Henry Cobbe: Will DFMs need to move towards a more 'customised portfolio' approach?

Custom-made or off-the-shelf?

With some model portfolios beginning to look rather similar, Henry Cobbe explains the idea of the 'custom portfolio' and what advisers need to bear in mind when commissioning this sort of mandate.

Clients are always the primary focus of any investment proposition. Guidance on what makes a good centralised investment proposition (CIP) frequently includes key references to ensuring suitability for client groups and target clients, and detailed processes for clients who do not fit an adviser firm's CIP. With the arrival of MiFID II there is even more emphasis on managers and advisers alike to think of the suitability of products and services for target clients and client groups. Forward-looking adviser firms are beginning to realise 'off-the-shelf' model portfolios from discretion...