Aviva launches Select fund range offering customers an active role in managing investments
The asset management arm of Aviva has launched a Select fund range on its consumer platforms aimed at customers keen to take an active role in choosing their investments. The range comprises of 70 active funds and a short list of passive funds designed to provide the best chance of meeting or outperforming their medium to long term goals.

21 Oct 2015

Aviva has launched a Select fund range on its consumer platform to help customers who are keen to play an active role in choosing their investments.

The range comprises around 70 active funds plus a short list of passive funds which Aviva Investors - the fund management arm of Aviva - considers to provide the best chance of meeting or outperforming their benchmark over the medium to long term.

The Select fund range is designed for people who want to make their own investment decisions, but would prefer to choose from a streamlined selection which has been picked by experts.

The range is the latest addition to Aviva's consumer platform. It complements the Ready-made funds which provide a much smaller range of two or three funds, matched to levels of risk, for customers who are looking for a quick and easy way to invest; and the full Self-select range of more than 2,000 funds available on the platform.

The Select funds have been chosen by the Aviva Investors Multi-Manager research team. Headed by Ian Aylward, the team has over 60 years' experience researching and selecting funds.

Each of the funds has been robustly researched to ensure that they are well managed by quality companies and fund managers who are supported by strong governance and control processes.

The passive Select funds have been chosen to provide customers with the option of low cost trackers. Aviva has selected BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, to provide the passive funds for the inaugural Select range list.

Rodney Prezeau, consumer platform director for Aviva says: 'Our consumer platform is designed with customers in mind. We know that some people are keen to choose exactly where they want to invest their money, and they want to choose from a broad range. Others prefer to have a bit more help from experts, to give them the confidence that they are investing in funds that have been 'vetted' by specialists.

'The Select fund range is great for those who want to make decisions about where they invest, but they don't necessarily want to be faced with hundreds of funds to choose from. It's the perfect addition to complement our Ready-made funds and our Self-select range, so consumers can choose the approach that's right for them.'

Ian Aylward, head of multi-manager research at Aviva Investors, said: 'Investors that have chosen not to use a ready-made solution may require guidance through the many hundreds of funds available. Not only are Aviva Investors' own funds available, but the manager research team at Aviva Investors has handpicked those active third party funds, across a range of sectors which they expect to outperform in future based on their tried and tested fund selection framework.'

Details on the choices available to customers, including the new Select fund range, can be found on www.aviva.co.uk/savings-and-retirement. A helpline is also available Monday - Saturday to assist customers who are investing on the consumer platform. Calls from UK landlines and mobiles are free.

The value of investments could go down as well as up and customers may get back less than the amount invested.

Ends

If you are a journalist and would like further information, please contact: Sarah Poulter, Aviva Press Office : 01904 452828 : 07800 691569 : sarah.poulter@aviva.com

Notes to editors:

Aviva provides life insurance, general insurance, health insurance and asset management to 34 (a) million customers, across 16 markets worldwide

In the UK we are the leading insurer serving one in every four households and have strong businesses in selected markets in Europe, Asia and Canada. Our shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange and we are a member of the FTSE100 index.

Aviva's asset management business, Aviva Investors, provides asset management services to both Aviva and external clients, and currently manages over £245 billion in assets.

Aviva helps people save for the future and manage the risks of everyday life; we paid out £24.6 billion in benefits and claims in 2014.

By serving our customers well, we are building a business which is strong and sustainable, which our people are proud to work for, and which makes a positive contribution to society.

The Aviva media centre at http://www.aviva.com/media/ includes company information, images, and a news release archive.

For an introduction to what we do and how we do it, please click here http://www.aviva.com/about-us/aviva/

For broadcast-standard video, please visit http://www.aviva.com/media/b-roll-library/

Follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/avivaplc/

(a) Before the deduction of overlapping customers.