The inaugural Insight Discovery Investment Barometer found that, of the 20 senior IFA executives surveyed, 95% are moving towards the solutions, with over 40% specifically moving towards multi-manager or multi-asset class structures.
Additionally, 26% said they are moving towards model portfolios prescribed by their head offices, while 32% identified discretionary portfolios and other solutions.
Most frequently identified as an important trend for the future was economic growth in Gulf Cooperation Council countries, which is expected to continue over the next six months.
Other important trends identified in the survey were the continued outperformance of developed market equities and the rising demand for particular kinds of investment, such as Shariah products and investment management services.
The majority of those surveyed said they would be “happy” to see an end to “soft commissions”, while just a third said they felt the charges should stay.
Finally, 40% said they do not value socially responsible investing when advising clients, while just 10% said they it was factored into their decisions.
Chief executive at Insight Discovery, Nigel Sillitoe, said: “Given the number of funds recommended by a small number of GCC based advisory firms which have created significant client detriment in the past, the results of our study are encouraging.
“Over time, I suspect the fund decision making process will be taken away from individual advisers and passed to managers running multi-asset, risk-based products, a trend which of course is being seen in the UK and elsewhere.”
Earlier this month, Insight Discovery’s fifth Middle Eastern Investment Panorama identified a strong local presence as key to the success of global asset managers and international life companies operating in the Gulf.
