LIVES
Greenwich
FAMILY
Married
STARTED AT JM FINN
2012
FAVOURITE BOOK
So many but at the moment Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
HERO
My Mother
PASSION
Photography & Travel
NEXT HOLIDAY
Jersey
MOST PROUD ACHIEVEMENT
Being an Investment Manager
FAVOURITE FILM
Gladiator
FAVOURITE LOCKDOWN MOMENT
Cycling from Greenwich to Buckingham Palace with no cars around
FAVOURITE KARAOKE SONG
Mr Brightside by The Killers
With many themes and issues in play, from supply chains to inflation to the pandemic, how are you looking to position portfolios to protect your clients’ wealth?
It is a dangerous game to try and predict the near future so we ensure our clients’ portfolios are well diversified with a bias towards structural themes. With inflation on the rise, I have tilted clients’ allocation to inflation linked investments like infrastructure and property; such investments are underpinned by real assets whilst offering attractive inflation linked income yields. In equities, I have positioned portfolios to include a spread of companies which have demonstrated pricing power over a multi-year period and have consequently been able to pass through cost inflation and protect margins. Additionally, I have kept an eye to the future with technology companies such as Microsoft, which are established businesses but still have growth ahead of them.
Are there any areas of the market you are excited for their growth prospects?
As a long term investor, the most exciting broad investment themes remain: 1) the advancement of technology, 2) healthcare, 3) sustainable investments and 4) changing demographics. These have been enduring trends but there are a number of sub-themes which we use to build a diversified portfolio. As an example, I hold ASML, the world’s leading manufacturer of lithography systems, which supplies tools to the top microchip manufacturers who are central to the technology we depend on today. Given the importance of microchips, ASML is a company which can be seen as central to many themes including AI, robotics and autonomous vehicles. Another good example would be producers of green energy through wind and solar farms which we have had exposure to long before recent market interest.
What do you see as your client’s primary challenges for their wealth?
The biggest challenge for most of our clients is how to balance between having sufficient funds to feel secure, meet taxation requirements and also pass on to their loved ones. Thankfully, we have a great Wealth Planning team who can help our clients optimise their investments. I am a proud manager to multiple generations of clients and as a firm, we have been able to help them throughout their requirements for education, house deposits, promotions, retirement planning and estate planning. We are privileged to be a trusted adviser for those moments.
Having recently received an industry award, what do you feel are the important qualities for an investment manager?
No one day is the same for an Investment Manager so it’s important to embrace change and adapt, which translates to a passion for learning and problem solving. It is paramount to me that I treat every client as an individual, and to listen and communicate with them in a way which is focused on their needs. In a world where technology improves access and efficiency, it can also reduce the personal service; our clients still appreciate having an approachable Investment Manager to help them through their financial needs. It’s rewarding for me when I am able to deliver both performance and a high level of service.
