Investment - Articles - Fund ratings key to adviser selection

 Fund ratings remain an important part of fund selection with 80% of financial advisers currently using ratings to assist in fund selection, according to results from Schroders' Annual Adviser Survey.

 When asked for their top two rating providers, OBSR and Trustnet dominated the responses, with 34% and 22% respectively of advisers using their ratings. S&P, Morningstar, Citywire and Raynor Spencer Mills made the up the remaining top choices for advisers.

 Furthermore, advisers are placing increasing importance on the use of ratings, with 30% of advisers saying their use of ratings increased in the past year, compared to 3% decreasing.

 Robin Stoakley, Managing Director UK Intermediary Schroders, said:

 "The introduction of RDR has placed increasing pressure on advisers so I am not surprised they are looking more closely at tools such as fund ratings to help with fund selection. This is a trend we expect to continue."

 The Schroders' Annual Adviser Survey was conducted in September and interviewed 225 advisers nationally.