With advisers showing renewed interest in both onshore and international bonds, Defaqto has identified the most recommended products in each category by recommendation volume to the end of H1 2026.
The findings are from Defaqto’s whole-of-market data available in Defaqto Engage – the adviser research software used by more than 30% of UK advisers to help their clients make smarter financial decisions. The data provides a representative cross section of the UK financial adviser market, excluding recommendations made by vertically integrated distribution networks. It includes more than 20 onshore bonds from 15 providers and more than 50 international bonds from 10 providers.
Prudential Investment Plan retains its dominance as the top recommended onshore bond.
Commenting on the top 10 recommended onshore bonds, Andrew Duthie, Insight Manager for Wealth and Protection at Defaqto, said:
“Despite a slight loss of top 10 recommendation share to Quilter, Prudential continues to be dominant in the onshore bond space, with Aviva rounding off the top three.”
“Below that, the climbers are due to Aviva closing their Select Investment Growth and Income Option during 2025. Chesnara Life have two places in the top 10, the former HSBC Life business, though the entry in the top 10 is the M&G Wealth version of their Investment Bond.”
Prudential also remains the top recommended international bond with its International Portfolio Bond.
Andrew Duthie commented: “Prudential International Portfolio Bond maintains a strong position in recommendations but a strong showing in the first half year of 2026 has meant that Transact have jumped to second, pushing Prudential International’s Investment Bonds and Aberdeen International’s Portfolio Bond for Wrap down a place.
“Canada Life International, always a strong presence in the top 10 sees a switch in position of recommendations for the Premier Account Alpha and Wealth Preservation Account with Premiere Europe also entering.
“Utmost International Evolution is another new entrant, with the number of recommendations after the top five increasingly close.
“With bonds expected to be one of the products that benefits from changes to IHT in pensions coming in from April 2027, it will be interesting to see if these numbers change as we move into the second half of 2026 as advisers show a renewed interest in both onshore and international bonds.”
Defaqto Engage consolidates all the information advisers need into one software solution, connecting research, suitability and ongoing review within a single advice workflow. It gives advisers the power to model a client’s financial objectives, capture risk profiles, conduct investment research, and oversee client reviews – all from one place.
More information about Defaqto Engage can be found at www.defaqto.com/solutions/engage