Private Client Services

• Discretionary Portfolio Management for individuals and trustees
• Advisory Portfolio Management
• Investment Management for charities and pension funds
• PEP and ISA Management
• Stockbroking
• Cash Management
• Nominee and Custody
• Tax Compliance and Advice

Creating your portfolio

The approach is structured but also flexible. We will discuss classes of asset, geographical areas and specific industry sectors in which to invest before engaging on our stock selection process. We can exploit our ability to act quickly and decisively to seize the opportunities for superior investment performance and protection against stock market volatility.

Where the available capital justifies it, we will usually construct a portfolio incorporating both collective funds and individual equities. The smaller the portfolio, the higher the proportion of the capital we would invest through collective funds, for diversification and risk minimisation purposes. We also use collectives to achieve diversification on a geographical basis, or to invest in specific asset classes such as corporate bonds, as well as on a market sector basis to provide exposure to smaller companies.

All our investment managers work in groups that provide support to other members of the team. This means we can provide consistency and high quality service, as there will always be a member of your team who is conversant with your portfolio and available to provide any assistance you might need.

Measuring performance

Although institutional investors usually compare their investment performance against that of the major stock market indices, we believe that the vast majority of private investors and trustees are looking to make absolute returns. Relative 'out-performance' is no substitute for absolute under-performance.

While we are benchmark aware, we are not benchmark driven. Consequently, we are not 'closet indexers', sticking  persistently to market sector average weightings and afraid to hold significant amounts of cash in portfolios for any length of time. If we believe it is in your best interest to be underweight or overweight in any particular asset class or stock sector, we will adjust your portfolio content accordingly.

Reporting and Administration

Discretionary investment management eases the administrative burden by eliminating time consuming paperwork in what is now, more than ever, a very high regulated business. Our administration team has experienced professionals who are justifiably proud of the quality and accuracy of our reporting systems.

We provide a full nominee service that holds stock on behalf of clients, coupled with cash management accounts to ensure quick and efficient stock settlement and administration of corporate events relating to client portfolios. Dividends and interest payments are paid into your cash management account, which will also hold your un-invested cash, pending re-investment.

As part of our service, we produce formal six-monthly reports to keep you fully informed about the progress and structure of your portfolio. Naturally, valuations are available at any time on request. Whenever we transact business on your behalf, we write to you with the contract note explaining what has been done and why.

In addition at the end of each fiscal year we issue a detailed report that includes:

• A consolidated dividend and interest statement and tax voucher
• Details of all transactions over the course of the year
• Cash movement schedule

Capital gains tax schedules can also be provided on a free basis for managed clients, subject to our having the necessary information regarding acquisition dates and costs.

Our investment managers will take the time to meet you and personally review the report whenever you wish to do so. Indeed, we are always happy to see clients and actively encourage clients to talk to us or seek a meeting, either at our office or your home, on a regular basis.