The latest news in investment offerings, financial products and other services relative to wealth advisors and their clients.

Walker Crips Investment Management
Walker Crips Investment Management has just launched its new Gilt Portfolio Service ("GPS").

This managed portfolio service has been designed to cater to the needs of higher or additional rate taxpayers, aiming to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the significant interest rate rises initiated by the Bank of England. The firm said that references to tax implications and legislation are correct as at November 2023 but are subject to change and will be dependent on investors’ personal circumstances.

The service also offers companies the opportunity to achieve higher returns than are currently offered by high street corporate savings accounts, the firm added.

Gilts are government-issued fixed interest bonds renowned for their low-risk profile, which play a pivotal role in financing public spending. Recent shifts in the global economic landscape have created a notably altered investment climate. Walker Crips believes that these developments have presented both challenges and attractive opportunities for portfolio returns, necessitating an agile approach to investment strategies.

Launching its GPS, in this context, the firm said it is offering clients a well-defined risk and return profile from the outset, providing valuable clarity to investors who have grappled with heightened market uncertainties.

The Walker Crips GPS exclusively focuses on short-dated gilts, many of which are currently trading below their par value. For individual investors, any profit realised upon redemption is exempt from both capital gains and income tax, with taxation solely applicable to the coupon amount. Corporation tax would be payable by companies at the point of redemption.

“The introduction of the Walker Crips GPS offers investors an opportunity to leverage the evolving economic landscape and benefit from the attractive risk-adjusted returns currently offered by gilts. This opportunity has the potential to enhance investor performance in the coming years by introducing a low-risk investment avenue with attractive returns into portfolios. The GPS launch underscores our commitment of providing tailored, attractive investment opportunities to help our clients navigate the complexities surrounding investment markets," Wesley Coultas, head of investment management at Walker Crips, said.

Walker Crips Investment Management Limited is a division of Walker Crips Group, a UK public listed company specialising in investment management, financial planning, pensions, structured investments and technology services.