There is increasing interest in YBR’s insurance products, while its mortgage offering remains “one of the most competitive in the marketplace,” YBR chief executive Matt Lawler told InvestorDaily. He added there’s “a lot more appetite and discussion” in the superannuation area.
“Our big initiative has been around mortgages, but increasingly we’re doing more in the investment superannuation area… That’s probably the area you’ll see us develop in over time,” Mr Lawler said.
Mr Lawler said YBR is constantly looking at different business product opportunities, with a focus on the 30-45 year old market “who ordinarily don’t get access to advice.”
“I think it’s often underestimated the advice needs that some of the younger clients have, so that 30 to 45 year old market… it’s quite challenging for them and our job is to provide a solution to help them through that period,” Mr Lawler said.
As a business, YBR seeks to offer its clients solutions that “enhance their life-cycle savings opportunities,” said Mr Lawler. One of those solutions, Smarter Money, has had its investment rating lifted by Atchison Consultants from ‘investment grade’ to ‘recommended.’
After 12 months of the fund being “in force,” the upgrade of the risk rating gives the fund a track record, according to Mr Lawler.
“It gives [the fund] a lot more credibility and it means that in the 12 months it’s been around the fund has delivered to what it said it would do, which is really important for investors and financial advisers alike,” he said.
Since its launch approximately one year ago, Smarter Money has returned between 7.5 per cent and 7.8 per cent per annum after all fees, depending on the unit class, according to YBR.
According to Atchison Consultants, the ‘recommended’ rating indicates the fund has consistently outperformed the median manager.
