The introduction of many new and complex asset classes, and an explosion in the number of investment funds available, has meant that balancing cost and investment decisions has always been a challenge for trustees. According to Punter Southall, the time required to evaluate complex investments, compounded by limited governance budgets, has meant that many schemes struggle to realise the full potential of their investment portfolio.
However, through the new online investment platform, Punter Southall can now offer all clients with any fund size access to daily-updated fund performance figures and valuations for their pension scheme. The platform also offers access to multiple investment managers and funds, with clients receiving quarterly investment governance reports designed to help trustees evaluate their investment strategy and fund performance. It also provides clients with the capacity to invest in a wide range of different funds, including the full range of Punter Southall buy-rated funds and managers.
Furthermore, in order to reduce the costs of governance, the platform is structured as a life company. Therefore, all asset manager administration and documentation is taken care of by the platform, via a single policy. The platform currently administers over £6bn in pension fund assets.
Key benefits of the portal include:
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Single policy document
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Full investment fund due diligence
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Ongoing investment monitoring
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Single switch form with no transition management fee
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Bulk buying power
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Optimal tax treatment as all funds are accessed by means of a life policy
Steve Butler, Managing Director of Punter Southall Investment Consulting, said:
“Punter Southall is committed to helping schemes streamline their investment and governance approach, advising clients to focus on the issues that will have the most impact such as determining the approach for asset allocation and limiting the number of investment managers. However, getting the balance right between the costs and benefits of these decisions is always a challenge for trustees.
“This platform has the potential to revolutionise the way in which trustees interact and make decisions about their funds. Accessing this platform is simple, governance is effective and streamlined and there is no complicated transition process or management fees between funds.”
Adrian Swales, Chief Executive of Mobius Life, said:
“I am very pleased that Punter Southall has chosen Mobius Life as its institutional investment platform. Our platform is designed specifically for the institutional market. This means we can focus on delivering excellent, cost-efficient service to Punter Southall’s institutional pension fund clients.”
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