Free Guides

This free paper examines the challenges and concerns that advisers have in advance of RDR implementation and analyses the critical decisions that need to be taken to address these.

This insight paper analyses the current state of the long-term care market and surfaces our latest research into advisers' opinions on the Dilnot report and long-term care planning.

Our free paper on the role of outsourcing post-RDR contains independent analysis of the key issues surrounding this topic, including outsourcing options and potential benefits for advisers.

Our latest guide to discretionary management offers valuable information to advisers considering this outsourcing method, including comprehensive information on discretionary management companies, industry developments and due diligence considerations.

Our paper on adviser platform use under the RDR examines the key issues relevant to advisers in this area ahead of RDR implementation.

Our latest multi-manager guide will help advisers select the right multi-manager for their clients and bring readers up-to-date with the latest developments within the industry.

This guide examines the various ways in which active and passive funds can be used and highlights the potential benefits of each approach, including the use of both in unison.

This free paper analyses the issues faced by advisers when deciding whether to offer independent or restricted advice post-2012 and offers guidance around each option.

Our free guide provides background on strategic bonds and how they work, highlights the differences between the various types of fund in this sector and gives advice on due diligence around fund selection.

This guide examines how unitised portfolios are making discretionary management services available to a broader range of investors. It also contains guidance on due diligence for advisers selecting a discretionary management firm.

This case study shows how discretionary managers and platforms can work together and examines what this means for advisers employing them.

This free guide contains information on investments, pensions, drawdown, annuities, equity release and long term care protection, to help with due diligence in retirement planning.

This review presents our research of adviser satisfaction with the service offered by providers of individual pension products, allowing you to make more informed decisions when selecting provider partners.

This free review reports on the results of our adviser research into individual protection and the service providers deliver. This can help you identify key issues and compare experiences with those of your peers.

This free guide looks at the opportunities for advisers within business protection and gives detailed guidance on the support available from the major providers.

Our free white paper looks at how outsourcing investment can help advisers de-risk this aspect of their business and strengthen relationships with their clients

Our free guide looks at developments within the drawdown industry and gives advice on due diligence for selecting drawdown products and providers.

This free white paper examines the potential costs that can result from choosing the wrong platform and gives advice on due diligence during platform selection.

Our free white paper examines the ways in which outsourcing to Discretionary Fund Managers (DFMs) can enhance adviser/client relationships by allowing advisers to focus their resources on core competencies.

Our free guide helps you select the right multi-manager for your clients and brings you up-to-date with the latest industry developments.

This free guide highlights the new opportunities within the short term income protection market and outlines how to raise consumer awareness of this product.

A free case study profiling UK how alpha funds work and the advantages advisers may want to consider when selecting them as investments.

Our free guide brings you up-to-date on the latest industry and regulatory developments in self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs), as well as suggesting some due diligence considerations.

This free guide looks at the importance of fund diversification and due diligence in the UK All Companies sector.

This free guide to critical illness cover provides an update on developments in the industry and outlines how to make the risk real to clients.

This free review reports on the results of our adviser research into platforms and the service they receive from operators. This can help you identify key issues and compare experiences with those of your peers.

Our free guide to discretionary management is designed to help you undertake a thorough due diligence process when selecting a discretionary manager to work with.

This free case study looks at income generating funds and identifies the pros and cons of each in terms of risk and return.

Our free guide outlines how to best select a platform operator, including a review of industry developments and key considerations to undertake as part of the due diligence process.

This free case study profiles how Managed Portfolio Services (MPS) can benefit you and your clients.

Our free white paper looks at the effect of funding constraints on the lending market, increasing competition and the possible impact of regulation for bridging loans. It offers insight into the future for bridging loans, helping you establish or improve opportunities for positioning bridging loans with your clients.

Our free guide to income generating funds provides an overview of the main income generating asset classes, focusing on the return they can deliver and the potential risks and influences associated with each.

Our free strategic bond funds case study examines how diversification and decision-making within the fixed asset class can make portfolio management more efficient. It will also help you undertake due diligence in this diverse market.

Our latest free half-yearly guide will bring you quickly up to speed with what's going on in multi-manager world. It will help you select the right multi-manager for your client and includes latest industry developments, details of the most consistent fund managers, sector analysis including marekt confidence and more.

The Department of Work and Pensions estimate that 2 million people will retire by 2012. This review will help you design or refresh your retirement income fact finding and advice process and take advantage of this exciting and profitable opportunity.

With investors looking for investment solutions that reduce risk in response to recent market volatility, dynamic asset allocation may be the answer. In this free case study, we examine two funds that incorporate this methodology and see how they would have performed in three extreme periods of market volatility. By downloading this free case study, RBS may contact you with further industry information.

Our free review summarises the key findings from our annual individual pension service satisfaction survey, which asked 500 advisers to rate/rank the level of service received from their preferred providers.

Our review of personal pensions helps advisers across the UK stay up-to-date on the latest news and views in this sector.

Our recent research has shown that financial advisers are looking increasingly towards emerging markets for higher returns on client investments. This survey, independently produced for and on behalf of Aberdeen Asset Management, highlights advisers' views on this industry sector.

Our latest Discretionary Management Guide is designed to help advisers in their due diligence of this resurgent market. This free download looks at the different types and levels of discretionary service available, what to consider when undertaking due diligence and an overview of a selection of IFA friendly discretionary services. It includes an updated and extended list of some of the companies involved.

Our review of income protection gives an overview of developments in the industry and looks at how to encourage clients to consider IP insurance an essential part of their financial planning.

Interest in UK equities to provide a competitive income stream is on the increase. In response to this, we have published a free case study which provides a detailed insight into the core investment processes and risk controls behind the management of one fund. It includes a diary of the decisions made, the thought processes behind them and the resulting fund activity since early 2008.

In our latest free guide to third way products, we detail the different products available and give practical help on how to appraise the suitability of these products for clients when creating their financial plan.

Our latest free guide to multi-manger investing reveals a settled industry. Managers are staying put and the investment houses seem content with their range of funds for the time being. This can only be good for the multi-manager industry as advisers and clients will have increasing confidence in the stability of chosen funds.

Following a surge in popularity of alternative investments, this free guide provides an introduction to the different asset classes and investment vehicles available.

This free guide sets out to help you research SIPPs and gives guidance on the key areas to be examined as part of the due diligence process.

Defaqto's free guide is an introduction to the sector, looking at the wide variety of funds available and includes an overview of the regions in which they invest. It contains information enabling you to judge whether the potential rewards of investing outweigh the risks involved.

This free guide encompasses both offshore and onshore bonds. The guide includes sections on charging structures and fees, policyholder protection, bonds without guarantees, a market overview and much more.

This newly updated guide is a handy resource for advisers, providing information and insight into absolute and relative return funds. This one-stop shop includes definitions of absolute and relative returns, considers how funds can be used in a portfolio and much more.

Our first Discretionary Management Guide is designed to help advisers in their due diligence of this resurgent market. This free download sheds light on the question, 'why use a discretionary manager?' and looks at the different types and levels of discretionary service available, what to consider when undertaking due diligence and an overview of a selection of IFA friendly discretionary services.

Defaqto’s first Platforms Guide is designed to help you navigate the likely regulation of platforms, in light of the recent publication of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) Policy.

Defaqto's first Critical Illness guide looks at the importance of protection advice as the UK emerges from the recession and the opportunities for Advisers.

With The Investment Management Association once again reporting record figures for multi-manager funds under management and the number of funds to choose from still increasing, you can keep up to date with this fast changing market with Defaqto's free guide.

With increasing demand for property funds from the retail sector, Defaqto has published a Property Funds Review. Don't forget to download your FREE copy. This free review offers IFAs an insight into the growth of property as a mainstream asset class and reviews the current state of the sector from the perspective of retail investment.

The latest issue of Defaqto's indispensable guide to the multi-manager market is now available to download for free. Issue 13 includes industry news, market overviews and updated statistics including: asset allocations, performance indicators, fund managers, total expense ratios, platform availability and contact details. Click 'Order Now' to get your free copy.

In response to the increasing popularity of structured products and to help advisers understand what to look for and how the subtleties of the terms of the product interact, Defaqto has produced this handy, free downloadable guide.

Defaqto has published its second free guide to help advisers understand third way products and how they can be used in financial planning. Covering such areas as market changes over the past year and how the products have developed, consumer and IFA sentiment research, IFA recommendation trends, Questions and answers affecting the recommendation and Product factsheets, this guide will prove useful to new and experienced advisers.

Defaqto's latest FREE Guide is designed to aid IFA research into the SIPP market, to help generate ideas on the development of the SIPP recommendation process and to arm IFAs with the appropriate questions when appraising potential SIPP business partners.

The latest issue of Defaqto's indispensable guide to the multi-manager market is now available to download for free. Issue 12 includes industry news, market overviews and updated statistics including: asset allocations, performance indicators, fund managers, total expense ratios, platform availability and contact details. Click 'Order Now' to get your free copy.

Defaqto's FREE guide to Unit Linked Investment Bonds is now available to download. This guide provides handy information and insight into the market, for both experienced advisers and those new to the market.

This free downloadable guide is a handy resource for advisers, providing information and insight into absolute and relative return funds. This one-stop shop includes definitions of absolute and relative returns, considers how funds can be used in a portfolio and much more.

The latest issue of Defaqto's indispensable guide to the multi-manager market is now available to download for free. Issue 11 includes industry news, market overviews and updated statistics including: asset allocations, performance indicators, fund managers, total expense ratios, platform availability and contact details. Click 'Order Now' to get your free copy.

This FREE results summary contains findings from Defaqto's Individual Pensions Satisfaction Study, carried out among 501 IFAs in September 2008, providing a unique insight into the respondent profile. The summary includes the identification of IFA importance levels placed on a range of proposition and service disciplines (Satisfaction Disciplines), an appraisal of IFA satisfaction levels within 'industry' and preferred provider delivery of these satisfaction disciplines and Defaqto's observations on the key findings.

The latest issue of Defaqto's indispensable guide to the multi-manager market is now available to download for free. Issue 10 of the guide is jam packed with industry news, market overviews and updated statistics including: asset allocations, performance indicators, fund managers, total expense ratios, platform availability and contact details. Click 'Order Now' to get your free copy.

The latest issue of Defaqto's comprehensive guide to the multi-manager market is now available to download for free. Get your copy of this invaluable aid to researching and justifying your multi-manager selections, now.