Aberdeen Group, the FTSE 100 asset manager, has reported total assets under management and administration (AUMA) of £578.9 billion at the end of September, up 4% from £556 billion at the start of the year.
The increase was driven by positive markets and bolt-on acquisitions, though the group recorded modest net outflows of £300 million across the third quarter as a whole.
The standout performer was interactive investor, the DIY investment platform, which delivered third-quarter net inflows of £2.5 billion, up 32% year on year.
Year-to-date net inflows at interactive investor reached £9.3 billion, 58% ahead of the same period last year, with total customers rising 8% to 533,000.
Growth in self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) was particularly strong, with SIPP customer numbers up 34% year on year to 131,000.
The group's Adviser division continued to struggle, with net outflows of £700 million in the third quarter, unchanged from the second quarter.
Chief executive Jason Windsor acknowledged the return to net inflows in the Adviser business was taking longer than anticipated but said significant steps forward were being taken.
"The platform is performing well and we are confident the changes we are making will successfully position the business to meet the needs of the rapidly evolving IFA market," he said.
In the Investments division, the Institutional and Retail Wealth unit delivered net inflows of £1 billion excluding liquidity, with fixed income, real assets and alternatives all contributing positively.
Aberdeen sold half its stake in Standard Life, the life insurer, in early October, generating approximately £430 million, which it intends to deploy in line with its capital allocation policy.
The group plans to redeem £210 million of Additional Tier 1 debt at its first call date in December.
Aberdeen said it remains confident of meeting its full-year targets of adjusted operating profit of at least £300 million and net capital generation of approximately £300 million.
