AJ Bell in offshore bond deal with Standard Life. Salford-based investment platform AJ Bell said its AJ Bell Investcentre has launched of a new offshore bond in partnership with Standard Life, further broadening its suite of tax planning solutions for advisers and clients. "The Standard Life International Bond will be available to advisers using AJ Bell Investcentre via a General Investment Account (GIA), providing advisers and clients with an open architecture structure and wrapper that allows client money to grow tax efficiently, alongside greater control over tax planning and reporting," said AJ Bell. "With plans to bring unused pensions into inheritance tax from April 2027, as well as a series of other increases to tax rates and changes of allowances in the past few years, advisers and clients are increasingly looking for alternative ways to protect wealth. "Advisers will be able to use the bond as part of a suite of estate and tax planning solutions and tools through AJ Bell Investcentre, including other offshore bonds, an onshore bond and trusts. "Clients also have greater flexibility to alter their investment strategies within the bond without triggering capital gains tax, and can take out up to 5% of the total amount paid into the bond each year, but do not need to pay tax until a later date. Advisers can structure this around clients' needs and tax situation." Lesley Whyte, head of strategic partnerships at Standard Life, said: "Northern Financial Review is 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. "The new offering gives advisers access to a broad range of trusts, combined with the benefits of a leading platform and the support and expertise of both Standard Life and AJ Bell." Mark Rendle, AJ Bell advised managing director, said: "Advisers and clients face a growing challenge to protect and pass on wealth efficiently in the current tax environment, and it is up to providers to ensure that the correct tools and support are available. "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. "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." AJ Bell added: "An offshore bond is issued outside the UK, whereas an onshore bond is issued by UK-based life insurance companies. "This means offshore bonds are not subject to UK corporation tax, whereas onshore bonds are subject to the tax on interest, income and gains. Offshore bond returns grow gross of tax, excluding unreclaimable withholding tax. "Gains in both offshore and onshore bonds are treated as savings income, taxed at the investor's marginal rate. However, onshore bonds are treated as having paid tax on the gain at the basic rate already, as the underlying fund is taxed. This means only higher and additional rate taxpayers will pay tax on any savings income generated in an onshore bond. "Top-slicing relief - where clients spread gains over the bond's lifetime to reduce the tax rate - may be available for both offshore and onshore bonds, but will depend on the individual's circumstances. "Withdrawals can be made up to 5% of the value of premiums paid into offshore and onshore bonds each year, with the tax deferred to allow for flexible income planning. "Advisers can manage investments in an AJ Bell Investcentre GIA held within either offshore or onshore bonds."

AJ Bell expands investments team with three hires. New investments director role. AJ Bell has strengthened its investments team with three new appointments spanning investment strategy, fund research and portfolio management. To continue reading this article... Join investment week today. Free for those involved in advising, managing and/or analysing investments or £1 per day for professionals outside of these roles.

InvestAcc returns to profit as revenue more than doubles. InvestAcc has swung from a £3m loss to a £1.5m profit after tax as revenue more than doubled during the first half of the year, boosted by its acquisition of AJ Bell Platinum and growth in treasury income. The specialist pension administrator reported revenue of £13.8m for the six months to 30 June 2026, up 130% from £6m during the same period last year. Group EBITDA increased 274% from £1.3m to £4.9m, while operating profit reached £2.1m compared with a £3.1m loss a year earlier. Pension assets under administration also increased from £5.8bn to £10.6bn. However, a significant proportion of the growth came from InvestAcc's acquisition of AJ Bell Platinum and its treasury operation. AJ Bell Platinum contributed £4.4m of revenue during the period and added around 3,300 pension schemes. Treasury revenue increased 345% from £1.1m to £5m. Overall, Sipp and SSAS scheme numbers increased 38% to 19,251, with organic growth of 14%, compared with 22% in the first half of 2025.