J.P. Morgan to launch investment outsourcing

The decision has come following consultations with clients on how best J.P. Morgan Asset Management can assist them following the implementation of the proposals set out in the Retail Distribution Review.

This follows the recent announcement that J.P. Morgan Asset Management has created a global investment management capability called Asset Management Solutions which comprises the firm's Investment Management Global Multi-Asset Group, as well as its Private Banking Global Access Portfolios and Thematic and Opportunistic Advisory Programs. Headed by Seth Bernstein, a 28 year veteran of J.P. Morgan Asset Management and former Global Fixed Income and Currency head, the new team will leverage its intellectual capital and combined investment acumen while the individual units will continue to focus on their respective client segments.

The new investment outsourcing business for UK advisers, which will be known as JPM UK Adviser Solutions will, in turn, leverage the expertise of this group. It will create a range of products and services to help those advisers that are looking to outsource their investment solutions.

Jasper Berens, Head of UK Funds at J.P. Morgan Asset Management said:

"For the last 6 years, the Retail Distribution Review has been a huge focus for JPMAM and we've thought very carefully about how we can best serve our clients going forward. Having spent time with key industry opinion leaders and stakeholders and conducted significant research we have built a considered response to advisers' and investors' needs in a post-RDR world.

"The structure of our UK business and our expertise as a product provider means the launch of an investment outsourcing solution represents a natural evolution of, and addition to our existing offering. With our clients needs at the core of our thinking, we are focusing on building investment solutions that will allow those advisers, who wish to outsource their clients' investments, to do what they feel they do best, which is financial planning."

Alongside the consultation with its clients, J.P. Morgan Asset Management has been drawing on the strength and expertise of the JPMorgan Private Bank which has been providing solutions for wealthy investors for 160 years.

Berens concluded: "In terms of our overall investment capability, we are fully committed to offering the very best in quality and service. We are in the process of building what we believe will be a market leading offering across the widest possible spectrum of clients, regardless of type and we're excited about what this will mean for the UK advisory community."