ARC Wealth Indices

The ARC Wealth Indices are a set of investment performance benchmarks designed to help all investors assess the performance of multi-asset investment solutions. 

The ARC Wealth Indices family includes: 

1. Private Client Indices (PCI) – A series of risk-based benchmarks for high-net-worth private client portfolios, available in sterling, U.S. dollar, euro, Canadian dollar and Swiss franc. 

2. ARC Charity Indices (ACI) – Designed to help U.K. charitable organizations measure their investment performance. 

3. ARC Inheritance Tax Portfolio Index (AIP) – A benchmark for Alternative Investment Market-based Inheritance Tax (IHT) portfolios. 

4. Managed Platform Solutions Indices (MPS) – A series of benchmarks tracking the performance of discretionary model portfolio services. 

The ARC Wealth Indices provide a reference point for understanding historical performance of multi-asset investment strategies and should be used together with a user’s own analysis and, where appropriate, professional advice. 

Yes, a license is required for commercial use of the ARC Wealth Indices. 

Access to ARC Wealth Indices data does not, by itself, grant a right to use, reproduce, distribute, incorporate or commercialize that data. Permitted use depends on the user’s subscription level, permissions, license agreement, delivery method and the applicable terms and conditions. 

Common Use Cases 

The following examples summarize when a license or express written permission is required: 

• Viewing through authorized channels – Public-facing or permissioned data may be viewed through Suggestus or other authorized channels, subject to the applicable access permissions and terms. Viewing does not permit copying, redistribution, incorporation into another product or commercial use. 

• Marketing or promotional materials – Any external communication referencing the ARC Wealth Indices, including client presentations, fund or strategy factsheets and promotional materials, requires a valid license covering that use. 

• Client reporting, models and tools – Use of ARC Wealth Indices in formal investment reporting, proprietary models, investment dashboards, analytics tools or third-party platforms requires a valid license covering the relevant delivery method, audience and purpose. 

• Redistribution and data vendor use – Data vendors, software suppliers, platforms and other redistributors require express redistribution rights. Ordinary website access or a standard end-user license does not permit resale, sublicensing, onward distribution or making the data available to third parties. 

• API access and bespoke data delivery – API access and bespoke data delivery are available only on separately agreed commercial terms and only for the agreed fields, frequency, recipients and purpose. 

• Free or no-cost access – Some ARC Wealth Indices data and tools may be available without charge for viewing or limited informational purposes. Free access does not permit commercial use, redistribution, incorporation into tools or websites, client reporting or marketing use unless the applicable terms or a written license expressly allow it. 

How to Obtain a License 

If you require a license or are unsure whether your proposed use is permitted, contact us for details on pricing, scope and terms. Licensing helps ensure appropriate use of the benchmarks and protects the contribution of investment managers who provide the underlying data. 

For more information, please contact index_services@spglobal.com. 

Uses Not Permitted Without Express Written Permission 

Unless expressly permitted under a written license or other applicable terms, a user may not: 

• Alter, modify, merge, copy, distribute, transfer, adapt or create derived versions of the ARC Wealth Indices. 
• Permit the ARC Wealth Indices to be combined with, incorporated in or used as an input into any third-party software, database, model, product or service. 
• Display, embed or incorporate the ARC Wealth Indices into any website, portal or other digital service. 
• Sell, redistribute, supply, dispose of, transfer, sublicense or otherwise make the ARC Wealth Indices available to any third party. 
• Use the ARC Wealth Indices, in whole or in part, on behalf of or for the benefit of any third party, including by providing bureau, managed service or similar services. 

The ARC Wealth Indices provide independent, risk-based performance benchmarks designed to support wealth managers, charities, trustees and investment professionals in assessing the effectiveness of investment portfolios. 

If your firm is interested in participating, contact index_services@spglobal.com for further details on data submission requirements and the onboarding process. 

ARC Private Client Indices 

The ARC Private Client Indices serve as a benchmark for discretionary investment portfolios managed on behalf of private individuals, family offices and trusts. 

How to Contribute 

• Your firm must manage discretionary private client portfolios. 

• Submit anonymized client portfolio performance data quarterly. 

Membership is structured into different levels based on the depth of data access and analytical tools available to members. All contributing managers commit to an initial three-year term. 

There are discounts available for managers with less than a three-year track record. 

Membership Tiers 

Large Firm Contributor Membership  

For discretionary investment managers managing over GBP 2 billion in private client discretionary assets and more than 100 portfolios above GBP 250,000. 

These contributors' portfolio data submissions serve as the foundation of the ARC Private Client Indices. 

Medium Firm Contributor Membership  

For discretionary investment managers managing over GBP 500 million in private client discretionary assets and more than 75 portfolios above GBP 250,000. 

These contributors' portfolio data submissions serve as the foundation of the ARC Private Client Indices. 

Small Firm Membership  

For discretionary investment managers managing over GBP 250 million in private client discretionary assets and more than 50 portfolios above GBP 250,000. 

Pooled, Unitized Fund or Model Membership  

For investment managers who manage multi-asset private client solutions but do not meet the criteria to become Small, Medium or Large Firm Members. 

Key Benefits 

• Peer Benchmarking – Contributors can compare their performance against an independent peer-group benchmark used by trustees, advisors and clients. 

• Client Communication – Contributors can present performance relative to an industry benchmark, subject to applicable licensing, disclosure and regulatory requirements. 

• Market Insight – Access to anonymized, aggregate industry data can provide context on market trends and peer positioning. 

ARC Charity Indices 

Designed specifically for the unique requirements of U.K. charities, the ARC Charity Indices provide an independent reference point for charity portfolios. 

How to Contribute 

• Your firm must manage discretionary portfolios on behalf of registered charities. 

• Submit anonymized performance and portfolio values quarterly to ensure consistent benchmarking. 

• There is no cost to existing contributors for contributing to the ACI, but a license is required for commercial use. 

Key Benefits 

• Sector-Specific Benchmarking – Enables charities and investment managers to review investment performance in the context of charities with similar investment objectives. 

• Transparency and Accountability – Provides benchmark information that trustees may use as one input when reviewing whether investment strategies remain aligned with objectives. 

• Stakeholder Context – Provides information that can support stakeholder reporting, subject to applicable licensing and disclosure requirements. 

ARC Inheritance Tax Portfolio (AIP) Index 

The ARC Inheritance Tax Portfolio Index provides a performance benchmark for portfolios structured to seek exposure to investments expected to qualify for Business Relief. 

How to Contribute 

• Your firm must offer discretionary IHT portfolios that meet Business Relief criteria. 
• Provide anonymized performance data on client portfolio performance. 

Key Benefits 

• Performance Measurement – Allows managers and advisors to compare IHT portfolio returns with a relevant sector benchmark. 
• Regulatory and Due Diligence Context – Provides additional performance context for professional advisors and investors evaluating IHT solutions. 
• Evidence-Based Reporting – Provides benchmark information that contributors may use in reporting, subject to applicable licensing and disclosure requirements. 

ARC Managed Platform Solutions (MPS) Indices 

The ARC MPS Indices serve as a performance benchmark for model portfolios offered via investment platforms. 

How to Contribute 

• Your firm must manage risk-profiled model portfolios or unitized solutions available on investment platforms. 
• Submit performance and asset allocation data for all model and unitized solutions. 

Key Benefits 

• Benchmarking – Provides information on how an MPS offering has performed relative to industry peers. 
• Advisor Context – Provides advisors with an independent reference point for further due diligence on platform-based investment solutions. 
• Data-Driven Insights – Contributing firms gain access to anonymized peer-group performance insights for internal analysis and reporting, subject to applicable terms. 

The ARC PCI are calculated using actual net-of-fee performance data from participating investment managers, classified into risk categories based on historical relative risk to world equities. 

The ARC PCI are a set of risk-based benchmarks designed to help private clients and their advisors assess the performance of discretionary portfolios with a non-specialist mandate. 

The indices are constructed using actual returns reported by participating investment managers (Data Contributors) and provide insight into real-world portfolio performance. 

Classification Schema 

Individual portfolios are classified by their relative risk to world equities. Risk is defined as 36-month volatility or excess standard deviation. 

Portfolios are classified using relative risk rather than asset allocation to allow investment managers the freedom to implement any asset allocation strategy while still being measured against an appropriate peer group with similar risk characteristics. 

* The Indices reference a widely used market capitalization-weighted global equity index that represents the performance of approximately 1,500 large- and mid-cap stocks across 23 developed markets. 

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