About our investment approach

Whether you come to us directly or through a professional adviser, your investment manager will first need to establish your circumstances and requirements. Direct contact with the person who will be responsible for managing your money is a vital part of this process.

He or she will need to understand your overall level of wealth, lifestyle, time horizon and tax affairs as well as any liabilities you may have. You may be a new investor or wish to transfer an existing portfolio from another investment company. This may also be a good opportunity to consolidate your investments, including ISAs, under a single investment strategy.

Once we understand your situation and objectives, using our investment process , we will propose an investment strategy that reflects your individual circumstances and objectives. If you agree with the strategy, we will go ahead and construct your portfolio.

Managing your portfolio

We will actively manage your portfolio to ensure it remains appropriate for the ever-changing conditions in the global economy and financial markets. Your investment manager will also be responsible for making any adjustments if your personal situation or objectives change.

A diversified investment strategy (sometimes called a “balanced portfolio” or “multi-asset portfolio”) that combines different assets can be one of the best ways to preserve and enhance wealth over the long term. This approach can provide exposure to a wide set of investment opportunities and reduce losses when market conditions are challenging.

Typically, different assets react to conditions in the underlying economy and financial markets in different ways. For example, government bond yields usually rise (and prices fall) if the economy is strong and interest rate increases are on the horizon. Meanwhile, equities, commodities and commercial property tend to suffer when economic conditions are deteriorating.

The performance of asset classes and the relationship between them can also be affected by other factors, including central bank monetary policies, regulatory changes and the political climate as well as investor sentiment. Building diversified portfolios and monitoring the investment environment is a complex process that requires extensive resources and expertise.