~ North is the third largest and fastest growing managed account platform provider in the market, with its unique ‘Buy, Badge and Build’ proposition
~ Optionality is at the heart of North’s latest managed account buy menu expansion, providing advisers with greater flexibility and choice
~ Extension of partnership with BetaShares to create ‘Australian-first’ geared retirement series
AMP is pleased to announce the expansion of North’s managed account menu with the inclusion of three new managers for the March quarter, providing advisers with optionality and choice on-platform.
The additions of Innova Asset Management, AZ Sestante, and Watershed Funds Management underline North’s commitment to growth and expanding the breadth of its investment menu.
North’s managed accounts, along with its unique Lifetime solution, have been central to North attracting many new advisers, and the addition of these new managers and portfolios is in response to growing demand from new and existing advisers alike. These additions brings the number of “buy” managed portfolios to over 150 across 25 managers, which are supported by almost 400 Build portfolios across almost every consultant in the market.
Lifting practice efficiency with managed accounts
Managed account adoption has reached a record high, with the latest findings revealing nearly 3 in 5 advisers in Australia now use managed accounts in their client portfolios, up from 1 in 5 a decade ago[1]. Advisers and their support staff are saving an average 23.9 hours per week from using managed accounts in their practice, the data shows, amounting to over 1,200 hours saved each year1.
Responding to adviser feedback and the rising demand for managed accounts, North continues to invest in the breadth of its buy menu, providing advisers and clients with innovative investment solutions that align with their financial objectives.
Today’s strategic additions to North’s managed account menu underscores our dedication to offering diverse and effective portfolio options for advisers and clients at each step of their investment journey.
Data-driven decision making and model portfolio expertise
Boutique investment management firm Innova Asset Management brings a multi-disciplinary approach to investment management, offering risk-focused portfolio solutions tailored to individual client needs. Innova focuses on understanding investment risk intricacies through a systematic, rule-based approach to portfolio construction.
AZ Sestante offers expertise in designing and managing multi-manager model portfolios, providing a robust, repeatable process designed to meet all market conditions. Their cost-effective investment strategies are aimed at guiding advisers and investors to achieve their investment goals and objectives.
Watershed Funds Management partners with North through their 'embedded models' approach, which enables strategic positioning throughout the investment cycle. By testing economic and market outlooks against current market pricing, Watershed identifies and holds high-quality companies for the medium to long term across all asset classes.
Gearing in super – an ‘Australian-first’
North and Betashares have combined to create the first targeted geared retirement series of its kind in Australia. The series marks an extension of North’s partnership with BetaShares with the addition of BetaShares’ Dynamic Managed Accounts range to North as well as jointly launching a series of Federated Managed Accounts to clients in August.
Unveiled today, the innovative geared managed portfolio series on North is designed to increase exposure to defensive assets and income, offering a cost-effective way to leverage exposure to the share market.
The Betashares Moderately Geared Managed Account Portfolios access leverage through internally geared ETFs. These ETFs borrow at institutional
interest rates that are considerably lower than those typically available to
individual investors.
The portfolios are especially beneficial when combined with our award winning MyNorth Lifetime offer, catering to the varying needs of investors leading up to and post-retirement.
David Hutchison, AMP’s General Manager of Managed Portfolios and Investments said:
“The additions of AZ Sestante, Innova Asset Management and Watershed Funds Management highlight our commitment to growing the breadth of
our offer, providing advisers with choice and optionality with several exciting new additions to our Buy Menu.
“We’re also thrilled to be expanding our partnership with BetaShares to launch a unique geared retirement series on North, the first of its kind in the Australian market.
“It’s another example of how North continues to innovate in retirement solutions, ensuring we are the platform of choice for more advisers
across Australia.”
Edwina Maloney, AMP Group Executive, Platforms said:
“At North, we have a singular focus on ensuring our platform continues to set the pace by partnering with best-of-breed managers to provide advisers and their clients with access to high quality solutions and investment offerings to suit different client segments and needs.
“This is our largest ever Buy Menu refresh and firmly places North at the forefront of the market when it comes to the quality, choice and breadth
of investment options that we provide to advisers and their practices.
“We have the fastest growing managed portfolios offer in Australia and continue to work with the industry’s leading investment managers to provide
members with access to high quality products.”
[1] Source: The 16th SPDR ETFs / Investment Trends Managed Accounts Report