Bury Chartered Financial Planner launches DFM arm
Bury-based Chartered Financial Planner Rosebridge has launched a discretionary fund management arm in collaboration with platform and investment provider Vanguard and investment and pensions consultancy business Redington.
Rosebridge Asset Management Limited (RAML) is the first UK custom model portfolio solution Vanguard has entered into.
It is one of the first partnerships of its kind for Redington's Global Assets team, which provides advice to institutional clients with an aggregate of more than £500bn in assets.
Phil Rose, chief executive of Rosebridge Asset Management, said: “Joining forces with two such renowned global asset managers and harnessing their collective expertise, research capabilities and bargaining powers will ultimately translate into better investor outcomes.
“The UK Financial Planning community is striving for this, and I believe we will see larger mid-market advice companies, not only build bespoke relationships with global investment firms, but also with platform providers to help increase efficiencies, reduce costs but most importantly enhance the service level agreements offered to consumers.”
He said the company - which claims to be one of the north’s leading Chartered Financial Planning businesses - began the process of developing a DFM proposition more than two years ago.
The RAML investment committee includes Graham Harrison, group chairman of Asset Risk Consultants, to provide direction and unique industry insight, Peter Bickley, ex-chief strategist at Deutsche Bank UK, to monitor and review asset allocations and Mark Harris, ex Henderson fund of funds manager, to provide quantitative and qualitative fund research analysis.
Mr Rose said: “These bespoke relationships will ensure RAML’s investment solutions remain relevant and appropriate for the ever-changing investment landscape both now and in the future.”
Neil Cowell, head of UK distribution, Vanguard UK, said: “We’ve had a longstanding relationship, dating back many years with Rosebridge, and share many of the same principles; namely delivering value to investors, a relentless focus on low-cost solutions, and a shared alignment on investment philosophy.
“We will launch a range of index fund-based model portfolios later this year that we trust will continue to serve Rosebridge and their clients going forward.”
Tara Gillespie, head of global assets at Redington, said: “We will bring institutional strength solutions and access to innovative, best-in-class investment opportunities to RAML and their clients.”
RAML will partner with AJ Bell’s institutional platform to deliver its new investment solutions.
Mr Rose said: “AJ Bell’s status as a FTSE 250 listed company greatly reduces the risk of a private equity take over. In our experience such events have caused significant upheaval, client uncertainty and poor service outcomes – this is something we wish to try and avoid.”