ISA reforms aid platform to produce best quarter sales
Savings reforms have helped a wealth firm's platform produce its strongest quarter of sales this year.
Old Mutual Wealth has reported gross sales of £1.3 billion for its UK platform, with the company citing the Budget changes to increase ISA allowances as a key factor.
The strong performance came despite being a traditionally quieter period in Britain, the company said.
In a statement the firm said: "Industry sales have been weak in the quarter, with September recording the lowest net retail sales since January 2013.
"However Old Mutual Wealth's gross sales of £1.3 billion into the UK platform were the strongest quarter of the year to date.
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"The resulting net client cash flow of £0.5 billion was 25% higher than the comparative period, leading to FUM on the Platform of £29.5 billion.
"The platform has benefited from the increased ISA allowances which came into effect on 1 July, and sales of bonds and pensions were also above prior year in the quarter. UK platform FUM stands at £29.5 billion, an 8% increase this year.
"Higher sales of Collective Retirement Accounts were recorded due to the increased awareness of draw-down products."
Old Mutal reported its net client cash flow of £0.8 billion during the period, was up 33% on Q3 2013 (£0.6 billion).
The increase takes year to date net client cash flow to £2.0 billion, an increase of 43% compared to 2013.
Gross sales of £3.8 billion in the third quarter were up slightly on Q3 2013 (£3.7 billion), taking year-to-date gross sales to £11.5 billion, a 10% increase on last year.
Funds under management increased to £82.2 billion, up 5% since the start of the year, following strong net flows into the UK Platform and Old Mutual Global Investors.
Paul Feeney, chief executive of Old Mutual Wealth, said: "Our aim is to offer people everything they need from a wealth manager to secure their financial future: financial and retirement advice, platforms and retirement solutions, investment management and asset management.
"The acquisitions of Intrinsic and Quilter Cheviot this year add the elements of that customer offering that we didn't previously have and we continue to develop our platform and asset management businesses."
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