150% growth in assets under management of Gulf Bank’s WISE Investments Platform

 

Returns ranged between 5.6% for conservative portfolios and 18.6% for aggressive portfolios

• WISE Islamic portfolio achieves a return of 19.1% during its first year since its launch
• WISE Income portfolio achieved a return of 9.7%, backed by an annual dividend of 4.8%
• Dalya Al-Qassem: Record portfolio returns have increased our clients by more than 100%

 

For the fifth year in a row, Gulf Bank announced that its WISE Investments portfolios achieved record returns in 2021, with returns averaging 5.6% for conservative portfolios, and 18.6% for high-risk portfolios; total assets under management of the platform increased by 150%.

 

The Bank indicated that the WISE Investments Islamic portfolio, which Gulf Bank launched at the beginning of 2021, achieved returns of 19.1%, while the Income portfolio returns (which also launched at the beginning of 2021) achieved returns of 9.7%, supported by annual dividends of 4.8%.

 

Dalya Al-Qassem, Head of Investment Advisory at Gulf Bank, commented: “We are extremely proud to celebrate our fifth successful year since Gulf Bank launched its WISE Investments platform. Due to WISE’s resounding success, we are also especially excited to announce that our clients have also increased by more than 100% in 2021 alone, a testament to our record returns.”

 

Al-Qassem indicated that the WISE platform continued to achieve record returns and exceed client expectations, despite market fluctuations and the ongoing challenges of the pandemic. Thanks to the digital platform’s competitive advantages, WISE continues to provide investment solutions that meet customers' goals, needs and desires, whether clients choose to invest in moderate, high-risk, and/or Shariah-compliant investments. At the same time, clients enjoy complete control over their portfolios, investing more or withdrawing their portfolios based on their needs, in addition to being able to track their portfolios anytime, anywhere through their mobile devices.

 

She noted that Gulf Bank’s CMA-certified and diligent Investment Advisors continue to raise investment awareness and support their clients in their journeys to achieving their future investment and financial goals, assisting them in developing their wealth and savings over time.

 

Al-Qassem stated that Gulf Bank’s WISE Investments is the ideal solution to invest in global markets easily, transparently, and at a low cost, enabling investors to achieve their investment and saving goals through carefully selected, diversified investment opportunities. By building uniquely tailored portfolios for clients, that are customized based on their clients’ financial goals, investment horizons and risk appetites, WISE Investments assists clients in attaining their investment goals and growing their wealth.

 

She also pointed out that Gulf Bank’s WISE Investments is an advisory and portfolio management service that follows a Nobel Prize-winning investment strategy, providing Gulf Bank clients with the opportunity to invest in international markets in an easy, transparent and cost-efficient way. The principle of WISE Investments is to invest through international, diversified portfolios while achieving the ideal risk-adjusted return in the long term.

 

Moreover, Al-Qassem noted that, as a digital investment tool, WISE provides its clients with the opportunity to invest in a globally diversified portfolio with a long-term approach. By filling out a simple questionnaire, WISE determines customers’ financial goals, risk appetite, and investment horizon, to recommend a portfolio that is customized to their needs. Over the course of the investment period, Gulf Bank’s investment managers continuously monitor and review their clients’ portfolios, in an effort to safeguard and increase their wealth. In addition to periodic meetings with clients to ensure the alignment of the investment performance with the client’s goals.

 

It is noteworthy that investment through the "WISE" platform is available to Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaitis, as well as Kuwaiti citizens residing abroad, who have accounts with Gulf Bank, noting that the minimum amount to open a portfolio is $10,000.

 

Gulf Bank's vision is to be the leading Kuwaiti Bank of the Future. The Bank is constantly engaging and empowering its employees as part of an inclusive and diversified workplace in recognition of every employee’s role in delivering customer excellence and serving the community at large. With its extensive network of branches and innovative digital services, Gulf Bank is able to give its customers the choice of how and where to conduct their banking transactions, all while ensuring a simple and seamless banking experience. Gulf Bank is committed to maintaining a robust sustainability program at the community, economic, and environmental levels through sustainability initiatives that are strategically selected to benefit both the country and the Bank. Gulf Bank supports Kuwait Vision 2035 “New Kuwait” and works with the different relevant parties to achieve it.