Rathbones Group found that more clients of financial advisers are asking for a wider choice of investments, which has pushed up demand for bespoke investment services across the UK.
The study looked at responses from financial advisers and saw that clients wanted more flexibility in their portfolios.
Access to exchange-traded funds (ETF) was a big factor, with every adviser in the study saying it was a main reason for the rise in bespoke services.
Nearly all (91%) said that access to investment trusts was key, while 95% pointed to direct equities and bonds.
Most advisers (97%) also said alternative investment market (AIM) shares and the related tax benefits were increasing demand for these services.
The research also showed a strong consensus that opportunities in long-term asset funds and private market investments are making bespoke investment services more relevant, especially for high-net-worth clients, with around 93% of advisers saying so.
Simon Taylor, head of strategic partnerships at Rathbones Group, said: “Bespoke investment services enable advisers and their clients to access a wider range of investment vehicles, and there is growing demand from clients to be able to invest in ETFs and investment trusts as well as directly in equities, bonds and AIM shares.
“Advisers need to be careful, however, when they select providers of third-party services.
“Providers clearly need to have the research capabilities and scale to be able to respond to calls for more choices, which is a key driver of demand for bespoke investment services.”
