LIVES
Wimbledon
FAMILY
Family Married with two young children, a puppy, a cat and a vocal African Grey parrot.
STARTED AT JM FINN
2004
FAVOURITE BOOK
Catch-22, Joseph Heller
HERO
Sir David Attenborough
PASSION
Spain for its vibrant colours, festivals, culture, food and wine, with a dash of horseracing and cricket.
MOST PROUD ACHIEVEMENT
Helping found Critical NHS, a charity helping front line NHS staff during the pandemic by sourcing meals from local
restaurants, generously supported by JM Finn.
FAVOURITE FILM
The Shawshank Redemption
What is your outlook for the UK market over the next few years?
I remain optimistic that a combination of excess savings, pent-up demand and a range of accommodative ‘laissez-faire’ government incentives should facilitate a robust recovery over the next few years absorbing the excess in the labour market as the furlough scheme ends. Rising cost pressures from supply chain issues and a reversal of temporary tax cuts could cause inflation to rise this year. However, inflationary pressures appear to be the result of a short-term rebound in prices and the spare capacity in the economy should see inflation moderate to pre-pandemic levels next year. The Catch-22 is the delicate task the Bank of England faces in unwinding stimulative polices and when to raise interest rates, which is likely to unsettle markets.
Are there particular areas of the global market that excite you at the moment?
Two themes that do excite me are in businesses tackling some of humanity’s biggest challenges; decarbonisation and healthcare. The sheer scale and benefit of renewable energy becoming mainstream and shifting to a low-carbon economy, coupled with the healthcare innovation surrounding gene editing and synthetic biology, are themes that could be the next beneficial revolutions to transform our societies.
What is your starting point when looking to invest in a company?
A disciplined approach to investment selection, seeking well-managed companies with long-term growth prospects, at valuations underpinned by strong fundamentals, is always a key starting point. These businesses typically have high barriers to entry and products or services that command pricing power. A client reminded me of Warren Buffett’s famous quote “only when the tide goes out, do you discover who is swimming naked” and if the uncertainty of the last 18 months has taught us anything, it is that companies with these attributes can adapt and endure even the most challenging of circumstances and still thrive.
In your view, what is more important for an investor to focus on, the investment portfolio or appropriately structured wealth?
With my investment management hat on, the investment portfolio for any client is the core focus for achieving their financial goal. However, I always encourage clients to review their financial situation regularly, such as making the most of tax efficient structures, establishing retirement goals and estate planning to protect them and their family; all key foundations to achieving their long-term financial goals. Investing is a lifelong process and every client’s investment cycle has different time horizons, objectives and risk tolerances that recalibrate along that journey. Having a tailored proposition that combines both the bespoke investment management of their portfolios and a personalised wealth planning service is integral to a successful long-term financial plan.
