Assante Wealth Management announced Sept. 12 that it has partnered with WealthBar Financial Services, a fintech, to launch Assante Connect, a new online investing platform exclusively available to clients of Assante financial advisors.

CI Financial is the parent company of Assante and WealthBar.

"Assante Connect will broaden the reach of our advice by leveraging technology and an appealing and accessible digital experience combined with advice from experienced financial professionals," said Sean Etherington, President of Assante. "What we've heard from clients is that over time their needs and the level of support they desire changes. This platform provides Assante advisors with the flexibility to stay connected with these clients and adapt to their evolving goals and complexity."

A new segment in Canadian financial services

"Pairing online investing with wealth management advice is essentially a new segment in Canadian financial services and CI Financial is uniquely positioned to lead this space with our state-of-the-art digital platform and leading advisory firm in Assante," said Kurt MacAlpine, Chief Executive Officer of CI Financial. "Assante Connect combines two of our wealth management businesses, enabling clients to access the expertise and services they need in the way that is most convenient for them, while supporting advisors in serving a broader range of clients more effectively."