Smoothed funds – a multi-asset solution for a smoother retirement journey

The guide will focus on one of the key options available – smoothed managed funds – which are multi-asset solutions overlayed with ‘smoothing’ to shelter clients from some of the more short-term movements.

This document is designed to help you with those questions and is split into two sections:

Part 1

This CPD accredited section focuses on the latest findings from the FCA in respect of Consumer Duty, looking at both good and bad practices seen since its implementation, as well as the key findings from the FCA Retirement Income Advice Thematic Review published in March 2024.

We review the economic and market background, considering the recent past, expectations going forward and how political landscapes have and could continue to change. In addition, we take a deep dive into three particular risks that advisers should be considering with their clients to whom they are giving retirement income advice:

• political and environmental risk

• sequencing risk

• inflation risk.

Lastly, we turn to smoothed managed funds, explaining their evolution over the years to their position today as one of the most potent ingredients in sensible centralised retirement propositions.

Section A is accredited for 30 minutes of structured continuous professional development (CPD).

Part 2

Here we put the spotlight on Standard Life as a firm, its retirement income options and its support for advisers.

We also take a detailed look at the new Standard Life Smoothed Return Pension Fund which is available for advisers to recommend through the Fidelity Adviser Solutions platform. This includes the fund’s objective and target market, its investment.