Making suitable, appropriate, competitive and tax efficient investment decisions is a key challenge for all investors. Decisions need to be made on a wide range of issues including:
- Amount to invest
- Choice of contract
- Choice of contract provider
- Appropriate level of risk
- Possibly balancing the need for income and capital growth
- Selection of individual funds
Once an investment is established these issues then need to be reviewed and potentially amended on an ongoing basis, not only in light of the investor’s objectives, but also to ensure the existing selections remain good choices. Thus, there can seem a bewildering range of investment decisions that need to be made and continually reviewed, which can be daunting.
For Trustees and Attorneys who are responsible for managing the funds of their clients, the challenge of ensuring correct investments are made and maintained month on month, year on year is even more burdensome.
Wingate can lift this burden. Our discretionary investment portfolios are an ideal way that Trustees and Attorneys can ensure they meet their professional obligations at outset and on an ongoing basis.
When considering an initial investment our Financial Planners will be able to specifically recommend the choice of contract and provider and will discuss and agree the appropriate level of risk and need for growth and/or income.
We can then make a recommendation from one of our discretionary investment portfolios. We have 15 separate portfolios, each of which are slightly different to take account of varying wishes and objectives, for example:
- The appropriate level of risk
- The suitable investment strategy, e.g. active or passive management
- The need for growth and/or income
All of these portfolios are established on a discretionary basis. This means Wingate regularly review the underlying investments held to ensure that those funds remain appropriate and competitive and, importantly, make whatever changes are necessary to ensure they remain so. We issue a quarterly report which provides an update on the investment including any actions we have taken during the quarter.
Our discretionary portfolios are managed by the Wingate Investment Committee, however, they have appointed a third-party investment research company. This company provides valuable research and opinion to assist in the management of the portfolios.
In addition to this, Wingate’s services include an annual review which helps to further relieve the ‘burden’. This includes a discussion around the points highlighted above to ensure the investment remains appropriate.
The outcome for Trustees and Attorneys who are taking on the professional responsibility and liability of managing their clients’ funds can rest assured that they have delegated this responsibility to Wingate, a firm of professional chartered financial planners specialising in the discretionary management of clients’ funds.
