SIPPs urged not to invest in alternative assets

Self-invested personal pension (SIPP) providers have been warned against investing in alternative assets by a high profile lawyer.

Speaking at the Henry Stewart SIPPs and Retirement Options conference Regulatory Legal director Gareth Fatchett argued due diligence processes need to be tightened up. "I would not touch alternative investments at all as due diligence processes are not defined enough," he said. "So when investments go wrong you will never be seen to have done enough due diligence so just don't do them. I think the battlefield for SIPPs in the future is not about advice but more about due diligence." Fatchett said providers have a "duty of care" towards clients and that simple measures such as requesti...