FASA 2022
Investments

This has been a tricky year for investors as markets proved volatile across many asset classes for most of the year.

As advisers scrambled to help their clients protect their money, there were some investment providers that really stood out this year when it came to offering support and keeping their service levels up. 

What appeared to be a rotation from growth to value in early 2022 soon turned into choppy markets all around the equity sector, as inflation proved sticky and central banks scrambled to stabilise their countries’ economies by raising interest rates.

The world of bonds fared no better. Bonds' commonly accepted role as a diversifier in advised investment portfolios fast became redundant. And when many thought things could not get worse, former prime minister Liz Truss's government rattled bond markets further by introducing its ill-fated "mini" Budget, sending the cost of borrowing into a spiral and adding further fuel to an escalating cost of living crisis.

It’s difficult to imagine a time when advisers would have valued support more, and some of the best investment providers this year were focusing on just that: making life easier for advisers.

Whether it was through offering better value for money, investing in their staff, communications or technology to ensure quick turnaround times when called upon, in a year such as this there is no doubt providers striving for excellence would have been well received by intermediaries.

Five-star winner M&G Investments introduced a team of regional account managers, who provided advisers with asset management support on topics such as corporate bond investing and the heightened volatility in the bonds market. 

Neal Brooks, M&G Investments’ global head of product & distribution, says: “The current investment environment is a challenging one for advisers and we are committed to providing investment solutions and client service that help them to navigate this effectively."

Scottish Widows, another five-star winner in the investments category this year, created specialist support materials in the form of webinars, vlogs and expert series publications to support its advisers and their clients.

Jackie Leiper, managing director of pensions, share dealing and distribution at Scottish Widows, says: “These awards have become that bar by which providers and the industry are judged and I’m proud of all the work the team has done to achieve – for seven years running – five stars for the Investment, and Pensions and Protection categories. 

“Our commitment to the intermediary market is stronger than ever and we’re already looking forward to 2023.”

Pru Investments, also the recipient of five stars, says it has partnered with adviser communities and professional bodies to deliver broad industry knowledge and technical expertise. “We also have a large network of account managers working closely with adviser firms across the UK,” says Rob Hickson, managing director of distribution at M&G Wealth.

He adds: “We will continue to enhance our offering to advisers and remain committed to supporting the advice community in these challenging times.”

carmen.reichman@ft.com