North, one of Australia’s leading retirement and investment platforms, has partnered with estateXchange to provide advisers, beneficiaries and professional representatives with access to a secure, digital solution that simplifies the administration of deceased estates.
Through the partnership, North becomes the first wealth platform in Australia to join the estateXchange network, supporting a more coordinated and efficient way to manage wills, inheritance and estate-related documentation.
estateXchange enables advisers, solicitors, accountants and beneficiaries to upload and share documentation once through a secure digital channel, reducing duplication and improving visibility for all parties involved in managing a deceased client’s affairs.
North’s integration with estateXchange extends its focus on delivering connected, practical technology that supports advisers and their clients across the full lifecycle – from accumulation through to retirement and beyond.
The announcement follows the launch of the North Interactive Wealth Portal in March and supports North’s existing platform capabilities, supporting a more consistent, secure and coordinated experience for advisers and their clients. It also complements North’s existing work to uplift the estate planning experience.
Improving the experience at a difficult time
According to AMP’s Retirement Confidence Pulse, estate planning and inheritance was the number one topic that Australians under 40 said they wished their parents had spoken to them about before retirement1.
In newly-released findings, just half of 2000 Australians surveyed said they have a will1 and less than a third of those aged 50 and over have spoken to their kids about inheritance, with many left under-prepared and ill-equipped to manage their estate and affairs, particularly in the event of the death of a family member or loved one.
Administering a deceased estate in Australia can also be complex and time-consuming, often involving multiple organisations and repeated requests for information.
In other new findings, Deloitte Access Economics research shows Australians typically engage with up to 37 different administration and service providers when managing and administering a deceased estate.2
The process typically takes between 9 to 12 months to finalise and has a significant emotional impact, with over 4 in 5 Australians reporting their wellbeing suffered due to the lengthy administration process.2
At the same time, 9 in 10 Australians surveyed believe the process can be improved2, with a strong preference for solutions that reduce duplication, enable faster processing and provide a central platform for dealing with multiple providers.
Reducing complexity and duplication
The partnership introduces a structured digital channel for managing inheritance claims and deceased estate administration, helping to:
- Reduce repeated requests for the same documents across multiple organisations
- Improve visibility of who is involved in a deceased estate matter
- Minimise reliance on email, post and manual processes
- Enable more efficient engagement between North and professional representatives
Edwina Maloney, Group Executive, Platforms at AMP:
“Having access to timely financial advice and a more coordinated experience can make all the difference when making sure your estate and affairs are in order.
“For advisers using North, our partnership with estateXchange complements existing North processes and digital servicing, helping advisers better support their clients through key life events, including intergenerational wealth transfer and retirement transitions.
“Today’s announcement is all about making it easier to securely share information, provide clearer communication and bring greater structure to the way deceased estate matters are managed.
“This is about supporting advisers to deliver a better experience for families and beneficiaries, while ensuring North continues to evolve as a platform that supports clients through every stage of their financial journey.”
Sharyn Baker, Director, Operations, Platforms at AMP:
“Handling the loss of a loved one is never easy, and the administration that follows can add complexity at a time when people need clarity and support.
“The integration with estateXchange helps streamline how advisers and professional representatives interact with North, giving them a more efficient and transparent way to manage documentation and claims.
“The benefit of estateXchange is that it simplifies document collection and engagement with multiple parties, taking out the friction of what is often a complex and challenging process.
“It underlines North’s commitment to advisers in helping pave the way for a more consistent, digital approach to managing deceased estate administration and related claims, supporting you more effectively in the moments that matter.”
Sarah Poole and Marielle Yeoh, Co-CEOs, estateXchange:
“Dealing with a customer’s super, investments and other estate-related assets after death remains too fragmented for families and their advisers. North joining estateXchange is an important step toward a more secure, consistent and connected way to manage these sensitive matters.
“North’s participation reflects the kind of industry leadership needed to modernise how organisations support beneficiaries and their representatives after a client passes away. We’re pleased to welcome North to the estateXchange network and to work together toward a better experience for families, beneficiaries and professionals.”