Lowes Financial Management has launched a new ‘hub’ for structured investments, designed to advance the sector’s products and service offering to UK advisers.
Going live today (8 September), the Lowes Structured Investment Centre has been developed in co-operation with the sector and plans to launch its first product in co-operation with independent provider Mariana Capital and investment bank Societe Generale.
Ian Lowes, managing director of Lowes Financial Management, said that the first investment plan that will be unveiled through the centre is a “highly innovative but surprisingly simple” strategy that has been worked on for a considerable period of time.
“I am sure it will spark interest and appeal widely across the advisory and discretionary community and will be followed by a number of other ground-breaking propositions designed with investors in mind.’’
The centre builds on Lowes’ research-based approach to engaging with the sector and selecting products on merit and suitability, while also identifying products it feels investors should avoid.
With more than £600m in funds under advice, including 15 per cent in structured investments, the firm has already been responsible for education portal StructuredProductReview.com, which came online in 2009 and now has more than 11,000 advisory and industry professionals registered as users.
Chris Taylor, head of strategic development for the centre, explained it was conceived by advisers for advisers, in collaboration with the structured investment sector, to facilitate co-operation and engagement with propositions for professional intermediaries.
He said: ‘‘At the heart of the centre will be a structured investment ‘hub’ that will aim to develop and offer a range of structured investments, in co-operation with sector partners, including issuers and providers, to extend product ranges across the sector.
“A key goal will also be helping design and develop investment products that can break new ground and be used more progressively by increasing numbers of professional advisers, including those who may not have engaged with the sector previously.’’
peter.walker@ft.com
