Investing your money

We want you to feel empowered and informed, so please don’t hesitate to ask us any questions  – we’re here to help you protect and grow your wealth.

Click the links below for more information on how we invest your money:

Our Investment Philosophy guides us in selecting the most appropriate portfolio for each individual customer.

•  Understanding risk is important
•  Matching your portfolio to your risk profile is essential
•  Asset allocation is the key to success
•  Diversification (not putting all your eggs in one basket) is a sound principle 
•  Funds are a cost effective way to access investments for many customers, though specialist managers may be appropriate for part of larger portfolios (typically over £500k).

We employ expert resources to carefully monitor and select skilled fund managers who research and choose the best investment funds/stocks available in the market for our portfolios.

Our investment process focuses on avoiding poor investment funds by emphasising asset allocation and cost, as they are reliable predictors of future returns.

We may utilise expert discretionary managers or manage portfolios ourselves, depending on the client’s needs and portfolio size (generally above £500,000 due to efficiency considerations).

We enhance our offering with independent expertise, such as Skandia’s Online Risk Profiling Tool, to assess risk

We utilise Skandia’s Risk Profiling Tool, which measures risk tolerance and publishes asset allocation data, enabling the creation of risk profiles ranging from 1 to appetite and capacity for loss.

Portfolios are selected based on the appropriate risk profile for each client and are regularly reviewed according to the agreed service level. 10. For clients with risk profiles of 8, 9, and 10, we engage in personalised discussions due to the high-risk level.

Funds are selected after thorough research and due diligence.

When considering suitable products and funds to meet clients’ objectives, their willingness to accept risk is a crucial factor.

There are three types of risk that clients should be aware of and understand:

1. Capital risk: The possibility of receiving less than the initial investment or losing previously gained profits.
2. Income risk: The chance that the income generated from investments may be lower than expected or needed.
3. Liquidity risk: The risk of not being able to access funds when needed.

Clients should also recognise that investments may not keep up with inflation, resulting in a decrease in real value over time.

To align our recommendations with clients’ risk tolerance, we utilise a risk profiler. It is advisable to review risk tolerance annually to ensure financial planning strategies remain in line with risk appetite.

We offer a model portfolio service designed to effectively manage your investments.

This service provides you with a choice of seven risk-rated portfolios, ranging from low to high risk, allowing you to select the one that aligns with your investment goals.

These portfolios are thoughtfully constructed using a range of investment tools, such as open-ended funds and passives, to ensure diversification across various asset classes and product types. This diversification provides flexibility for our investment managers to adapt to changing market conditions.

Our model portfolios are built upon a solid foundation of proprietary asset allocation frameworks and thorough fund research processes. This construction process involves a team of qualified investment experts and strategists who rigorously apply asset allocation constraints. This approach guarantees consistent exposure to underlying asset classes, while still allowing for an active management approach that responds to market dynamics.

To maintain the portfolios’ alignment with their intended risk profiles, we continuously monitor and manage them, ensuring that levels of volatility remain in line with your chosen investment strategy.

Wrap platforms or fund supermarkets, such as FundsNetwork, provide a cost-effective way for you to access tax wrappers like pensions and ISAs. They also reduce paperwork.

These platforms allow you to hold investments from multiple fund managers, and any switches can be made more efficiently.

You can conveniently view the value of your investments online, some even offering analysis of their performance.

Platforms enable us to manage your investment tax efficiently, including options like “Bed and ISA.”

Your investments are held by an independent custodian, providing an additional layer of security.

We carefully select the most suitable platform for your needs from a comprehensive market selection. Our decision is influenced by factors such as trading costs and availability of preferred investment solutions.

If we engage a discretionary manager, they are likely to use their own investment platform to oversee your portfolio, with reports and valuations typically provided on a quarterly basis.