Schroders SMA lands on BT Panorama

Schroders’ recently launched Concentrated Australian Equity Portfolio has been added to the BT Managed Portfolios available through the BT Panorama platform, with the firm saying it was in response to “adviser demand” for a separately managed account (SMA) that aims to outperform the S&P/ASX 200 Total Return Index over the medium to long term.

Head of client group at Schroders Australia, Ray Macken, said: “Advisers can confidently recommend to their clients a professionally managed and benchmark-aware portfolio of select Australian equities.”

The actively managed concentrated portfolio is co-managed by Adam Alexander and Ben Chan, with Schroders saying the pair are part of a “stable, award-winning and highly rated” Schroders Australian equities team, headed by Martin Conlon.

“Schroders’ 11-strong Australian equity team is one of the largest and most experienced in the Australian market. The size and scale of the team allows for waterfront stock coverage across the ASX 200 and into the ASX 300 without having to compromise on breadth or depth,” Mr Alexander said.

Mr Chan added: “Stocks are valued using the Schroders investment process, which helps to avoid confirmation bias. The team of portfolio managers also have the advantage of being able to draw on the insights of Schroders’ worldwide investment team, as well as a collection of proprietary investment tools that provide us with a competitive edge.”

Mr Macken said the launch is part of a growing trend of advisers increasingly recognising the benefits of SMAs.

Mr Macken said: “Investors receive the benefits of direct share ownership, but with the important added advantage that the stocks are selected by an investment process that has been honed over 25 years’ experience of managing Australian equities.

“The result is transparency and flexibility for clients, who can see what selected stocks they hold, but with none of the administrative and compliance burdens associated with managing direct shares for advisers.”

Zac Leman, head of managed accounts at BT, said demand for managed accounts remains strong.

Mr Leman said: “Funds under administration (FUA) in managed portfolios on BT Panorama increased by 18 per cent in the year to 31 August 2023, with managed portfolios now comprising over 13 per cent of total platform FUA.

“Schroders’ new SMA is a welcome addition to the platform. It will appeal to a broad range of advisers and their clients who are seeking an Australian equities solution that offers transparent portfolio management, efficient rebalancing, and swift execution of transactions.”