Newcastle adviser launches new investment hub
A Newcastle-based financial adviser has launched an investment centre, which aims to improve the structured investment products and services available to advisers and other intermediaries.
The Lowes Structured Investment Centre has been developed by chartered financial planning firm Lowes Financial Management and, according to its founder Ian Lowes, will provide a collaborative structured investment ‘hub’, to drive a range of new investments in co-operation with issuers and providers.
As well as focusing on product development, the centre will also open up access to specialist tools that the company developed for its own use of structured investments with clients. These include product monitoring and client portfolio management software system SP-Perspective.
Mr Lowes said: “We have used structured products consistently within portfolios for the downside market protection they offer and the defined investment returns that they can and do generate.”
| Key points |
Lowes Financial Management has more than £600m in funds under advice 15 per cent of FUA is in structured investments. The firm launched the Centre (Lowes-sic.com) following the development of StructuredProductReview.com in 2009. More than 11,000 advisory and industry professionals have registered as users. Source: LSIC |
Chris Taylor, head of strategic development of Lowes Structured Investment Centre said: “A key goal of the centre 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.’’
Adviser view
Geordie Bulmer, IFA at Wiltshire-based AISA Professional said: “The structured product sector has always been disparate with no way of comparing the counterparty or the return so it is good to have all the information in one place.
“The only thing I would be wary of is that some companies have not signed up yet and therefore their plans are not included. The website needs to have as many plans on it as possible for it to be a reliable source of information for people to make a proper assessment of the market.”
