IFA recommendations helped Fidelity get better press coverage than any other fund management group during the Isa season, according to PressWatch.
PressWatch's new Fund-Watch initiative tracked national press coverage of Isas, unit and investment trusts between January and April and found IFA support for a particular fund has a hugely significant impact on its track record over time.
IFAs helped Fidelity's fund portfolio easily outstrip rivals to take the top company award.
PressWatch says Fidelity makes it easy for investors to buy from its range of funds, with facilities such as an online credit card service allowing investors to buy a fund free of initial charges and with the option of phased investment.
Aberdeen Asset Management took second place in terms of IFA recommendations, with its technology fund gaining widespread support despite a turndown in the sector.
Henderson's global technology fund portfolio was third, with ABN Amro's UK growth fund fourth. Jupiter came in fifth.
Turning to Isa products, Smile's mini cash Isa come top against more than 1,600 other Isa-related funds.
PressWatch sales and marketing director Tim Crane says: “The frenzied activity in the technology sector last year was not repeated during this year's Isa season. However, the health sector and mini cash Isas were touted by journalist and IFA alike.”
View more on these topicsNews
WAP service from Standard Life
Standard Life Investments is launching a new WAP service which will give daily prices for all Standard’s funds, a search facility for FTSE 100 stocks and competitor funds, market views and news headlines. It will be accessible from any WAP handset. Customers can build their portfolio on Standard Life Investments’ website and review its progress […]
Scarborough steps its discount mortgage
Scarborough Building Society has brought in the two step five-year discount mortgage.Aimed at all borrowers, the mortgage has an initial discount of 2.25 per cent in the first year for loans of up to 95 per cent of valuation. This gives it a payable rate of 4.74 per cent. For the next four years it […]
Anger over clutter of Isa posters on the Tube
Lobbying by leading fund managers and advertisers is forcing TDI, the company responsible for Lon-don Underground poster ads, to develop a new poster placement policy.Leading names such as Gartmore and Jupiter and their ad agency Ptarmigan Media are up in arms about the positioning of their Isa posters adjacent to competitors' ads during this year's […]
Standard Life makes first foray into investment trusts
Standard Life Investments has moved into uncharted waters withthe introduction of its European private equity trust. This is Standard Life's first investment trust and it is aimed atmedium-risk investors, as well as institutional investors, who areseeking growth by investing in Europe. It will operate as a fund of funds. A total of 19 funds will […]
Preparing for the changes to the pensions market
As more and more providers start to reveal their stance on the charge cap and removal of commission and active member discount pricing, we thought it would be worthwhile to look at what these are, and the steps businesses should be taking to prepare for this.
Newsletter
News and expert analysis straight to your inbox
Sign up
1
Almary Green eyes merger with Norwich IFA
Almary Green, the advice firm led by industry veteran Carl Lamb, is in sale talks with Smith and Pinching Financial Services, Money Marketing understands. One source tells Money Marketing Almary Green staff have visited the Smith and Pinching offices, and that there have been discussions around a merged firm being floated on AIM. The Norwich-based […]
Lions, bees, bulls and bears: The Wells Street Journal
A weekly account of the curious goings-on in the world of financial services Locked out While WSJ correspondents were kept very busy at Money Marketing Interactive in Harrogate last week, there was still plenty of time spent in the bar with industry friends. So came about the story of Aegon director of new business, Martin […]
FCA eyes 40 firms in adviser recruitment and training probe
The FCA is analysing information from 40 firms about their adviser recruitment processes and what quality checks are in place on the advice they give. Earlier this year, Money Marketing revealed that the FCA sent letters to a sample of firms asking about training, competence and hiring records for staff. A Freedom of Information Act request […]