The platform tackles a persistent pain point facing advisors today: over-reliance on high-level data tools that favour momentum investing over genuine evaluation of an MPS provider's underlying investment process.

Bridge aims to address this gap through two core components. First, it provides in-depth, transparent research covering asset allocation, fund selection, advisor support, and costs, enabling advisors to assess the quality of an MPS provider’s investment process. Second, it delivers continuous monitoring support, including quarterly reviews and consumer duty reporting, giving advisors a framework for oversight. This is complemented by messaging and on-demand support, allowing advisors to ask questions and access insight in real time – effectively providing the support of an in-house investment research function.

Franklin Templeton
California-based investment manager has launched a range of enhanced indexing funds for UK investors, combining factor-based investing with a conviction signal derived from its fundamental managers.

The actively managed Franklin Core Enhanced Equity Index Funds cover UK, Europe ex-UK, the US and global equities; they are available as sub-funds of the Franklin Templeton Funds (FTF) OEIC range.

Developed and managed by the Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions (FTIS) team, the four strategies aim to reflect a “for portfolio allocators, by portfolio allocators” approach, the firm said in a statement. They are designed to stay close to their benchmarks while seeking incremental outperformance, serving as cost-efficient core building blocks within diversified portfolios.

Available through a variety of platforms, the range consists of the following:

-- FTF Franklin Core UK Equity Enhanced Index Fund
-- FTF Franklin Core Europe ex UK Equity Enhanced Index Fund
-- FTF Franklin Core US Equity Enhanced Index Fund
-- FTF Franklin Core Global Equity Enhanced Index Fund

In each case the investment process begins with an active, factor-based quantitative strategy, which is then enhanced with the firm’s fundamental equity expertise through the use of the “conviction” factor.