Two firms have struck a deal to create a "sophisticated portal" for administering UK Sipps and SSAS.

FNZ and Hornbuckle have formed a "strategic alliance" which they said would enable regulated advisors, wealth managers, private banks and direct to consumer intermediaries access to pension administration, investment services and self-service tools for traditional and non-traditional asset types.
Under the partnership Hornbuckle and FNZ will pool their expertise to "drive innovation in user experience, product design and technology solutions" focused on administration and investment solutions for the retirement market over the next ten years.

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The new portal, called Embark, combines FNZ's award-winning transaction and administration technology with Hornbuckle's experience in pensions and investment areas such as commercial property and unlisted shares. Embark will be launched to selected clients of Hornbuckle in Q4 this year before expanding to the remainder of its client base and new distribution partners in early 2015.
Adrian Durham, group chief executive of FNZ, said: "The Sipp and SSAS markets are key components of FNZ's growth strategy and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Hornbuckle to provide this unique proposition to the market."
Phil Smith, chief executive of Hornbuckle, said: "We are excited to be bringing the ease, flexibility and servicing capabilities of 'platform style' services to all asset types, many of which have traditionally been beyond the reach of core technology and straight-through processing.
"Our new portal will represent a leap in the service level we can provide to our clients and in our opportunities for future growth at no extra cost.
"It gives us workflow-based risk control, rich user experience in terms of access and reporting, extendibility to new asset classes and operational efficiency.
"The strategic alliance with FNZ will give us the tools to deliver bespoke pension solutions at service and price levels which reflect the needs of the post RDR marketplace."