Investment trusts from Aberdeen, Baillie Gifford, Invesco Perpetual, and JP Morgan Asset Management, as well as the five investment trusts from Fidelity will made available from early December.
A selection of the leading exchange traded funds (ETFs) and exchange traded commodities (ETCs) available from ETF Securities, HSBC, iShares and Vanguard will also be added.
These new investment options will be fully integrated with the existing range of services and will be available via an ISA, investment fund account or the FundsNetwork pension.
The broadening of the range is in response to adviser and client demand, and complements the 2500+ funds already available, Fidelity said.
“We have seen demand for investment trusts as well as ETPs grow steadily since the implementation of RDR,” said Pat Shea, head of FundsNetwork. “Our plan to launch a range of investment trusts and broaden the number of ETPs on FundsNetwork later this year sees us responding to this demand and demonstrates our clear intention to support the evolving needs of advisory firms and their clients.”
This latest initiative follows a decision to include a full brokerage service for advisers next year.
“It’s encouraging that FundsNetwork is introducing a wider range of investment companies to the platform,” said Ian Sayers, chief executive of the Association of Investment Companies. “We have seen demand grow from both private investors and advisers who are looking to benefit from investment companies’ strong long-term performance, unrivalled income track record and suitability for alternative, illiquid assets.”
