AJ Bell and Standard Life partner to launch new offshore bond

AJ Bell has partnered with Standard Life to launch a new offshore bond on its Investcentre platform.

The launch aims to expand the platform’s range of tax planning solutions for advisers and their clients.

The Standard Life International Bond will be available to advisers using AJ Bell Investcentre via a general investment account (GIA).

This will provide advisers and clients with an open architecture structure and wrapper that seeks to enable client money to grow tax efficiently, alongside greater control over tax planning and reporting.

AJ Bell noted that, with pensions coming into the scope of inheritance tax (IHT) from April, and other tax and allowance changes over the past few years, advisers and clients were increasingly looking for alternative ways to protect wealth.

Advisers can use the bond as part of a range of estate and tax planning solutions and tools through AJ Bell Investcentre, including other offshore bonds, an onshore bond and trusts.

AJ Bell advised managing director, Mark Rendle, said that advisers and clients were facing a growing challenge to protect and pass on wealth efficiently in the current tax environment.

"The launch of a new offshore bond on the AJ Bell Investcentre platform in partnership with Standard Life will deliver yet another option for advisers,” Rendle continued.

“Not only does it provide clients with greater flexibility and tax-efficient investment growth, but also better control over tax planning and reporting.

“Alongside our range of wrappers, including trusts, other offshore bonds and an onshore bond link, advisers can be confident that we are catering to a diverse range of tax and estate planning needs to help them provide the best outcomes for clients and truly feel good advising.”

Standard Life head of strategic partnerships, Lesley Whyte, added: “We're delighted to partner with AJ Bell to launch the Standard Life International Bond on the Investcentre platform.

“As estate planning becomes an increasingly important consideration for clients with the upcoming IHT changes, advisers are looking for more tax-efficient solutions that offer flexibility and support a range of needs.”

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