Latest from Media Centre

The Investment Management Association’s changes to the names of its managed sectors do not go far enough and there is a danger that investors will continue to be confused by misleading fund names, says Skandia.

Skandia has teamed up with the Pension Performance Review Company to launch a series of workshops which will show financial advisers how they can streamline their pension transfer process and deliver a high quality service to their customers.

43% of financial advisers think the Retail Distribution Review will improve the financial advice given to consumers, according to Skandia’s latest Adviser Confidence Barometer.  29% believe the RDR will have no effect on the quality of advice given to consumers while the same number believe it will have a negative effect on the advice provided.

Skandia International has launched an online Portfolio Builder tool that can help financial advisers identify their clients’ attitude to risk and build an investment portfolio that directly matches that risk level.  At the same time, Skandia International has launched two new funds to complete its range of five managed investment solutions that match the five investment profiles identified by the new Portfolio Builder.

Investment specialist Skandia has called time on tedious terms and conditions and signed up award winning comedian and barrister Clive Anderson to present their online terms to customers in a video.

Skandia UK today announces that funds under management have increased to £34.5 billion at the end of Q1 2011, up 14% compared to the same time last year.  This significant increase in funds under management was driven by a combination of good investment returns and an increase in net client cash flow (net sales) of 5% to £554 million, up from £529 million in Q1 2010.

The Skandia Spectrum funds have £976 million funds under management and all sit within or below their volatility ranges despite the near collapse of the financial system and unprecedented market volatility since their launch three years ago. Analysis by Skandia shows that over the past three years the S&P500 index has been more volatile than at any point since 1942 yet the Spectrum funds have still delivered exactly what Skandia intended, with risk adjusted returns that are favourable compared to the active, balanced and cautious sectors.