Asset management firm Invesco has acquired Los Altos, Calif.-based Jemstep, an advisor-focused digital advice platform and winner of WealthManagement.com’s 2015 Industry Awards for its Jemstep Advisor Pro technology. Invesco hopes the acquisition will expand its advisor relationships by providing them with better digital technology for interfacing with clients.
“An early and innovative entrant into digital advice, Jemstep was one of the first digital platforms to focus exclusively on helping advisors deliver professional advice to their clients online,” Invesco said in a statement.
“Jemstep’s proven platform enhances our ability to help advisors grow their business and by seeking to deliver superior client experiences in a rapidly evolving market environment,” said Martin L. Flanagan, CEO and president of Invesco.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Jemstep features a paperless sign-up process that integrates with an advisor's existing portfolio accounting systems, CRMs and website to make it easy for new clients to sign up. Jemstep automatically allocates a client's assets to a model designed by the advisor, combining the technological efficiency of a robo-advisor with an advisor's unique investment strategy. Jemstep’s investment options go beyond simple market-cap-weighted indexes, another attraction for Invesco. Jemstep also helps with marketing via a “drip” email campaign for prospects.
Jemstep President Simon Roy said this differentiation helps advisors scale their business and remain competitive in the age of digital advice.
Invesco said it will deploy some 300 sales and service people to work with advisors and home offices to implement the technology.
