#Japan #Smart Plus #Yokohama, Tokyo #Digital Wealth Manager #r-Laboratory

r-Laboratory Partners with Smart Plus

In the dynamic landscape of financial technology, r-Laboratory, a Yokohama-based company, has taken a significant step forward by adopting the Digital Wealth Manager (DWM) platform from Smart Plus, based in Tokyo. This collaboration marks the beginning of an investment trust sales service that focuses on carefully selected global equity funds.

Background and Objectives

With the onset of the new NISA (Nippon Individual Savings Account) system, there has been a notable surge in interest regarding asset formation in Japan. However, many still perceive investing as a daunting task, often expressing concerns such as "investing is difficult" or "I've had bad experiences." Additionally, the capital earnings generated by global publicly traded companies (referred to as 'r') are yet to significantly benefit Japanese households. To address these issues, r-Laboratory has defined its mission as establishing an ecosystem that delivers r to households, assisting with long-term goals such as retirement funding and children's education.

To realize this mission, r-Laboratory has sought a robust securities trading platform that can support its commitment to clients' long-term asset development. After careful evaluation, they concluded that DWM, with its high level of customization and capability to offer services under its own brand, was the perfect fit.

Reasons for Choosing DWM

Two primary factors influenced r-Laboratory's decision to select DWM for their investment trust sales service:
1. Tailored Fund Selection: DWM's ability to implement a system where only carefully curated funds are presented to customers was vital. This aligns with r-Laboratory’s philosophy of offering only optimal choices for long-term asset development.
2. Brand Autonomy: Another crucial reason was DWM’s capacity to support services branded under r-Laboratory instead of the associated brokerage firm. Establishing and maintaining long-term trust with clients necessitates distinct service offerings that emphasize their identity as an Independent Financial Advisor (IFA) firm.

Overview of the Service Offered

The investment trust service will feature a selection of global equity funds meticulously chosen based on r-Laboratory's unique criteria. The service caters to both the accumulation and growth investment limits of the new NISA framework, maximizing the benefits of the tax-exempt system in line with customers’ long-term asset building needs.

In this arrangement, r-Laboratory will act as an intermediary for the investment trust sales, while Smart Plus will oversee securities account management and the execution of investment trust transactions. This collaborative approach enhances access to quality investment opportunities for customers in Japan.

About Smart Plus and Finatext Group

Finatext Group is a fintech conglomerate with the mission to reinvent financial services as a more integrated part of everyday life. They aim to realize Embedded Finance through innovative financial infrastructure. Within this group, Smart Plus provides a brokerage service platform known as Brokerage as a Service (BaaS), dedicated to helping firms deliver customized financial services to their own clients.

By harnessing the strengths of both r-Laboratory and Smart Plus, this partnership is poised to make significant contributions to the landscape of digital investments in Japan, effectively bridging the gap between sophisticated investment opportunities and everyday investors.