Our latest adviser platform research provides in-depth insight into trends in the adviser platform market. We analyse platform performance based on AUA, sales data and adviser ratings and drill down into the factors affecting performance of the individual platforms.
The following sections are featured in the report:
- Market update: analysis of platform assets under administration, tax wrapper split and gross and net sales data for the major platforms
- Platforms and advisers: a focus on platforms from the perspective of financial advisers
- Platform performance: we rank platforms based on a number of criteria such as financial strength, actual vs. percentage growth and user ratings
- Platforms on a page: a comprehensive look at 17 of the larger platforms including our insight into their performance and likelihood of future success, we cover: Aegon, AJ Bell Investcentre, Alliance Trust Savings, Ascentric, Aviva, AXA Wealth Elevate, Cofunds, FundsNetwork, James Hay, Novia, Nucleus, Old Mutual Wealth, Parmenion, Seven Investment Management, Standard Life, Transact and Zurich
Findings include:
- Market growth stalls: AUA growth for the sector as a whole declined by -0.84% from June to September 2015. Year-on-year AUA growth stands at +13.97% with all platforms experiencing positive AUA growth over this period. Nine of the 22 platforms we track grew AUA in Q3.
- Drivers of fund flows: Assets continue to flow into pension wrappers in Q3 with a 5% increase in assets held in a pension wrapper this quarter (54%). Net sales into pension wrappers have increased from 33% in Q3 2014 to a whopping 66% in Q3 2015.
- Adviser sentiment: was fairly positive in Q3. Thirteen of the 18 platforms on our User Leaderboard received improved scores this quarter.
- Adviser Concerns: Advisers have been mainly positive this quarter, but there are signs that they are paying closer attention to the business model of their platforms and platform ownership.
Subscribers to Platforum research can access this report on our website. For details on subscribing please email enquiries@platforum.co.uk.