dealer, has an unrivaled reputation in the financial services industry and provides its expertise to a network of over 1,500 Independent Financial Advisors and registered professionals, well established in wealth management, mutual funds, securities, insurance and financial planning. PEAK Financial Group has over $10 billion in assets under administration and an enviable life insurance portfolio. PEAK Financial Group is comprised of 4 member companies: PEAK Investment Services Inc., PEAK Financial Services Inc., PEAK Securities Inc. and PEAK Insurance Services Inc. Thanks to the shared values of integrity, independence, and innovation within PEAK Financial Group, PEAK and its network of independent financial Advisors have earned the trust of over 150,000 investors, from coast to coast.
About Univeris
Univeris is a leading provider of enterprise retail wealth management software. Univeris offers comprehensive solutions that automate processes, compliance, reporting and many other key aspects required for delivering superior investor and advisor services. Our unified, digital platform enables investors and advisors to manage many types of investment products on one system. You can learn more about Univeris at http://www.univeris.com/ and on our social pages: Twitter || LinkedIn