Introduction

Access Financial is asset class agnostic. We have experience in and can produce products linked to most traded asset classes. We can create retail or wholesale offerings based on our client's requirements. We can utilise a multitude of wrappers including a Deferred Purchase Agreement, a Unit Trust, a Note or even a total return swap in some cases. Ultimately, the choice is up to the advisor based on their client's needs.

Asset Classes

Equities - Australian, Global, Emerging Markets
Fixed Income - Australia, Global, Emerging Markets
Commodities - Metals, Agriculture & Energy
Currencies - Single Currencies or Currency Baskets
Property - Wide range of investable property benchmarks
Private Equity - Wind Range of investable benchmarks
Infrastructure - Wide Range of investable benchmarks
Hedge Funds - Single Hedge Funds from around the world
Fund of Hedge Funds - FoHFs from around the world
Hedge Fund Replication - Replicate hedge fund strategies
Total Return Products - Multiple CTAs and other total return funds
Thematics - Socially Responsible, Green Energy, Clean Water etc

Payoffs

Delta One / Index Performance - linked to public index performance
Principal Protected - Full or Partially Principal protected investments
Continuous Protection - Capital protection & Rising Guarantee from day 1
Buy-Write - Convert equity performance to income style payments
Structured - internally geared, minimum loss, maximum gain structures
Diversified Baskets - select multiple asset classes
Rebalancing Baskets - fixed baskets with regular rebalancing
Custom Indices - Design custom indices to meet particular requirements
Lookback Options - invest with the benefit of hindsight

Packaging

Security - a Deferred Purchase Agreement is relatively cheap and effective access
Note - works well for income style products
Unit Trust - Managed Investment Scheme via Unit Trust structure
Swap - for wholesale investors, gain unfunded exposure
SMA - Separately Managed Account
Wholesale - Wholesale versions of all products

Principal Guarantee Methods

Bond & Call - Simple and transparent method to gain protected exposure
CPPI - Constant Proportion Portfolio Insurance
Continuous Protection - A minimum level of protection over the life of the investment
Volatility Control - Bond & Call with benefit of risk management overlay

Gearing

External - Up to 100% gearing
Internal - Internal gearing at wholesale funding rates
Enhanced Participation - Get internal gearing on Positive performance, but not negative
Issuer Funded - Pay financing costs upfront and receive 100% exposure

Absolute Return Products (ARP's)

At Access Financial we believe strongly in the concept of total return. Whilst we recognise the structural simplicity of buying and holding assets combined with the well accepted theory of diversified asset classes, we believe that investment products that aim to deliver absolute (aka positive) returns year in year out should be part of a balanced portfolio.

Reasons to consider ARP's

• Positive return targets would appear more consist with end investors wishes. Few investors would desire negative returns out of any asset class. Hence an investment that has a positive return each year objective appears to be one to be considered
• Potentially large negative returns as experienced with a buy & hold growth market strategy periodically (i.e. the boom and bust) are highly unnerving for most investors and frequently lead to poor investment decisions at the worst possible time
• Boom & bust asset classes require considerable tactical allocation within a client's portfolio, especially as they get closer to retirement or their risk tolerance changes. This is an extremely difficult task in real life and is often over looked in preference to a 'lower risk' strategy being employed, which really is often the higher risk strategy.
• Absolute return products often have (and investors should insist on) high risk / reward (or Sharpe Ratio's). Traditional boom & bust asset classes usually have poor risk & reward characteristics when compared with well designed ARP's
• Absolute Return Products don't have to be complex and can be fairly simple. For example a 100% capital protected investment linked to the ASX 200 is an 'entry level' strategy frequently used.

Absolute Return Products - Other Considerations

• There are a broad variety of absolute return products. Like all investments, some are good, some are bad. The often complex nature of absolute return products should require additional due diligence and advice from a suitabley experienced specialist. The expression "if look looks to good to be true ..." does have merit, but this doesn't mean investment products that have historically delivered better risk / reward outcomes should be excluded.

Feel free to ask us for examples of products should you be interested in Absolute Return Products for your client's portfolios.(top)

Commission Free Investments

Many advisers are adopting the Fee for Service model resulting in a demand for wholesale style fee structures for their clients.

Access financial is able to assist in sourcing customised investments that are built without commissions for use by dealergroups, private banks and high networth users.

Accessing wholesale providers, we can tailor make diversified, open ended products with our without capital protection. Rather than go through the hassle of fee rebates with your clients, we can assist in adding genuine commission free investments to your investment menu.

Stand out with your clients by offering supperior investment performance by offering innovative investment products built with commission free cost structures.(top)