Callum Lawson-Gallagher

Nov 8, 2024 | platforum.co.uk | Callum Lawson-Gallagher

Online investing services offer their customers distinctly different experiences but are becoming more similar in how they combine investing, saving and day-to-day money, according to our latest UK D2C: Investor Experience report. Differences abound. Established services are comprehensive in what they offer, while newer entrants tend to specialise, exemplified by InvestEngine’s ETF focus. They also differ in how they offer content.

Jul 19, 2024 | platforum.co.uk | Callum Lawson-Gallagher

Platform model portfolio services (MPS) has continued to experience healthy asset growth, buoyed by growing adviser demand as more advice firms have decided to outsource their investment management functions. Competition among MPS providers has intensified with wealth managers finding it increasingly tough to stand out in the crowd.

Jul 12, 2024 | platforum.co.uk | Callum Lawson-Gallagher

UK Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) assets passed the £500 billion mark by the end of Q1 2024, but it was strong investment performance rather than net flows that drove assets higher. Much of the D2C market is dominated by direct platforms that offer open-architecture services, providing access to individual stocks and shares as well as funds from various asset managers. In contrast, the more limited services available directly from asset managers and retail banks have been steadily losing market share.

May 31, 2024 | platforum.co.uk | Callum Lawson-Gallagher

Consumer Duty has encouraged wealth managers to review and change their propositions in various ways, according to our recent UK Wealth Management: Market Overview report. Consumer Duty has accelerated the migration of client portfolios from bespoke discretionary to model portfolio services (MPS), with MPS growing almost twice as fast as the overall wealth management market.

Apr 26, 2024 | platforum.co.uk | Callum Lawson-Gallagher

The evolving D2C landscape is shifting the distribution opportunities for asset managers. While they have historically relied on direct platforms for product distribution, new opportunities are emerging with neo-brokers. These are often all-in-one investment solutions consisting of single active or passive funds or ready-made portfolios like eToro’s newly launched Core portfolios of ETFs. BlackRock, JP Morgan and Vanguard are establishing themselves as leading providers in this space.