From 6 April 2014, the Sippcentre platform’s Funds & Shares Service will provide access to more than 3,000 clean share classes and 1,000 bundled funds where there is a rebate available for the benefit of the client. Where someone invests in a bundled fund after 6 April 2014, AJ Bell will pass back any rebate received from the fund manager to the client in the form of additional units. The investment range will continue to evolve in line with the needs and demands of advisers and their clients.
In the fourth quarter of 2014, the platform will begin the process of converting existing fund holdings into their ‘clean’ share class equivalents, where these are available. The conversion process will be carried out on a fund-by-fund basis. AJ Bell has outlined its plans in a recent communication to advisers so that they can plan and carry out any of their own fund conversions in advance of this process.
AJ Bell’s Marketing Director, Billy Mackay, commented: “In reviewing Sippcentre’s Funds & Shares Service fund range we looked to identify a comprehensive range of funds with a focus on providing access to the share class with the best possible underlying price available to us. In doing this, we have been able to ensure that we continue to provide access to an extensive range of funds at the best terms we can get.”
Mackay continued, “We have intentionally planned the process of converting funds to their clean share class equivalent for Q4 2014 to allow advisers who are carrying out their own reviews to convert any existing holdings at a time of their choosing. We will work with users of the platform to ensure that all conversions are carried out well in advance of 5 April 2016.”
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Background
The changes are being introduced to comply with the spirit of reducing client costs set out in the FCA Policy Statement 13/1, which bans platform providers from retaining rebates on new investments from 6 April 2014. Any payments received must be rebated to the client in the form of additional units. Sippcentre will be adopting this approach with any such payments credited in units to the fund from which the payment originated every six months.
From 6 April our Research Centre will include full details of the 3,000 clean share classes along with the 1,000 bundled funds. The bundled funds will be shown with a column that outlines any rebate that will be payable.