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We believe the benefits described above for clients can help advisers meet the increased regulatory responsibilities heralded by the FCA’s Consumer Duty, which requires them to demonstrate products meet their clients’ needs and represent value for money.

Because many investors have units in the same unitised structure, this creates economies of scale which can reduce costs for clients as well as the adviser business.

In unitised portfolios, when an underlying holding is bought or sold, the transaction is a single trade at one price for all investors. This means returns should be consistent over any given time period for all investors.

Unitised portfolios carry a regulatory requirement to publish a standardised set of documents providing information for investors and potential investors. The consistent nature of these documents makes comparisons with other products more straightforward.

Investors in a unitised portfolio all hold the same assets, and in the same proportion, so performance will be uniform. This helps with delivering consistent outcomes, reducing queries and increasing transparency.

When some MPS portfolios are rebalanced, the client can be ‘out of the market’ for two to three days, which could mean they miss out on significant gains. With unitised portfolios, there is no delay between the sell and the buy, which reduces this out-of market risk.

While some MPS portfolios will only be rebalanced at fixed intervals – for example, monthly or quarterly – the investment managers of unitised portfolios can be more dynamic, enabling them to act swiftly as market conditions change.

Unitised portfolios use an Open-Ended Investment Company (OEIC) structure. Under FCA regulations, OEICs must have an Authorised Corporate Director (ACD). The ACD acts as a steward overseeing the running of the OEIC and helping to protect the best interests of investors.

The administrative work required to operate unitised portfolios can be significantly less than for individual client portfolios. This can free up considerable staff time and also reduce costs for investors.

Unitised portfolios can be more widely distributed and provide additional opportunities outside your existing distribution channel, such as investment solutions for those who cannot necessarily afford personal investment advice but would benefit from your investment proposition.

Adviser firms operating unitised portfolios, with their strong governance, are often seen as having a higher commercial value. This is because of the recognised greater long-term business efficiencies of unitised portfolios, their resilience in asset retention and the reliable income from annual management fees.

Unitised portfolios are continually evolving to further enhance the service provided for investors. For example, the Marlborough Group’s Select Platform is developing a ‘look-through’ facility that will enable unitised portfolio investors to see the individual underlying companies held in their portfolios.