Outgoing Schroders UK wealth head Doug Abbott: Retail LTAF will offer alternative route to private markets

Launch expected by end of 2024

Schroders has backed the creation and launch of a retail version of the long-term asset fund, despite widespread concerns about making such an institutional-style product available to less sophisticated investors.

Speaking to Investment Week, outgoing head of UK wealth at Schroders, Doug Abbott, said the asset manager is "really focused" on developing the ‘retail' LTAF and aims to get it to market "as soon as we can", which is expected by the end of 2024. However, he explained the vehicle will not be marketed to all retail investors. Instead, it will be launched as a "tool for the adviser and wealth management community" to use as a private markets access point for their clients, becoming a third option to access private markets, beyond investment trusts and traditional limited partnership structu...