Contrarian: Structured products - like spread bets on steroids?

THE CONTRARIAN INVESTOR

Should IFAs risk the regulators' wrath and even think about selling structured products to private investors?

My default position has always been that SPs are rather like any other investment product – there is undoubtedly some rubbish stuff sold (largely marketed via the high street using our building society friends), but most products are really rather mediocre. However, some are truly exceptional and absolutely have a place in any diversified portfolio. Or, to make it even clearer, it is up to the adviser/investor to pick the good offerings, of which, in my humble experience, there have been many. Unfortunately this probably will not wash with the new, proactive regulators at the FCA. ...