This is your chance vote for the fund that you believe best fills the retirement saving needs of employees who do not have access to ongoing independent financial advice. The winning fund will be announced at the Corporate Adviser Awards 2008, which take place at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London on February 18. Voting ends at the close of business on Wednesday 6th April.
THE CHALLENGE
We asked our panel of experts to nominate a single default fund that best matches the needs of a company with 1,000 employees with an average spread of ages and skill sets for the growth stage of their pension saving – the fund is expected to be used in conjunction with some form of process to manage risk in the years before retirement. At least 80 per cent of members are not expected to be getting individual face-to-face advice and are likely to end up in the default option. The Ultimate Default Fund is to be offered through a contract-based scheme and its objective is to achieve maximum returns for members without taking risks that employers are likely to find unacceptable.
THE SHORTLIST
• BGI Global Equity (50:50) Index fund
• Schroder Diversified Growth fund
• Standard Life Pension Managed One fund
• Friends Provident Stewardship fund
• Ruffer Total Return fund
• Insight Diversified Target Return fund
• Schroder Managed Balanced fund
• Aegon ScotEq Universal Lifestyle Collection
HOW TO VOTE
You are asked to choose a single fund that you believe best addresses the challenge our panel was set. You can vote online at www.corporateadviserawards/voting. Advisers who vote will be entered into a draw to win 12 bottles of champagne.
