When a client is moving into retirement and suddenly becomes far more aware of every market dip, smoothed funds can feel like an obvious solution. But how well do you really understand what's happening under the bonnet?

More providers are launching smoothed funds, which means they're cropping up more often in research and recommendations. Yet the mechanics and the meaningful differences between the various types aren't always well understood. If you've ever found yourself focusing more on the smoothing overlay than the underlying fund, this session is for you.

Almost everything you need to know about smoothed funds in one lunch hour

Join us online at 1.00 pm on Wednesday 8 April for a practical, product-agnostic look at how smoothed funds actually work, with Edward Green from M&G.

Ed will start where it makes most sense to start: with the client. Why do smoothed funds exist at all? What role does psychology play in the transition into retirement, and when does reducing short-term volatility genuinely serve a client's interests? From there, the conversation will get into the detail paraplanners need.

During this Assembly, we expect to cover:

the three main types of smoothed fund, conventional with-profits, future expectation of returns (such as the EGR model), and backward-facing averaging, and what distinguishes them

why smoothed funds tend to carry higher costs than conventional multi-asset funds, and what those costs are buying

scale, structure and smoothing as a framework for evaluation

private market exposure and how it contributes to lower-volatility returns

what to actually look at when you're researching these funds (hint: start with the underlying multi-asset fund, not the smoothing overlay)

You'll leave with a clearer understanding of smoothed funds. You’ll be able to cut through the product noise and research them with more confidence. Whether you're encountering smoothed funds for the first time or want to sharpen your existing knowledge, this is a practical session designed to give you exactly what you need to do your job better.