Research from Rathbones has found that clients of financial advisers across the UK are increasingly seeking access to a wider range of investment options, driving demand for more bespoke investment services. According to the study, this trend is largely being fuelled by investors looking to diversify their portfolios beyond traditional offerings. The most significant factor behind this growing interest is access to exchange traded funds (ETFs), with all advisers surveyed agreeing that ETFs are a key driver of the shift. In addition to ETFs, there is also strong interest in investment trusts, direct equities, bonds, and Alternative Investment Market (AIM) shares. Rathbones Group highlighted in a press release that the appetite for greater investment choice reflects a broader move toward more tailored, flexible investment strategies. This shift suggests clients are becoming more engaged and proactive in shaping their portfolios, seeking solutions that better align with their specific financial goals and risk profiles.
Over 90% of advisers (91%) believe that access to investment trusts is a major factor driving the rise in bespoke investment services, with only 5% disagreeing. Similarly, around 95% agreed that the ability to invest in direct equities and bonds is a key reason clients are opting for more tailored solutions, again with just 5% expressing a different view. Nearly all advisers surveyed (97%) also cited access to AIM shares—and the potential tax advantages they offer—as a significant contributor to the growth in bespoke services, with only 3% disagreeing or remaining neutral.