Structured products more attractive than 12 months ago, say advisers

More than two-thirds of advisers believe structured products are more attractive investments than 12 months ago, according to recent research from Barclays Wealth.
In a survey of more than 300 independent financial advisers polled during October 2009, 69% said they believed structured products had become more attractive over the past year. Just 7% said they believed the products held less appeal, while 20% said they were as attractive as they were 12 months before.
The survey – which was conducted online via Barclays Wealth’s intermediary website [www.barclayswealthprotectedinvestments.com] – was designed to canvass current adviser opinion on structured products.
Lisa Chaudhuri, manager, Barclays Wealth, said: “It is encouraging to see that advisers increasingly appreciate the merits of structured products despite a difficult year for the investment industry. The challenge has always been to secure for structured products a more prominent place in personal portfolios, and the research – and continued strong demand – suggests that this is increasingly happening as advisers’ perception changes.”