Introduction: 

Structured products have gained popularity among investors seeking defined returns and unique investment features. Understanding the advantages and challenges of these complex financial instruments can help investors make informed decisions about their portfolios.

Benefits of Investing in Structured Products:

  1. Defined Returns: Structured products offer investors a clear understanding of potential returns at the outset. Unlike traditional funds where returns depend on a fund manager’s skill, structured products provide pre-defined outcomes based on the product’s terms.
  2. Market Protection Barriers: Many structured products come with “barriers” that protect investors from market downturns. These barriers dictate that the market can fall by a specified percentage before the investment tracks the decline. Defensive structured products even offer returns if the market falls up to a predefined amount, providing valuable risk diversification.
  3. Known Maturity Dates: Structured products have fixed maturity dates, making them ideal for capital budgeting and financial planning. Some products, like auto-calls, can mature early if specific conditions are met, offering flexibility in investment timelines.
  4. Market-Beating Returns: Structured products provide investors with the potential for market-beating returns. They offer participation in market gains or even fixed returns if the underlying asset performs well. This allows investors to benefit from positive market conditions.
  5. Bank-Based Contracts: The involvement of major banks as counterparties in structured products can provide investors with added confidence. Investors often prefer the assurance of a strong bank supporting their investment, as a counterparty default can significantly impact returns.
  6. Easy-to-Understand Outcomes: While the underlying derivatives may be complex, the potential outcomes of structured products are easy to grasp. By reviewing product literature and understanding potential outcomes in different market scenarios, investors can make informed decisions.
  7. No Ongoing Charges: Unlike traditional investments with ongoing fund management charges, structured products have upfront fees. These fees are known in advance and factored into potential returns, offering transparency to investors.
  8. Diversification: Structured products can diversify portfolios by providing market and capital protection. Combining structured products with other investments with different risk profiles can mitigate overall portfolio risk.
  9. Market Growth Not Essential: Traditional structured products require only that the underlying asset is above the initial level at a predetermined anniversary to mature with a gain. They can generate returns in flat or slightly rising markets and even offer gains in poor market conditions.

Challenges in Structured Products:

Structured products come with their unique set of challenges:

  1. Complexity: These products combine various risk-bearing instruments, including derivatives, making them inherently complex. It’s essential for investors to understand the inherent risks.
  2. Lack of Liquidity: Structured products are not traded on secondary markets like stocks or mutual funds, which makes them less liquid. Investors need other avenues for readily liquid assets in case of emergencies.
  3. Risk Profile: Structured products are designed for investors with higher risk tolerance, not necessarily suitable for the average retail investor.
  4. Issuer Credit Risk: The guarantee of return at maturity is contingent on the creditworthiness of the issuer. Adverse economic conditions can impact the issuer’s business and, in turn, the structured product.

Types of Protection:

Structured products come with various types of protection:

  1. Hard Protection: Hard protection sets a floor below which the investment’s maturity value is protected, ensuring a return of capital regardless of investment conditions. Some products offer 100% hard protection, while others provide a slightly lower level to increase exposure to the underlying asset.
  2. Soft Protection: Soft protection is a more limited form of protection. It applies only if the underlying asset does not fall below a safety barrier. If the barrier is breached, the maturity value is reduced based on the extent of the breach, offering potentially higher returns but with a higher risk of loss.

In conclusion, structured products offer defined returns, market protection, and unique investment features. However, their complexity, lack of liquidity, and suitability for specific risk profiles make them a niche investment choice. Understanding their benefits and challenges can help investors make informed investment decisions in their pursuit of financial goals.