How long have you worked in fund selection, and what do you enjoy most about the role?
I have worked in the role for the last three years, having joined the bank to create their private banking and wealth management capabilities and distribution processes. With my experience of working on the other side of the fence (buy-side sales) for over a decade, I continue to enjoy the networking and global insights that come with the role, in addition to the challenge of finding managers with unique strategies that can show us as a key differentiator in the market. For example, did you know that independent US post offices are an investible asset?
Are there any product gaps in your current offering that you are looking to address in 2026? Why are you looking to add exposure to these investment sectors?
Having built the business two years ago, we began our product offering in a very conventional way, ensuring we first had liquid mutual funds that are well aligned with client demand. We are now planning to research alternatives within the private credit space, as well as private real estate. We see good opportunities for uncorrelated yield extraction from such opportunities. However, we are not willing to fully sacrifice liquidity for this, thus alternative products with some component of liquidity are most attractive to us.
Private markets have seen increased allocations in the wealth space over the past year. How have you expanded your private markets offering, and in which sectors? How has this asset class been received by end clients?
As mentioned, we do see good opportunity and demand in private markets and will be looking into private credit direct lending, as well as real estate & land development opportunities. Client demand for private assets is often driven by a need for diversification and uncorrelation from conventional capital markets.
Looking ahead to 2026, which key asset allocation calls do you expect to be rewarded, and why?
We are constructive on equities, with the US and selected European markets the focus. Exposure to quality growth, with underlying portfolio companies that have healthy balance sheets and a clear moat, will continue to reward clients. We will also continue to consolidate our bond exposure, where attractive yields will remain, despite anticipated lower interest rates. Here, the focus is more on the “belly” of the yield curve – with maturities of between five to six years.
What is the best book you have read in the past year, and what did you enjoy most about it?
Change your Paradigm, Change your Life by Bob Proctor. The book explores the strength of the human conscious and sub-conscious mind, showing how the laws of attraction and imagination can help one achieve unlimited abundance in life.The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham. Safe to say this book needs no introduction but it is one that is read in samples again and again. The emotion behind investment decisions, the analysis and patience required – as well as the focus on value investing, fascinates me.