Aegon Adviser Attitudes Report 2021

Move away from complex assets and investment structures Conscious of PROD and the need to clearly explain to customers how recommended investments meet their needs, we explicitly asked advisers how they felt about complex investments such as absolute return strategies. 75% avoid complex investments for various reasons, with 51% citing a lack of faith in their ability to deliver on their objectives. 12% noted the difficulty of explaining them to clients, with the same percentage saying they tended to be too expensive. Only 6% felt that, once they explained them, clients were comfortable. How do you and your clients feel about complex investments/funds e.g. absolute return strategies? 51% 12% 12% 8% 6% 6% 6% 51% I don’t have faith in their ability to deliver on their objectives 12% I generally avoid recommending them because they tend to be more expensive 12% I generally avoid recommending them because they’re hard to explain 8% They are the best way to meet some clients’ needs 6% I have faith in their ability to deliver on their objectives 6% Once I explain them clients are comfortable 6% Other 75% of advisers avoid complex investments 51% say they don’t have faith in the ability of complex investments to deliver 28 Aegon adviser attitudes report 2021