Link’s own robo-advisor is central to our savings, equity and pension plan solutions
In the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic, robo-advisors have taken on an Alfred E. Neumann-esque stance.
What, me worry?
A recent investment industry publication noted that robo-advice has clearly demonstrated its prowess in the world of management during what has otherwise been a year of upheaval.
Research has found that total robo-advisor assets in Canada climbed to $10 billion in Q2 2020 from $7.5 billion at the end of 2019. In the month of March, according to the Investment Funds Institute of Canada, ETFs had net sales of $2.9 billion—a stark contrast to mutual funds, which saw net redemptions of $14.1 billion.
“Prior to coronavirus, there was a misconception that robo-advisors couldn’t negotiate periods of turmoil. That concept is no longer valid,” says Brian Prokop, CEO and Chief Compliance Officer of Link Plan Management Inc.
Link Investment Management is a disruptive innovator in the workplace financial wellness space. And our own proprietary robo-advisor algorithm is the centerpiece of our savings, equity and health benefits plans for small to midsize businesses—creating tailor-made investment portfolios based on an employee’s retirement objectives, risk tolerance and timeline.
“In our view, this pandemic has really validated the benefits of our own Link robo-advisor,” says Brian McClennon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Link Investment Management. “We believe that a strong foundation of technology like Link’s—our robo-advisor, our cloud-based, fully digital platform—will provide much greater value to clients than the traditional approach.”
Employers and employees alike can reap the benefits of Link’s workplace savings and pension plans. In addition to our robo-advice approach, they include:
- A lower and completely transparent fee schedule
- A passive investing approach, using low-cost, index-tracking Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)
- Regular, automated portfolio rebalancing, based on a member’s assigned asset allocation
- 24/7 access and quick online enrolment through Link’s easy-to-use proprietary digital platform
“Automation is disrupting the pension and savings industry, and Link is accelerating that change,” notes Mr. McClennon, “Our approach is simplifying and strengthening the way investment decisions are made.”
