Model portfolios deter advisers from investment trusts - Ascentric

Ascentric's managing director, Hugo Thorman, has argued advisers' use of model portfolios is hindering the popularity of investment trusts.

The Ascentric platform offers investment trusts, unlike other, larger adviser platforms such as Cofunds and Old Mutual Wealth, although trusts represent only a very small part of its business. The platform has £8.5bn in assets under management, but only £150m of that is invested via investment trusts. “This figure is not insignificant, but it could be more,” said Thorman (pictured). “The big reason for this is advisers are reluctant to use investment trusts in model portfolios, which switches off a huge chunk of the market. “If a model portfolio makes a big move, that can do a lot ...