The first month of a new year ended as a disappointment for the average U.K. investor, especially as a contrast to the widespread excitable returns seen in the last two months of 2020. However, the month of January alone rarely gives us every answer and the unique nature of both the U.K. market alone and collectively the entire world has a wide range of potential outcomes.
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Asset allocation decisions are more important than ever in the current environment. A year ago Andy Butcher spoke with Citywire publication, New Model Adviser about how we construct portfolios. New Model Adviser invited Andy back to their latest asset allocation roundtable before Christmas to discuss the past year, and how things have changed on the asset allocation front as we move into 2021. The transcript can be accessed below.
Asset Allocation Adviser Roundtable
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We wish you a safe, healthy, and prosperous New Year! These words are even more meaningful given the most deadly and economically crippling ‘Black Swan’ event that we have experienced in the last century—COVID-19. After unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimulus, the record-setting development of multiple effective vaccines has elevated optimism that we will experience the ‘thrill of victory’ over this nemesis in the upcoming year.
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The curtain is slowly coming down on 2020. Not before time! After what has been a tumultuous period for most, and a tragedy for many, the time to turn the page and move on is slowly arriving. Centre stage, the principal actors are going through their closing lines. Following the US elections, the leading actor refuses to go quietly into the night. Legal actions lie strewn about like discarded party poppers…
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After a rough, tough performance month in the pan-European equity markets, the instinct is always to look away from the detailed data and conclude in a world of tightening pandemic restrictions and an imminent (and hotly contested) American presidential election, that uncertainty must induce investment caution.
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This October marks 80 years since the opening of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, America’s first highway. Highways have been a critical driver of economic growth due to the connectivity, speed, and efficiency they provide. As Confucius so appropriately stated, “roads were made for journeys, not destinations.”
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Obtaining feedback from our clients is an important part of our business as it ensures we continue to provide the service our clients are seeking and don’t let things slip.
Our latest survey was conducted at the height of the market mayhem in March, where portfolios were being tested and communication with clients was essential. At times where markets are plummeting, clients need to know they can trust us to look after their money and make the right decisions. We also need to be available to speak to at any time as its obviously concerning watching markets around the world fall relentlessly. It is at times of stress where any cracks in our proposition will be exposed.
Thankfully, the survey results confirmed our commitment to providing a personal service built on trust, clear communication, and our expertise as financial planners and wealth managers.
We are pleased to report that of the 15 respondents, there was 100% overall satisfaction with our services and 100% of respondents would be happy to recommend our services to their friends and colleagues.
The survey also highlighted what matters most to our clients. Honesty and trust was the most important factor, followed by our knowledge and expertise. We scored 100% client satisfaction on both these metrics. This is important to us, as these metrics are fundamental to our proposition. Trust and expertise are hard to obtain, but very easy to lose without continued hard work.
Finally, many of our clients also deal with wealth managers or advisers at other firms as well as Raymond James, John Street. We asked these clients if they receive a better service from us, the same, or a better service from other companies they deal with. 100% of respondents said they receive a better service from us, which is reassuring.
Thank you to all our clients who responded in March. This year’s survey results are encouraging, but we will not to rest on our laurels. We continue to work to provide the best service possible for our clients and encourage further feedback from those who did not, or were unable to complete the survey in March.
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The traditional early September think piece centres on the natural reset that a generalised return to work (and for the younger generation, school) brings after the typically languid summer holiday period. As 2020 is clearly a very different style of year, let us rip up the normal script and ask the simpler question of ‘does the world feel lucky?’
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Inflation is always a big concern when managing money for our clients. The impact of higher or lower inflation on different assets classes can be significant, so it is always a data point we pay close attention to.
The impact of the Coronavirus has dampened inflation expectations as demand has been significantly reduced by global lockdowns. However, monetary and fiscal stimulus in response to the global pandemic has been unprecedented, so does this present an impending inflation problem?
Andy Butcher spoke to Will Robins of the New Model Adviser on the topic of inflation, noting that while the short term outlook may be for lower inflation, as we look further out we need to be wary of its return.
The article can be accessed here.
If you would like to speak to us about our investment strategy, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Financial markets are always a three-dimensional jigsaw, with new pieces being added and deleted at whim every business day. But the signals from the last month have been especially difficult to discern. In contrast to the bounce back second quarter, July was a negative month for pan-European markets with the U.K. continuing to lag.
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