Prudential International
Portfolio Bond

This product is provided by Prudential International who are based in Dublin. They claim to offer flexibility along with a wide range of investment choice. Prudential claims that investments with them grow largely free from tax which could result in a potentially higher return than investments in UK-based funds.

Please note that this isn’t guaranteed and there is the potential that you might not get back the amount you put in.

Prudential International's Portfolio Bond has two types:

1. The International Portfolio Bond - Lives assured version:
   It is a single premium, whole of life investment bond which offers the potential for growth and provides a small benefit on death.
2. The International Portfolio Bond - Capital redemption version:
   Which is a single premium investment bond, which offers the potential for growth and provides a benefit at the end of 99 years if it is not cashed in before then.

Let's have a look at what each of these entail.

1. The International Portfolio Bond - Lives assured version:

• This product is a non-qualifying, single premium, whole of life assurance investment that aims to increase the value of your investment over the medium to long-term, a 5 to 10 year period, by investing in a choice of funds, including Prudential International PruFund funds and collective investments.
• Prudential claims that it provides you with the ability to take a regular withdrawal in a tax efficient manner and access to your product's value at any time.
• The minimum initial investment for this product is £20,000.
• This product is intended for investors looking to invest a single lump sum over the medium to long-term although the investment profile and the type of investor it is suitable for varies depending on the chosen underlying investment option. 
• A death benefit will be payable, of 100.1% of the cash-in value of the bond, on the death of the relevant life assured, as chosen at outset. With external assets, the relevant amount will be the value on the day that they can sell them and this may differ between assets.
• This product does not have a maturity date.
• It will terminate immediately on the death of the life or lives assured.
• There is a 10 year recommended holding period for this product.

2. The International Portfolio Bond - Capital redemption version:

• This product is a non-qualifying, single premium, 99 year fixed term investment that aims to increase the value of your investment over the medium to long-term, a 5 to 10 year period, by investing in your choice from a wide range of funds throughout the life of your product.
• Prudential claims that similar to it's life version, it also provides the ability to take a regular withdrawal in a tax efficient manner and access to your product's value at any time.
• There is no death benefit payable on the International Portfolio Bond - Capital redemption version.
• This product does not have a maturity date but each plan will mature 99 years from the date it starts.
• This product does not include any protection from future market performance so you could lose some or all of your investments (If Prudential International Assurance plc is not able to pay you what is owed, you could lose your entire investment).
• The minimum initial investment for this product is £20,000.
• You can exit this product at any time.

Costs and charging of the Portfolio Bond can be summarised below:

NOTE:

• The actual costs charged may differ from those illustrated above. Additional costs may be payable if product options are chosen throughout the lifetime of your investment.
• The fund costs are based on the range of funds that are expected to be available during the assumed lifetime of your investment, including some funds that may not be available at the time you first invest.
• If you cash-in your policy during an initial charge period, an early cash-in charge will apply, essentially a five year surrender penalty on a reducing scale. The amount of this charge will be equal to the outstanding initial charges. This charge does not apply if the upfront initial charge period is chosen.
• We would highly recommend reading the 'expert verdict' section of this review to make an informed decision.

Additionally, here's a free guide that can help you achieve better results. In this guide, you'll learn:

• Academic evidence only shared with a select few firms across the world
• A real-life example of why you should never try to outguess the market
• Why a fund's past performance is not enough to predict future returns
• Why you need to focus on what you can control and why this leads to a better investment experience
• Why you should accept the markets for what they are
• What can impact behaviour and make people seek instant gratification