Since its launch in 2011, almost 40,000 advisors have used FundVisualizer to search for and compare mutual funds, including no-loads and ETFs; model portfolios, create client-shareable output, and most recently, “explore” similar funds to discover new investment opportunities.
Listening to advisors
The needs of financial advisors to be able to do their jobs better have always driven the requirements to FundVisualizer, and the most recent release (October 18) was no different. Based on conversations with hundreds of advisors during focus groups, demos, and one-on-one conversations, as well as our own usage data, we discovered that the fund explorer is slowly becoming the primary way that advisors are searching for funds.
2019 enhancements
With this feedback, we’ve enhanced the fund explorer to enable advisors to kick off a search not only with a fund name or ticker, but now by Morningstar category. On the results page, the new filters enable users to fine-tune search results by entering specific data ranges or criteria to narrow the results. Explorer’s table view functionality has also been enhanced to match the bubble chart view. User interface changes improve the overall user experience and flow.
Beyond 2019
At Putnam, we’ve always believed that it’s important to use new technology to bring real value to our clients, not simply to check a box. With the 2019 release, FundVisualizer’s first play in the machine-learning/artificial intelligence space is the Intelligent Assistant, providing the user a way to interact with fund explorer with voice using natural language. The Intelligent Assistant will continuously “learn” how users search and filter fund searches to help provide better results. While this feature should be considered in beta, the technology has a promising future.
The Intelligent Assistant will continuously “learn” how users search and filter fund searches to help provide better results. While this feature should be considered in beta, the technology has a promising future.
Try it yourself
In the next posting, we’ll focus on specific features available in FundVisualizer, starting with the PDF creator, which enables advisors to create output of comparisons that can be shared directly with clients. Try the new enhancements today.
Putnam Retail Management.
