Defaqto 5 Star Ratings for abrdn MPS 2025

abrdn MPS has retained all of its three ratings from Defaqto, the independent research body.

These are:

This recognition from Defaqto underlines our team’s dedication to providing excellent service and our continued commitment to advisers and their clients.

“Defaqto’s DFM MPS on Platform Star Rating assesses the discretionary MPS market based on each proposition against a peer group of MPS solutions available through adviser platforms,” Defaqto’s Fraser Donalson (Insight Consultant) explains:

The criteria Defaqto highlights, focuses on a number of key areas, such as the implied commitment of the discretionary management firm to the intermediary market, and the level of, and the growth of, discretionary assets through performance and net inflows.

The rating criteria also looks at choice, taking into account the range of portfolios within the solution. This would include availability to clients of income, active, passive and sustainable mandates.

Fraser Donaldson adds: “Another area of appraisal is ‘Ease of Access’, in terms of entry investment limits and platform availability.

“As with all Defaqto Star Ratings certain core standards need to be met to attain the highest rating levels. These include a minimum number of portfolio choices and platform options open to advisers seeking to use an MPS for their clients,” he says.

DFM MPS Portfolio (Platform) Family Diamond Rating

Both abrdn MPS and abrdn Index MPS ranges have also achieved a 5 Diamond Rating for 2025.

Defaqto’s Family MPS Diamond Ratings assess ranges of MPS portfolios , within the overall MPS solution, being offered by a discretionary management firm to the UK Intermediary market.

As Fraser Donaldson explains: “The criteria is designed to highlight those managers with a comparatively strong historical, risk adjusted performance, against a peer group of platform MPS ranges.

“One of the areas of focus in the methodology looks at the efficiency of each portfolio within the MPS range in terms of risk versus net return over the previous 5 years.”

Another takes into account the breadth and volatility distribution, across portfolios, from low to high risk,allowing more client segments, in terms of appetite for risk, to be accommodated.

“The Defaqto rating is weighted toward historical performance metrics, but portfolio asset levels, and average total costs are additional factors,” Fraser Donaldson states.

He adds: “A 5 Diamond Rating for a range implies that, it has shown a relatively high degree of strength, in the context of the metrics being used, against a peer group of approximately 305 MPS ranges rated in 2025.”

abrdn’s Managed Portfolio Service provides advisers with a range of portfolio strategies, with a choice of management styles to meet clients’ investment needs.

Find out more about abrdn’s Managed Portfolio Service.