Rathbone Investment Management is using a series of UK seminars to launch new discretionary fund management services for IFAs.

Rathbones is adding to its existing discretionary services with a unitised portfolio: two funds  - short growth and total return, managed by David Coombes -  which a group of investors can get exposure to for only £25,000 (around $50,000) each.

The Rathbone DFM service can be used for SIPPs, ISAs and bond wrappers, and IFAs will have daily web access to their clients’ portfolios, the firm said in a statement.

“Our service has significant parallels with the wrap platforms while offering the additional advantages of an investment manager’s expertise and access to a wider range of assets and asset classes, including investments not generally available to the retail market,” said Ian Buckley, board director at Rathbone Brothers.

Jersey-based Rathbones manages funds totalling £9.7 billion, as at 30 June 2009.