Why Don't Advisers Recommend Investment Trusts?

Research shows that investment companies are outperforming comparable open-ended funds in 12 out of 15 sectors over the last decade. So why don't IFAs like them?

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Morningstar's "Perspectives" series features investment insights from third-party contributors. Here, Ian Sayers, Director General of Association of Investment Companies, discusses why IFAs seem to keep closed-end funds to themselves.

Imagine you went into your favourite restaurant.  You went there first as a business client, but now you have to pay for it yourself.  It seems a bit pricey but you think you get what you pay for.

You turn up early and catch the chef finishing off the most fabulous looking dessert before prepping for lunch.  After your main course, you ask for whatever the chef was having.  ‘I’m sorry’ comes the reply, ‘but the chef doesn’t think his customers would really appreciate it, and to be honest it takes him a bit more time to make it’.

I don’t suppose you would be all that impressed.  And yet I have met advisers over the last six months who have admitted that they hold investment companies in their own portfolios, but don’t recommend them to their clients.  It’s hard to believe that all their clients have financial goals and risk profiles so different to their own.

It’s even more puzzling when you consider research shows that investment companies are outperforming comparable open-ended funds in 12 out of 15 sectors over 10 years.  We have been discussing the reasons for this in our roundtable debate with experts from Canaccord Genuity and Winterflood Securities.

One of the immediate reactions we get to this research from advisers is that, being historic performance, it doesn’t reflect the new ‘clean’ share classes and lower costs that open-ended funds are offering post RDR.  This misses two points.

Firstly, the amount of outperformance can’t be explained just by historic cost advantages.  For example, Canaccord Genuity found that £100 invested in the Global investment company sector would have turned into £272 over ten years.  The same investment in the IMA Global sector would have turned into £208.  Put another way, investment companies have outperformed by about 3% a year for ten years.  And many other sectors show similar, or even greater, levels of outperformance.

It also assumes that investment company costs are static, whereas in fact we have seen many independent boards renegotiating their fees in response to RDR, by lowering fees, introducing tiered rates and scrapping performance fees.

The AIC strongly supports people taking independent financial advice.  But if the proof of the pudding is in the eating, I can’t help thinking that clients deserve at least a taste of what investment companies have to offer. 

And for those that haven’t decided on a financial adviser yet, perhaps they need to ask what’s on the menu.

Disclaimer
The views contained herein are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of Morningstar. If you are interested in Morningstar featuring your content on our website, please email submissions to UKEditorial@morningstar.com.

The information contained within is for educational and informational purposes ONLY. It is not intended nor should it be considered an invitation or inducement to buy or sell a security or securities noted within nor should it be viewed as a communication intended to persuade or incite you to buy or sell security or securities noted within. Any commentary provided is the opinion of the author and should not be considered a personalised recommendation. The information contained within should not be a person's sole basis for making an investment decision. Please contact your financial professional before making an investment decision.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

About Author

The Association of Investment Companies (AIC)

The Association of Investment Companies (AIC)  was founded in 1932 and represents a broad range of closed-ended investment companies, incorporating investment trusts and VCTs. 

© Copyright 2024 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Terms of Use        Privacy Policy        Modern Slavery Statement        Cookie Settings        Disclosures