Clear charging structure, price guarantee and easy-to-use platform helps bridge the advice gap
London, March 12th, 2014 - FE (Financial Express) has today launched Trustnet Direct (www.trustnetdirect.com), a direct to consumer investment guide and transactional platform that helps retail investors achieve their financial goals.
With the investment platform space becoming increasingly congested, Trustnet Direct will offer a simple pricing structure, along with a guarantee that platform fees will be fixed for at least three years. Furthermore, as one of the most trusted names in the Financial Services Industry, FE has designed the new service to allow all investors to benefit from their extensive financial planning and research tools, via an intuitive and user-friendly interface.
John Blowers, Head of Trustnet Direct, commented:
"DIY investing can be a daunting task and many investors who would have historically sought advice from an IFA in their local bank branch now find themselves on their own in the so-called advice gap. As a trusted provider of information to the financial services community for almost two decades, we've worked hard to order this information into format that is readily accessible by any retail investor.
"We're using FE's respected ratings and analytical data to help clients understand what they may wish to invest in, whilst keeping costs low."
By clearly signposting a range of common investment goals - such as retirement, paying off a mortgage early or saving for a child's education - investors can be guided towards the products that may best meet their needs. Trustnet Direct cuts through the jargon, making the concept of DIY investing accessible to all, not just the diligent investor who sees this more as a hobby than a chore.
John Blowers, added:
"It's clear investors are increasingly aware that low interest rates and a resurgent equity market means that their savings shouldn't simply be left on deposit. However, the fact that such a huge swathe of the population has been disenfranchised from investment advice in the wake of RDR shows there's a big, untapped market here.
"The industry is evolving to meet that need and we have seen a number of price changes in recent weeks as a consequence. We are providing the most transparent fee structure possible and underline our commitment to maintaining this, we will guarantee the platform fee until at least 2017."
Trustnet Direct offers a wide range of instruments to clients, with over 8,000 equities, funds, ETFs and investment trusts listed. Clients are able to select the products best suited to their needs, rather than being steered towards a pre-defined shortlist. Trustnet Direct also provides unparalleled clarity on fees, with a platform fee of 0.25% that is guaranteed not to rise, and a fixed charge of £10 per trade. Regular investors pay just £2 per trade.
The Platform fee is charged at a minimum of £5 per quarter and is capped at £50 per quarter. Trustnet Direct has guaranteed that the platform fee will not rise and may fall before 2017.
Trustnet Direct only offers clean share classes of funds (commission-free) and will convert investors holdings to these lower cost funds if they choose to transfer in from another provider.
About Trustnet Direct
Trustnet Direct is a retail investment platform from FE - the parent company of the popular Trustnet investment research website. It brings together extensive research tools that have long been available to the professional adviser community from FE with an intuitive, state of the art transactional interface. Users have access to over 8,000 managed funds, stocks, ETFs and Investment Trusts.
About Trustnet
Trustnet was launched in December 1995 to cater for both IFAs and private investors and became quickly established as one of the leading investment sites in the UK. It is renowned for its high quality investment information, data, features and news and is now used by most of the top investment advisers in the UK plus a significant proportion of Britain's savviest private investors. FE acquired Trustnet in 2001.
About FE
FE is a leader in the provision of investment data, software tools and performance analysis to the financial services industry. Formed in 1996, we are a private company with a strong international presence throughout Europe and Asia Pacific. FE has earned a reputation for excellence through years of experience in combining specialist skills in three key fields - data, software and investment knowledge.
Trustnet Direct is authorised and regulated by the FCA and its trading service are provided by IITL - a member of the London Stock Exchange - with clients covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
Media contact:
Tony Cross
Monk Communications
Tel +44 (0) 7973 284 749
Source: RealWire
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