Neil Woodford Returns With New Subscription Investment Platform W40

Former fund manager Neil Woodford is set to make a controversial return to the investment world with the launch of a subscription-based service, six years after the spectacular collapse of his flagship fund.

The new venture, dubbed W4.0, represents a significant departure from traditional investment vehicles. The platform will operate as a ‘community service’ where retail investors can download and implement Woodford’s investment strategies through their personal trading accounts.

Marketing materials boldly claim that “W4.0 is like having Neil Woodford by your side,” a statement that may raise eyebrows given the manager’s troubled history. His previous venture, Woodford Equity Income Fund (WEIF), imploded in 2019, leaving approximately 300,000 investors facing substantial losses when the fund failed to meet withdrawal requests due to its significant exposure to illiquid and unquoted shares.

The Financial Conduct Authority had previously issued a warning notice against Woodford, criticising his “defective and unreasonably narrow understanding” of liquidity risk management. Though his legal representatives contested these findings, the shadow of the WEIF collapse continues to loom large over his reputation.

The new service will offer three distinct strategies: an “all-rounder” combining income and growth, an “unstoppable trends” portfolio targeting high-growth sectors, and an “income booster” strategy promising yields exceeding 7%. Whilst subscription costs remain undisclosed, the platform is offering preferential rates to the first 500 “founding members”.

Woodford’s previous fund, which peaked at £10 billion, suffered from ill-fated investments in companies including Purplebricks, Burford Capital, and Provident Financial. The subsequent unwinding of the fund by administrators resulted in significant losses for investors, making this new venture a bold attempt at redemption in the investment community.