Investipal with Cameron Howe | E311

Creating a unified and streamlined investor and advisor experience.

In this episode of Fintech Impact, host Jason Pereira interviews Cameron Howe, CEO and Co-founder of Investipal. Originally designed for DIY investors, Investipal has evolved into a versatile online platform that also serves advisors, offering enhanced tools for portfolio research and management. The conversation emphasizes Investipal's commitment to financial literacy, particularly among younger generations, and the value of remaining a calculated, revenue-focused, and durable company despite being bootstrapped.

Episode Highlights:

  • 00:36: Cameron introduces Investipal, sharing its origin as a platform initially designed for DIY investors. He mentions its evolution into a technology serving both individual investors and advisors.

  • 02:18: Cameron discusses the gap in the market that led to the creation of Investipal. He highlights the platform's positioning between discount brokerage firms and managed services, offering flexibility with a touch of advice.

  • 04:00: The discussion focuses on unifying the advisor experience through research and development. Investipal aims to streamline the fragmented advisor tools, providing a more cohesive and personalized experience for users.

  • 05:12: Cameron details how Investipal serves as a client engagement tool, starting from the initial touchpoint. He explains embedding risk questionnaires on advisor websites, generating IPS (Investment Policy Statement) early in the onboarding process.

  • 07:26: Cameron details the Screener tools on Investipal, including screening based on returns, dividends, sectors, and around 30 bespoke indicators. The platform allows quantitative screening for factors like growth, value, quality, and thematic investment buckets, such as AI, ESG, and crypto.

  • 08:31: Jason brings up the transition from a DIY tool to serving advisors, inquiring about the feedback that led to this shift. He also asks about the feedback from advisors on what was missing from their previous tools.

  • 11:53: Cameron shares the overarching goal of helping advisors automate their practice. Investipal aims to expand its capabilities beyond portfolio management, collaborating with industry leaders in document management and financial planning to offer a comprehensive yet cost-effective solution.

  • 12:46: Jason acknowledges the importance of a lighter-weight solution that focuses on specific verticals rather than an all-encompassing system. Cameron agrees, emphasizing the role of Investipal in addressing niche needs.

  • 13:18: Cameron talks about Investipal's focus on private assets, catering to advisors dealing with alternative exposures. The goal is to optimize client accounts by incorporating private assets into the portfolio management solution.

  • 14:47: Cameron clarifies that Investipal aims to own the investment management side while integrating with financial planning and client-related tools. The focus is on providing a comprehensive solution for investment management and portfolio optimization.

  • 15:49: Cameron expresses a wish for a greater willingness to adopt new technology, particularly in the Canadian market, to overcome entrenched beliefs and embrace the benefits of automation.

  • 16:38: Cameron discusses the challenge of being bootstrapped, emphasizing the need for calculated risks with limited assets. Despite the slower growth, being revenue and profit-focused has allowed for a more durable and diligent approach.

  • 18:12: Cameron expresses excitement about the passionate team working on Investipal and the potential to help both advisors and the general retail population. The goal is to instill financial literacy, especially among younger generations, and provide tools for long-term wealth building.

Key Points:

  1. Originally a DIY tool, Investipal has evolved into a platform serving both individual investors and advisors, positioning itself between discount brokerage firms and managed services.

  2. Investipal seeks to unify the advisor experience by connecting various tools for risk assessment, research, portfolio management, and client communication, providing a streamlined and cohesive solution.

  3. Investipal aims to focus on owning the investment management side, catering to mid-market advisors.

Tweetable Quotes:

  • "Investipal focuses on owning the investment management side, offering a comprehensive yet cost-effective solution for mid-market advisors, while integrating with financial planning tools." - Cameron Howe

  • "We want to instill financial literacy, especially among younger generations, and provide streamlined tools for long-term wealth building, not just for advisors but for the general retail population." - Cameron Howe

  • "Being bootstrapped forced us to take calculated risks, ensuring a more durable company that remains revenue and profit-focused, rather than succumbing to the fast-paced VC cycle." - Cameron Howe

Resource Mentioned:

Fintech ImpactJason PereiraFintech