ETF trading increases among advisers using SIPP platform

ETF trading activity has significantly increased among advisers using the A J Bell Sippcentre platform.

The firm says trading activity of ETFs has risen month-on-month since it unveiled its in-house retail fund and share dealing platform last May.

It shows the amount traded in January was up 300% compared to the first full month after the platform's launch.

A J Bell marketing director Billy Mackay says: "This increasing trend clearly shows that the demand for ETFs exists today and that they are slowly but surely becoming a mainstream investment vehicle for many advisers and their clients."

He says many Sippcentre users view ETFs as an appropriate way to gain exposure to various markets, while managing the number of required trades.

A J Bell chief executive and actuary Andy Bell says: "It seems the platform industry has now woken up to the fact that offering ETFs has gone from being a nice-to-have to a must-have."

The firm specialises in providing administration, trustee and actuarial services for self invested personal pension (SIPP) plans. It has over 40,200 SIPPs and assets under administration exceeding £11.2bn.