Standard Life Elevate offers DFM partners for first time

As a result of adviser feedback, Standard Life Elevate, the awarding winning adviser platform will offer a new range of DFM partners for the first time, through its Separately Managed Accounts (SMA)* service.

The additions offer access to a wider range of Model Portfolios directly through the Elevate platform. This follows the successful launch of SMA on the platform last year and gives advisers more choice while supporting efficiencies within their business.

Advisers stay in full control of the client relationship whilst benefiting from the expertise of a range of investment specialists and Standard Life's highly rated customer service.

Strategic relationships have been established with a number of major firms. The first managers to be announced are:

There are plans to add more DFM partners by the end of the year.

Alastair Ward, Head of Platform Proposition at Standard Life, said: "I'm delighted we can enhance the investment experience enjoyed by advisers and their clients. The key to this new service is offering a combination of efficiency, choice and control, as well as greater flexibility for advisers to work with their DFM partners.

"Elevate advisers told us they wanted more investment choice on the platform. With the successful launch of SMA's last year the natural next step was to extend the DFMs available, so we're delighted with the firms already on board, and we have a few more to follow.

"Regulation is always a consideration and the introduction of the DFM service will help advisers meet PROD requirements as the technology can help advisers run their CIP in a more efficient way, ensuring a more tailored client approach."

Noel Butwell, CEO of Standard Life added: "Earlier this year I made commitments to the adviser market about enhancing their experience of working with us. We want to support adviser businesses to be successful and keep providing great advice to their clients. We'll do this by continuing to invest in improving in our processes, and listening while developing existing functionality and bringing new innovation."

* MyPortfolio SMA comprises 15 multi-asset portfolios, split into three ranges and five risk levels offering a choice of solutions aligned to attitude to risk. The SMAs benefit from a strategically optimised asset allocation, offering exposure to a range of different asset classes, and ongoing rebalancing to maintain target risk levels. The MyPortfolio solution is managed by the Aberdeen Standard Investment Multi-Manager Strategies Team, which manages nearly £27 billion of assets.

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Notes to editors

About Standard Life

• The Standard Life brand is almost 200 years old and today it is focused on being customers' first choice for their life savings

• In the UK, Standard Life helps people with their life savings through its Wrap and Elevate platforms which are used by financial advisers to provide financial planning and wealth management services to their clients

• Elevate is now the only platform, alongside Standard Life Wrap, to have achieved an AKG A Financial Strength rating, an Adviser Asset Platinum Rating, a Defaqto 5 Star and Gold Service Ratings

• The value of investments can go down as well as up, and could be worth less than originally invested