1st - The Exchange Annual Conference shows Advisers path to secure and profitable future (08/10/08)
1ST – THE EXCHANGE today used the platform of its 2008 Annual User Conference to reassure advisers of the optimistic future which lies ahead, despite the current unprecedented economic and market volatility.

TCF Acid Test Consultancy service launched (12/09/08)
1ST – THE EXCHANGE has today announced the launch of its new TCF Acid Test Consultancy service, designed to help adviser firms understand what needs to be done to meet the six core principles of the new TCF legislation. 

1st - The Exchange completes exclusive integration with Merchant Investors (18/07/08)
1ST – THE EXCHANGE has today completed an exclusive integration for its Adviser Office (AO) software and specialist provider, Merchant Investors (MI), providing a real time valuation link for a range of bond and pension products.

Leading mortgage network signs major new contract with 1st - The Exchange (15/07/08)
1st – The Exchange, today announced that Mortgage Broking Services Ltd (MBSL), one of the UK’s top-ten mortgage networks, has today signed a major new contract with the technology services provider. Later this year, when the new systems go live, 230 MBSL advisers will gain access to a complete straight-through processing (STP) solution, supporting its full range of mortgage and protection business.

Credit crunch bonus for technology users from 1st - The Exchange (10/07/08)
1st - The Exchange today announced a new pricing strategy to give advisers a more cost-effective route to using its market-leading adviser portal and back-office solutions.  The special credit-crunch ‘bundling bonus’ could reduce technology costs for over 38,000 financial advisers.

20% of Advisers now using electronic suitability services but majority still use manual (03/07/08)
The vast majority of advisers (74%) still produce suitability reports on a completely manual basis, despite the significant time and cost penalties associated with this.  To date, only one in five (21%) advisers have switched to using more efficient, technology-based alternatives, despite the growing cost pressures affecting many adviser firms. This leaves a small number of advisers using a combination of paper and technology.

White paper research identifies growing 'Virtual High Street' for financial services (25/06/08)
1st - The Exchange, today published its latest White Paper research study, entitled: ‘Gaps & Opportunities’, examining the effects of changing market and regulatory conditions in the UK advisory sector. 

New Focus for Finnes at 1st - The Exchange (19/06/08)
1st – The Exchange, has today announced the appointment of Stuart Finnes as its new business development manager for the large-scale enterprise market.

Almost half of Advisers don't understand FSA rquirements to evidence TCF (21/05/08)
Almost half (46%) of the adviser population is confused and uncertain over what the FSA requires from them to evidence TCF principles by the December 2008 deadline – just 7 months away.  This was one of the key findings of the new 1st - The Exchange, TCF research study.  In an online poll, completed by over 560 adviser firms last month, just over half (54%) said they confidently understood what the FSA wanted from them, to evidence TCF principles in their firm. 

Wesleyan first to go live with evolutionary insight from 1st (09/05/08)
Vertex Financial Services, parent group of leading technology suppliers, 1st - The Exchange, today announced that Wesleyan Assurance Society has become the first organisation to go live with the new Adviser Evolution technology.

1st-The Exchange reports rapid uptake in the use of e-Services (02/05/08)
1st-The Exchange, a Vertex company and the leading supplier of integrated technology solutions for financial advisers, today released the results of client feedback and research showing a rapid uptake in the use of e-Services:

Skandia become first provider to receive the ‘accredited associate’ trainer status from 1st (16/04/08)
1st, a Vertex company and the leading supplier of integrated technology solutions for financial advisers, today announced that Skandia has become the first provider to receive the ‘accredited associate’ trainer status for its Adviser Office (AO) software.

New Adviser Office boosts TCF capabilities (20/03/08)
1st, a Vertex company, today announced the launch of Adviser Office 6 (AO6), introducing a range of new features designed to support the ‘Treating Customers Fairly (TCF)’ principles.

Adviser Office & Friends Provident valuations now live with Unipass Certificate support (14/03/08)
1st, a Vertex company, today announced it has extended its Unipass digital certificate coverage, allowing the 13,500 Adviser Office users to get easier access to automated valuations for Friends Provident’s unit-linked policies.

Mortgage Support Network Chooses AEME (28/02/08)
1st, a Vertex company, today announced Mortgage Support Network (MSN) has become the latest client for its new mortgage ‘smart client’ point of sale technology system, AEME.

Stonebridge Group becomes first user of AEME - 1st's Smart Technology client (28/11/07)
1st, a Vertex company, has today announced that Stonebridge Group has become the first AEME client, following the launch of the new mortgage technology less than two weeks ago.  

New e-Valuation and e-Commissions services for Adviser Office users from 1st (28/11/07)
Vertex Financial Services’ companies, The Exchange and 1st, today announced further developments for their new e-Valuation and e-Commission services.

Red House chooses Adviser Office from 1st (26/11/07)
The Red House has today announced it has chosen Adviser Office from 1st, a Vertex company, as its preferred software system.  The Red House is a fee-only wealth management firm launched in November 2007 by former Origen chief executive, Gareth Marr with colleagues Ruth Sturkey and Linda Whybrow.

1st and The Exchange announce future plans at User Conference:
'e-nabling better business together' (10/10/07)
1st, a Vertex company and the leading supplier of integrated technology solutions for over 13,000 financial advisers, yesterday used the platform of its 2007 Annual User Conference, to announce future developments at both 1st and The Exchange.

1st appoints new Business Development Consultant (13/09/07)
1st, a Vertex company and the leading supplier of integrated technology solutions for financial advisers, has today announced the appointment of Gary Williams as its new business development consultant for the large-scale enterprise market.

Fidelity FundsNetwork becomes latest provider to join 1st e-Commission service (08/08/07)
1st, a Vertex company and the leading supplier of integrated technology solutions for financial advisers, has today announced the addition of Fidelity FundsNetwork™ - the UK’s leading investment platform- to its Adviser Office e-Commission module.

61% of Advisers use provider e-Business capability as major deciding factor when choosing who to do business with (23/05/07)
1st, a Vertex company and the leading supplier of integrated technology solutions for financial advisers, today announced the results of its 2007 client research, polled at a series of recent nationwide roadshows.

Wesleyan implements Amber Exchange Solution (09/05/07)
Vertex Financial Services, parent group of leading technology suppliers 1st and The Exchange, today announced the successful implementation of its Amber report-writing technology for Wesleyan Assurance Society (Wesleyan). Following a rapid development and deployment, the new technology has already produced substantial improvements in adviser productivity and time savings in compliance-related business processes.

56% Rely on Adviser recommendations to influence their use of Online Business Services (02/05/07)
1st, a Vertex company and the leading supplier of integrated technology solutions for financial advisers, today announced the results of its latest ‘e-nabling better business’ research. Over 300 advisers took part in the online poll, which asked what was the biggest influence for them to try a new online business service. Just over half the sample (56%) claimed recommendation from other intermediaries was the most important deciding factor.

Best of both worlds offered to 1st and Prestwood clients (08/03/07)
Two market leaders in their respective fields, 1st and Prestwood, have today announced plans to link their systems in order to deliver a better and more comprehensive solution for their clients.

Wesleyan selects Vertex Straight-Through-Processing Solution from 1st and The Exchange (11/01/07)
Vertex Financial Services, parent group of leading technology suppliers 1st and The Exchange, today announced that Wesleyan Assurance Society has selected its integrated, straight-through-processing (STP) technology solution to support the future growth of the mutual insurer.

JS&P/Towry Law selects Vertex Straight-Through-Processing Solution from 1st and The Exchange (01/12/06)
Vertex Financial Services, parent group of leading technology suppliers 1st and The Exchange, today announced that John Scott & Partners (JS&P) has selected its integrated, straight-through-processing (STP) technology proposition to support its new wealth management group, created following JS&P’s recent acquisition of Towry Law.

1st launches new Training and Consultancy Service - 'clientsfirst' (29/09/06)
1st, a Vertex company and the leading supplier of integrated technology solutions for financial advisers, has announced the launch of ‘clientsfirst’ - a training and consultancy service, available to all users of its Adviser Office (AO) system.

1st unveils future plans at User Conference: 'Connecting the Industry' (28/06/06)
1st , a Vertex company and the leading supplier of integrated technology solutions for financial advisers, today used the platform of its 2006 Annual Conference 1 to announce its future plans, under the headline, ‘Connecting The Industry''.

'e-Commerce Appetite' revealed: 66% of Advisers aiming to move business processes online (30/05/06)
1st , a Vertex company and the leading supplier of integrated technology solutions for financial advisers, has today revealed the results of its latest adviser research project, examining ‘ e-business appetites'.

Launch of first independent industry STP service for intermediaries - two-way integration between Exweb & Adviser Office now live (12/05/06)
The Exchange and 1st today announced the launch of the industry's first independent industry straight-through processing (STP) service for financial intermediaries.

1st launches real time valuation service from Norwich Union (11/05/06)
1st , a Vertex company and the leading supplier of integrated technology solutions for financial advisers, has launched a new real time valuation service from Norwich Union.

1st Donates £4000 to Myton Hamlet Hospice (13/03/06)
Warwick based company 1st, a leading supplier of integrated technology solutions for financial advisers ha s donated £4,000 direct to a local charity, Myton Hamlet Hospice.

Warwick based 1st wins award as Best Industry Technology Provider (24/01/06)
1st, the Warwick-based technology solutions provider for financial intermediaries, has been selected for the second year running as the ‘Best Technology Software Provider' in the Professional Adviser awards, 2006. The awards ceremony, hosted by David Mellor , was held on the evening of Tuesday 17 th January at Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

1st appoint new board member to focus on Client Relationship Management (18/01/06)
1st, the market leading provider of software solutions to professional advisers, has today announced that Richard Goodall will be joining their board as Sales and Marketing Director.

Launch Announcement - Adviser Office: Accelerating e-Business (22/11/05)
1st, the leading supplier of integrated technology solutions for financial advisers, today launched the fourth major version of its market-leading adviser software solution: ‘ Adviser Office: Accelerating E-Business'.

1st Technical Architect achieves Microsoft top award (10/11/05)
Richard Costall, technical architect at 1st, the leading supplier of adviser technology solutions, has today been given a prestigious MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award from Microsoft. In the UK there are only 160 other individuals who hold this award with only 2,600 people possessing it worldwide.

Award winning IFA chooses Adviser Office (27/10/05)
IFA Woman of the Year, Saran Allott-Davey of Heron House Financial Management, has chosen Adviser Office from 1st as the preferred software system for her firm.

1st work with Microsoft in anticipation of Windows replacement (22/09/05)
Over 11,000 users of 1st , have today been reassured by the company not to be concerned, as experts urge Advisers to check their back office systems before installing Vista – the new version of Microsoft Windows, due for launch in 2006.

1st Announces launch of Adviser Office: Accelerating e-Business (22/09/05)
1st, the leading supplier of integrated technology solutions for financial advisers, today unveiled the fourth major version of its Adviser Office system, to be launched later this year. The new product will be available for demonstration on the company's stand at the FT Expo event held in London on Thursday 22 nd September.

38% of Advisers fail to make any preparation for FSA's madatory on-line reporting (19/08/05)
1st, the market leading supplier of technology solutions to financial intermediaries, today announced the results of its latest ‘ 1st Impressions' online poll, which asked over 200 adviser firms how prepared they were for the FSA's new mandatory electronic reporting regime.

Buy-back of Misys' shareholding in 1st (17/08/05)
1st, the market leading supplier of technology solutions to financial intermediaries, today announced that it has bought-back the Misys Group's shareholding in its business, for an undisclosed sum. Misys acquired its investment in 1st as part of its acquisition of Financial Options Group Limited in 1999.

JPMorgan INVEST selects 1st as technology partner for solution to the savings gap (03/08/05)
JPMorgan INVEST, a new Company recently launched by JPMorgan Asset Management, is designed to provide financial education in the workplace to help individuals to understand how to plan their financial future in a far more effective way. The JPMorgan INVEST offering will concentrate on those employees coming up to retirement but will look at other employee groups as the service evolves.

1st Annual User Conference unveils new initiatives to accelerate e-Business (29/06/05)
1st, the leading supplier of technology solutions to financial intermediaries, today used the platform of its 2005 annual user conference to announce its future strategy entitled “accelerating e-Business”.

1st Achieves Microsoft Gold Status (22/06/05)
1st, the leading provider of services and solutions to the retail financial advice market, today announced that it has gained the top level of Microsoft Partners Awards, Gold Certified Status . The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in December 2003 and represents Microsoft's ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide.

New itrak version delivers asset allocation data to fully analyse managed & international funds (22/06/05)
1st, the market leading supplier of technology solutions for professional advisers, today announced the launch of the latest version of iTrak, the personal wealth management software for financial advisers and wealth managers.

Significant variation in online services delays adviser e-Commerce adoption (15/06/05)
Results from one of the industry's largest collaborative research studies has shown that ‘huge' or ‘significant' variations in the quality of online services is one of the biggest factors affecting advisers' decisions to adopt ecommerce within their business.

Richard Goodall appointed as new head of sales & marketing at 1st (08/06/05)
1st, the leading provider of services and solutions to the retail financial advice market, has today appointed a new head of sales and marketing, Richard Goodall, formerly regional manager at Zurich Financial Services.

Grant Thornton announces new alliance with 1st (27/04/05)
As part of the ongoing investment in its Private Client Services (PCS) practice, business and financial advisers Grant Thornton today announced the successful implementation of the leading edge software solution, Adviser Office from 1st.

1st wins award as best industry technology provider (01/02/05)
1st, the Warwick-based technology solutions provider for financial intermediaries, has just been selected as the ‘Best Technology Software Provider’ in the Professional Adviser awards, 2005.

New iTrak version provides instant portfolio interrogation with Financial Express Technology (11/02/05)
1st, the leading supplier of integrated technology solutions for financial advisers, today announced the launch of the latest version of iTrak, the personal wealth management software, available as a stand-alone product for professional advisers, wealth managers and financial intermediaries.

1st announces new portal development (20/01/05)
1st, the UK 's leading technology solutions provider for financial intermediaries, has today announced the launch of the first phase of its new portal, 1st Services . Designed to provide fast and easy access to e-commerce partners, date services and automatic program updates, 1st Services phase one launch includes automated access to data feeds from Financial Express and a new postcode look-up service.

1st appoints chief technology officer (13/01/05)
1st, the UK's leading technology solutions provider for financial intermediaries, has today announced the appointment of Paul Creamer to its board of directors, in the role of chief technology officer (CTO).

8 out of 10 advisers expect to use software to justify trail commission to meet the expected FSA guidelines (13/10/04)
8 out of 10 advisers expect to use software to justify trail commission to meet the expected FSA guidelines – according to today’s results from the most recent 1st online poll, ‘ 1st Impressions’.

iTrak Point of Sale Wealth Management technology now available stand alone or integrated with Adviser Office (08/09/04)
1st, the leading supplier of integrated technology solutions for financial advisers, today
announced the launch of its new iTrak point of sale wealth management software, available as a stand-alone product for professional advisers, wealth managers and financial intermediaries.

1st Announces Launch of Adviser Office: Intelligent Workflow (23/06/04)
1st, the leading supplier of integrated technology solutions for financial advisers, today announced the launch of the third major release of its Adviser Office system :
Adviser Office: Intelligent Workflow.

1st Joins Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (01/06/04)
1st has today announced that it has become an affiliate member of the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI), further highlighting the company’s commitment to the mortgage market.

Strategic Programme Manager Appointed (18/02/04)
1st has today announced the appointment of Paul Creamer as its strategic programme manager.

Investor risk profiling software launched (18/02/04)
1st, the UK 's largest provider of desktop software for financial intermediaries, has today announced the launch of its 'Investment Risk Profiler' , developed in conjunction with specialist consultancy, The Silent Partner.