Novarica, the US-based financial consultancy, has set up a new research tool aimed at gathering views from firms including independent broker dealers, registered investment advisors and banks.

Called the Novarica Investment Advisor Research Council, or NIARC, the advisory panel aims to have between 250 and 600 advisors take part in each survey issue, and launch new surveys at least monthly. The focus is purely on the US initially but it may expand to non-US firms eventually, the firm said.

The first of the surveys asks about changes in asset allocation models as the US emerges from recession. Survey findings and analysis are emailed back to participating advisors once the survey closes and will be made available on the Novarica web site.

In June, a prominent commentator and consultant on wealth management, Robert Ellis, joined Novarica from consultants Celent. Novarica is the research and advisory services division of US-based Novantas.