Investment and Retirement Planning

In giving investment advice we go through the following process.

1. Understanding your existing circumstances

This involves learning about your personal and financial situation, including your tax position. An essential task at this stage is to identify your attitude to risk and investment preferences.

2. Establishing your objectives and requirements

These include the likely term of investment and income vs capital growth needs.

3. Choosing the appropriate investment vehicle(s)

There is a wide range of investment products available, including Individual Savings Accounts, Investment Bonds (onshore and offshore), Unit Trusts, Open Ended Investment Companies and various Pensions Plans. Tax efficiency is a major consideration in deciding on the right type of investment.

4. Applying an Asset Allocation model

Asset Allocation accounts for around 90% of a portfolio’s overall growth. The main asset classes are Cash, Fixed Interest Securities (these include Gilts and Corporate Bonds), Property and Equities. Some of our clients who are experienced investors also incorporate Alternative Investments into their portfolios, such as Hedge Funds and Life Settlements.

By diversifying your investment across a number of asset classes, that have low correlation to each other, you can significantly reduce your exposure to risk, while still enjoying the potential of strong growth over the medium to long term. We utilise a number of stochastic modelling tools and then use our judgement to come up with an appropriate mix of assets.