Edinburgh Programme
Conference Chair: John Lappin, Freelance Journalist, Editor and Consultant
This time it really might be different!
"History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme.”
Investors and their advisors are facing some of the fastest changing themes in financial markets for many years, with inflation at multi decade highs, increased market volatility and geopolitics continuing to cause uncertainty. When combined with new regulations in the shape of SDR and fund labelling for ESG & responsible investing and the new Consumer Duty regulations, advisors may feel overwhelmed. This presentation will look at some of these themes and factors, and what the Square Mile team focus on when analysing funds
By the end of this session, delegates will be able to:
- Summarise what new regulations will mean for their clients
- Explain how ESG & Responsible Investing are evolving and their importance to fund management groups
- Identify some of the macro influences on current financial markets
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Identify what factors are important to consider when researching funds
Why an active multi-asset approach for emerging markets?
The opportunity set in emerging markets is vast and complex. An emerging markets multi asset fund offers investors exposure to emerging market growth opportunities without the complexity of choosing how, when and where to best allocate within emerging markets.
By the end of this session, delegates will be able to:
- Explain how the dispersion of returns in EMs provides active investors with the opportunity to add value
- Discuss improving diversification within a portfolio by investing across the EM capital structure and fully utilising the range of investment tools available
- Identify opportunities across emerging markets while controlling the risk
Onshore Investment Bonds... So much more than an Investment Wrapper
The importance of asset allocation in achieving risk managed investment returns for clients is well known. In this session we will also look at the importance of the use of tax effective wrappers in preparing clients financial plans with a particular focus on the relevance of the Onshore Investment Bond. We will explore how with the use of Trusts it can evolve as clients and their families move through their investment life stages.
By the end of this session, delegates will be able to:
- Describe the importance of maximising tax effective investments and wrappers in your clients financial plans
- Explain what a Trust is and the differences between Absolute and Discretionary Trusts
- Identify the ways that an Onshore Bond can be used to meet the evolving requirements of clients and their families
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Summarise the place of Onshore Bonds for fulfilling the Investment, Income and Inheritance Planning needs of clients
- Identify where we are in the inflationary cycle and how far we are from peak inflation.
- Explain the relationship between interest rates and inflation
- Describe the historical impact of rising interest rates on M&A activity.
Chair: John Lappin, Freelance Journalist, Editor and Consultant
Your Investment Process - 10 ideas in 10 minutes
Using examples of best practice from leading advice firms, we take a look at 10 hints and tips for making the investment supply chain work for advisers and their clients, focusing on inspiring the best outcomes for the end consumer, covering everything from process design to technology and all things in between. 10 minutes? Challenge accepted.
By the end of this session, delegates will be able to:
- Identify best practice in the research and selection of investment solutions designed to meet client objectives and goals
- Explain the key differences in creating asset allocations for Growth and Income
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Identify areas for development in client proposition or advice process
Risk in the real world
We have long worried about the risks facing investors in traditional stock and bond allocations. After years of trending markets and crowded trades, 2022 has posed many big macro questions. Now, these trends of past decades have begun to turn like boomerangs. Amid heightened volatility, the case for active, contrarian investing has rarely looked more necessary. Valuation gaps within markets remain wide, creating ample opportunities for bottom-up investors. Using examples from the Orbis Global Balanced Fund, we will discuss some of the attractive opportunities we have found to mitigate real-world risks by investing in undervalued, real-world companies.
By the end of this session, delegates will be able to:
- List the persistent risks facing traditional multi-asset portfolios
- Explain the relationship between real-world uncertainty, investor fear, and asset valuations
- Identify real-world drivers of recessions and stockmarket sell-offs
- Define the difference between share price and company performance
Vanguard SustainableLife: Helping advisers rise to the sustainability challenge
It can be a challenge to build sustainability into a client’s portfolio whilst also maintaining balance and achieving low cost. Join us to find out why Vanguard works with Wellington, a leader in sustainable investing, and who we have worked with since 1975, to deliver the Vanguard SustainableLife fund range. Our new range of active multi-asset funds maintains a balanced and low-cost approach to investing whilst achieving four pillars of sustainability including a commitment to science-based net-zero goals.
- Describe Vanguards framework for selecting an ESG manager and how it splits into drivers and outcomes of outperformance
- Describe the importance of balance and low cost in helping clients to achieve their investment goals
- Explain why deep research into ESG can create balanced outcomes for investors
Chair: John Lappin, Freelance Journalist, Editor and Consultant
HEADING
"SUB-HEADING”
SESSION SYNOPSIS
By the end of this session, delegates will be able to:
- LEARNING OBJECTIVE ONE
- LEARNING OBJECTIVE TWO
- LEARNING OBJECTIVE THREE
- LEARNING OBJECTIVE FOUR