The Wealth Show

Bryn Jones, head of fixed income at Rathbones discussed how he has managed his £2.5bn Ethical Bond fund under strenuous market conditions. The strategy, which the Citywire AA-rated manager runs alongside Noelle Cazalis, was launched almost 20 years ago, before the creation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Fidelity signed a partnership with fintech platform Moonfare and invested in the company in October. As part of the tie-up, Fidelity’s clients are able to access Moonfare’s platform, and therefore invest in private equity funds that are on there. Christian Staub, managing director for Europe at Fidelity, says client demand has been significant and for now they are targeting institutional investors in the UK and select countries in Europe, but the firm will open up the offering to others step by step. On the other hand, Moonfare has been on an accelerated growth path. Just last month the group expanded into Israel, Portugal and Sweden. In terms of products as well, CEO Steffen Pauls says the firm is looking at different options, such as securitisation, tokenisation and the European Long Term Investment fund, to bring private equity funds to retail investors.

Raymond James CEO Paul Reilly speaks about the firm’s £279m deal to buy Charles Stanley. Multimedia editor John Schaffer caught up with Paul last week at a restaurant in London where they also spoke about valuations in the UK wealth market. It’s worth noting that the conversation was recorded before RBC’s recent deal to buy Brewin Dolphin for £1.6bn.

Brooks Macdonald chief executive Andrew Shepherd has said his firm may have set over-ambitious goals for its switch to a new operating system. During a visit to Citywire Studios, Shepherd spoke about the delay in the transition to SS&C Technologies software, which increased the wealth firm’s costs, as it missed a late 2021 deadline to make the move.

In this episode YT Boon, manager of the Neuberger Berman 5G Connectivity fund, looks at the opportunities in this emerging sector, and explains why performance has been more challenging of late, even in comparison with other tech funds. It’s worth noting that this podcast was recorded becore Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February.

Christopher Johnson sat down with the author of Black and British: A Forgotten History and renowned broadcaster, David Olusoga OBE. Recorded at the Citywire Wealth Manager Conference & Awards, Olusoga discusses the legacies of the British Empire on the UK’s financial services industry, the importance of understanding these histories for Britain’s national identity and how the politicisation of race issues has not dampened the younger generation’s interest in exploring these topics.

Dame Helena Morrissey discussed the lack of diversity in the fund industry and how her initiative, The Diversity Project, aims to promote a new image of fund management that is representative of society at large. Morrissey experienced discrimination after being passed over for her first promotion following her maternity leave. Her manager clarified that although the company believed there was no doubt as to her performance, they doubted her commitment.

In this episode Michael Scott, manager of the Man GLG High Yield Opportunities fund, looks at which regions are offering the best rewards at the lower end of the debt market, He also speaks about some of the poorer quality issuances that have entered into the high yield space recently. It’s worth noting that this podcast was recorded before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week.

Kyra Motley, partner at law firm Boodle Hatfield, suggests the Investor Visa’s ‘dirty money’ reputation is unfair, and why the Home Office shouldn’t have temporarily scrapped the scheme last week.

Majedie fund manager Tom Morris talks about the Metaverse, and he is investing in the new wave of the internet. We also speak about how luxury brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Burberry are rolling out virtual products in these new digital spaces.

Stephen Yiu, manager of the Blue Whale Growth fund, spoke about his narrow escape from both Meta and PayPal’s dismal share price dips last week. At the end of June last year, Facebook was the third largest holding in Blue Whale Growth at 6.9%. However, Yiu said that he had been gradually lowering the holding during the second half of the year, and that before the firm’s results last week the holding was less than 1% of the portfolio.

Traditional asset managers have ramped up efforts to expand their private markets divisions, not only targeting institutions with their products but also leveraging their existing relationships with wealth managers and advisers to launch funds targeting this growing segment of customers. Schroders Capital has made sure that it is leading this trend. In this interview, Rainer Ender, head of private equity at Schroders Capital, talks about the asset manager’s product plans, how it will be in the first wave of managers using the UK’s Long-Term Asset Fund and why he’s not worried about returns coming down.