Independent research puts Rensburg Sheppards on top

The Inheritance Tax Planner portfolio service from Rensburg Sheppards has beaten 21 other providers for performance and service to claim first place, according to a new research report conducted by the Tax Efficient Review.

This is the first time that an independent organisation has attempted to survey all the providers of a service designed to exempt investors from Inheritance Tax (IHT), by acquiring a managed Alternative Investment Market (AIM) portfolio.

In addition to the performance of the portfolio the research also took into account factors such as charges, risk profile, liquidity, management team and service levels. Rensburg Sheppards achieved the highest rating at 84%.

Barry Anysz, Senior Investment Director at Rensburg Sheppards says: “Until now no meaningful performance comparisons were available to IFA’s and the public to select the best firm and service. IHT remains a huge issue; in 2006/07 39,000 estates were expected to pay an average of £92,000 IHT each. This report is therefore very timely and will help advisers to decide which firms to select for their clients.”

Editor of the Tax Efficient Review Martin Churchill comments: “In our view this tax year will see a marked increase in investor appetite for Inheritance Tax (IHT) mitigation products, driven by the wide-ranging debate around the rising incidence of IHT. Our report will help focus investor attention on the whole question of what actions can be put in place to minimise the tax now that trust offerings have been severely curtailed by the Finance Act 2006.”

Launched in 2002, at 30 June 2007 Rensburg Sheppards’ IHT planner had £60m funds under management for 421 clients. Actual performance over the period 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 was a gain of 40.2% outperforming the FTSE AIM All-share index which increased by 12%. Already 85 clients are free of IHT and showing an average gain of 90%.