The Online Portfolio Builder, available from October 4, will provide a structured process to help IFAs ascertain client attitude to risk and build tailored investment portfolios. It has been developed inpartnership with IFAs to provide them with asset allocation support.

The e-based portfolio construction tool will complement existing tools offered to IFAs via ZIFAweb and has been specifically tailored for use with Zurich's Sterling suite of investment products. It is initially available for the Sterling Bond and will be rolled-out to cover the rest of Sterling's portfolio over the coming months.

The service will guide IFAs through a logical course of action from assessing their clients' attitude to risk and investment objectives, to asset allocation and portfolio construction and then on to quote and apply online. A client record is created enabling IFAs to revisit client portfolios for later refinement and to generate bespoke client-facing reports.

Kevin Pearce, Zurich Sales Promotion Director, said that as depolarisation, regulation and rising industry costs put new demands on IFAs' time and budgets, tools that could ease the burden are becoming all the more necessary.

"The Online Portfolio Builder will help IFAs to better meet the demands of their clients and ultimately to build stronger adviser-client relationships. It will also ensure a streamlined administration process for IFAs.

"While the existing fund centre has provided IFAs with popular functionality in the past, Zurich is committed to constantly updating its offering to IFAs who see up-to-date technology as integral to their business," Mr Pearce said. "The Online Portfolio Builder is the latest development from Zurich with more to follow over the coming months." The new facility will assist in asset allocation through modelling techniques developed by global management consultancy Tillinghast Towers Perrin.