AMP rethinks manager line-up
AMP Financial Services has re-jigged the investment management line up for its major super and retirement platforms.
The revamp will see the Citigroup Equity fund, the Deutsche Australian Equity Alpha fund and ’sInvesco Australian Share fund dropped from AMP’s Australian equity line up.
They will be replaced the Future Directions Australian Share Fund (FDASF), of which AMP Capital Investors is the responsible entity.
The multi-manger FDASF employs a mix of investment managers including AMP Capital Investors, Barclays Global Investors, Maple-Brown Abbott, Perennial Investment Partners and WestLB Asset Management.
AMP has also removed four of its balanced investment options, with existing investors in BT Balanced Returns, Invesco Growth, Maple-Brown Abbott and National Australia Balanced being transferred across to the Future Directions Balanced option, also a multi-manager fund.
Also changing is the Australian fixed interest line up, with Merrill Lynch’s Monthly Income fund being brought into replace Perpetual, and the international manager configuration, with Credit Suisse International Share option being replaced by Westpac’s Investment Management (WIM) Global Intersection fund.
In the conservative option, Barclays Diversified Stable will pick up existing investments in Invesco’s Protected Growth as well as Merrill Lynch Capital Stable, both of which will be closed off under the changes.
“The change is in line with AMP’s policy of regularly reviewing investment options and investment managers to continually ensure the options meet our criteria,” AMP head of product development for savings and retirement Tristan Laszok said.
The changes will take effect on December 13.
Laszok said the options selected to replace those being closed are similar in both investment style and risk profile, and will have greater out-performance potential over time.
“AMP selects investment options and managers on the basis that they outperform their benchmark index, have a consistent management style, and they have a sufficiently impressive history or pedigree,” he said.
Recommended for you
The top five licensees are demonstrating a “strong recovery” from losses in the first half of the year, and the gap is narrowing between their respective adviser numbers.
With many advisers preparing to retire or sell up, business advisory firm Business Health believes advisers need to take a proactive approach to informing their clients of succession plans.
Retirement commentators have flagged that almost a third of Australians over 50 are unprepared for the longevity of retirement and are falling behind APAC peers in their preparations and advice engagement.
As private markets continue to garner investor interest, Netwealth’s series of private market reports have revealed how much advisers and wealth managers are allocating, as well as a growing attraction to evergreen funds.

