- More than half of advisers (51%) saw an increase in gilt-related queries in 2023, compared with 2022*
- Two fifths (41%) did not see an increase in gilt queries, with 7% saying that the number of queries remained the same
- Almost a quarter (23%) said they were ‘more likely’ to use gilts directly in 2024
- Two of the top 10 investments on the Investcentre platform were gilts in 2023, including the number one spot
- Advisers are increasingly turning to gilts too, with a 150% increase in gilt assets under administration in 2023 compared with 2022
- AJ Bell launches online gilt trading service to advisers
Research carried out by AJ Bell reveals advisers saw a substantial increase in the number of gilt-related queries from clients in 2023, when compared with the previous year.
More than half of advisers (51%) received a greater volume of gilt queries, with two fifths (41%) saying they did not see an increase and 7% stating that the number of queries throughout the year remained the same. On top of this, almost a quarter stated they were ‘more likely’ to use gilts directly in 2024.
At the time of writing, the UK 10-year gilt yield stands at just over 4%, with the 2-year gilt yield coming in at around 4.6%. Short-dated gilts proved popular with advisers and their clients on the Investcentre platform in 2023, with two of the top 10 investments being short-dated gilts, including the number one spot.
AJ Bell launched online gilt trading on its advised Investcentre channel last week, making it easier for advisers to facilitate this increased demand from clients.
*Based on a survey of 243 financial advisers using the AJ Bell Investcentre platform, carried out between 4-19 January 2024.
Source: AJ Bell Investcentre, 1 January – 31 December 2023, based on net flows and excluding AJ Bell funds.
Mark Rendle, AJ Bell Investcentre product director, comments:
“In the past year, we have seen a substantial increase in gilt holdings on the platform, which shows how quickly advisers are adapting to meet the needs of customers as the economic environment changes.
“The fact over half of advisers saw an increase in the number of gilt-related queries in 2023, with a quarter stating that they were more likely to use gilts going forward, shows this trend isn’t going anywhere soon.
“Making gilt dealing available online to advisers should improve ease of access to this important asset class at a time when advisers expect gilt usage to increase.”