Newsletter – February 2012
In this edition, we feature articles written by Bruce Weatherill examining the ‘Value of Trust’ (downloadable report), also the Gold Council, where the MD of Investments describes the continuing allure of this precious metal, and Alastair Wood, our very own in-house HR expert offers seasonal advice about dealing with malingering staff in the aptly named ‘Sick of the Sickie’.
We are working on several very interesting searches so please help to keep our database up to date by sending us your latest news and contact details so we know where to find you!
Mark Somers and Adrian Laycock, Partners
The Value of Trust
The Credit Crunch triggered an almost catastrophic loss of trust in the financial services industry to which the Wealth Management sector was not immune. Indeed, given that gaining “Trusted Advisor” status has long been the Holy Grail of Wealth Managers such loss was in many ways even more serious and threatened the very core of their business. Read more …
Sick of the Sickie? How to Improve Attendance
As winter tightens its grip, so the number of absences from the workplace inevitably increases. Most absences are genuine but some are not. The short days, cold damp mornings and general gloominess that envelops Britain from November to March often induce the less committed of the workforce to take a “duvet day”. Read more …
Gold and Tails of the Unexpected
In terms of investment seasons, 2011 saw more than you would expect over several years. The year began with hope. After initially strong market performance early in the year, partly based on the expectation of a return to a more stable growth path for the US economy and resynchronised global economic growth, a number of events led to heightened levels of market volatility which have eroded both wealth and confidence. Read more …
New Year Newsletter – January 2012
Happy New Year to all our readers. We hope that you find this newsletter stimulating as it contains two articles challenging the status quo in the investment management industry and some tips about personal performance enhancement. With best wishes for a productive 2012.
Mark Somers and Adrian Laycock, Partners
The Truth About Investment
As a recruitment specialist in private banking (which largely means asset management), the Somers Partnership has to keep abreast of developments in investment thinking. Conversations with investment academia have revealed some worrying home truths which cut across much of the received wisdom of the asset management industry. Read more…..
Performance and the Parable of the Gym Member
You know what it’s like – 28th December, after 5 days on the pop and plate, thoughts turn to our new year’s resolutions. I am going to drop 10 kilos, I will run more, and drink less; I will do that paperwork on my desk and keep it to a minimum all year. Read more…….
ETF’s Can Seriously Increase Your Wealth
ETFs appear to be despised by the City, many of whom are lobbying profusely to have them restricted or even banned. In our view this is because they are the first major technological change since mutual funds were invented in the 1940s. They cut out whole layers of superfluous City costs and fees, thereby stacking the odds back in the investors’ favour. Read more…..
Autumn Newsletter – October 2011
Welcome to the first periodical publication for our friends connected with the Wealth Management industry.
Our aim is to share with you various thoughts, ideas and insights of topical interest within our sector in a concise format. Please browse through the subject headings; further detail can be found in the relevant link to each article.
We hope you will feel free to share this newsletter with your contacts and friends. Your comments and suggestions for future editions are most welcome.
Mark Somers and Adrian Laycock
Partners
A word or two about performance…
Ever since my days as a reluctant trainee accountant and an aspiring rugby player, the word performance has been a dominant presence in any group of people or organisations I have been with.…. Read more
Wealth managers can win new clients….
Wealth managers can enhance their opportunities to win new clients if they work with sophisticated consultants who understand the UHNW client space because they are in that space themselves. In other words, they are at ease with the new affluent and consequently, the new affluent are at ease with them. Read more….
How to avoid becoming an outlaw
Do you work for a private banking or wealth management organization with a head office outside the European Union? If so you should be aware that you should have in place proper controls before you send information about your UK or EU based employees to head office. This also applies to information on candidates whom you may be considering employing. The penalties for not doing so are contained in a number of European and UK employment laws. Read more …