Investment Management

With so many investment choices available to investors, from OEICs, unit trusts, investment trusts and Exchange Traded Funds narrowing the options can be confusing; it is important to have a structured approach to investment management whatever your investment philosophy.

Wessex Investment Management does not have a preference for investment style or bias towards active or passive investments rather we focus on what matters to you. Our sustainable investment strategies are built upon a “Core + Satellite” approach combining the best of both active and passive investments by adopting the same guiding principles which are evidence based and supported by academic studies. Our key beliefs are:

1. Markets work

2. Risk and return are related. The greater the risk, the higher the potential return. It is certainly possible to outperform markets, but only by accepting increased risk. However, not all risks are worth taking. It is important to understand the differing risks that can affect your investments and seeking to minimise risk wherever possible can aid long-term return.

3. Risk and volatility are not the same. Many refer to risk but are actually referring to volatility; the amount and frequency with which an investment rises and falls.

4. Asset Allocation. The dominant contributor to portfolio performance is the relative exposure of capital to the various asset classes (the mix between equities, bonds and property from different countries around the world) rather than the individual shares or bonds in a portfolio or the impact of timing purchases and sales – so we focus on getting your portfolio asset allocation right for you. Use of strategic asset allocation, together with careful rebalancing, is likely to be more rewarding than speculative strategies such as market timing or tactical asset allocation.

5. Diversification is crucial as it allows us to minimise risk. Diversification lowers volatility (the ups and downs) for a given expected return and helps to preserve wealth over time.

6. Time in the market. We believe it is important to understand that investing is not a short-term exercise. We do not believe it is possible to “time” the market. Remaining invested throughout the ups and downs of the market and focussing on your financial objectives, is in our view, likely to be a more rewarding exercise than trying to make predictions about when to dip in and out.

7. Rational Investing allows us to ignore the constant noise from the markets and the media which at times can be deafening. We are often approached to consider the next “great idea.” There is no ‘free lunch’. The alternatives in vogue to traditional asset classes tend to either increase costs, increase risk or both! We ignore this noise as paying too much attention to it leads to emotional decisions which are usually poor investment decisions!

8. Costs and Taxes Matter. They have a large impact on portfolio values over time. Lower investment cost strategies combined with effective use of the various tax wrappers and personal allowances will lower costs and increase the efficiencies of investments.

9. Regular Reviews are the best way to ensure your investment portfolio remains appropriate for your needs and that your financial objectives will be met over the long term.

10. Sustainable Investing. Investing for the good of the planet whilst seeking to maximise returns for yourself are not mutually exclusive priorities. Whether you want to incorporate an ethical, socially responsible or environmental, social and governance (ESG) approach to your investments, our strategies will embody the UN’s Social Development Goals to help you achieve your financial objectives.

Combining our investment philosophy and robust processes we will work with you to define and agree your investment objectives and determine an appropriate strategy and construct an investment portfolio to satisfy your particular requirements.  In doing so, we will:

▪ Agree your financial objective(s), whether it is for capital growth, income or a combination of both.
▪ Agree the timescales for investments to be held.
▪ Determine the level of return anticipated over the long-term.
▪ Identify your attitude to risk and capacity for loss.
▪ Identify an appropriate balance between risk and return.
▪ Consider asset allocation, correlation and diversification.
▪ Ascertain how best to own and control investments.
▪ Ensure appropriate tax-efficient investment.
▪ Determine suitable benchmarks for comparisons.

The value of investments and the income derived from them may go down as well as up, and you may not get back the amount originally invested.