The Asset Allocator Podcast

This week Tara Fitzpatrick, multi-asset portfolio manager at Schroders, joins funds correspondent Joseph Wilkins and contributing editor David Thorpe to discuss how her team have reacted to the relative weakness of the dollar in 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gene Salerno, chief investment officer for UBP UK, joins Asset Allocator's Joseph Wilkins and David Thorpe to discuss global markets, and in particular why US equities may deserve another look. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The latest episode of the Asset Allocator podcast features hosts Jospeh Wilkins and David Thorpe discussing where value might be found in equity markets with Chelsea Financial Services managing director Darius McDermott, who reveals the market he thinks is the only cheap one left. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quilter portfolio manager Sacha Chorley sat down with Asset Allocator contributing editor David Thorpe to discuss the firm's relative unqiue way of gaining alternatives exposure, the role of derivatives in asset allocation and where they are finding opportunities during the present volatile market conditions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rob Burdett, an industry veteran who is currently head of multi-manager investments UK at Nedgroup, joins Asset Allocator contributing editor David Thorpe to discuss why he prefers investing into mandates run by boutique fund houses, rather than with industry giants.He also discusses the changing nature of wealth management and the focus on pre-set rules, such as the requirements many investors have that a fund must have a three-year track record before they can own it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Downing’s Simon Evan-Cook tells the latest edition of the Asset Allocator podcast that he has just 30 per cent of the capital he manages in US funds, and reveals the reasons why. That is less than half the weighting of the US market in the global benchmark, and he admits it leaves many "aghast".He also reveals the role cash and bonds play in his portfolios at a time of heightened market stress. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rob Starkey, multi-asset investor at PortfolioMetrix, joins the latest edition of the Asset Allocator podcast to give his take on the different elements to consider when choosing index funds, ranging from cost to tracking error. He also revealed what he looks for when choosing actively managed funds, and the sell discipline he deploys when a fund is not meeting expectations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The market turbulence of this year could mean actively managed funds come back into fashion, says David Aujla, multi-asset portfolio manager at Invesco, on the latest edition of the Asset Allocator podcast. Aujla says that for many years an investor who simply owned a US equity tracker fund would have achieved good returns, but in his view the dominance of the magnificent seven group of stocks means diversification is an issue for passive investors. He also discusses his exposure to smaller companies, and to fixed income assets.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Ben Kumar, head of equity strategy at 7IM, joins David Thorpe and Joseph Wilkins to explain why 7IM sold out their healthcare exposure and which themes they are backing now. They also discuss how he’s approaching dollar weakness and what UK banking stocks can tell us about crypto as an investment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite what may seem like Donald Trump’s best attempts, the S&P 500 continues to rise ever upwards.This week Dave Baxter and Joseph Wilkins talk to Ernst Knacke, head of investment research at Shard Capital, about whether it’s continued rise is justified or whether the markets are missing something.The Asset Allocator Podcast is a weekly series aimed at discretionary fund managers, fund selectors and wealth managers, providing insight into the issues that drive investment decisions.To receive the Asset Allocator email in your inbox for free, sign up here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week saw the launch of Shard Capital's 'permanent portfolios' which shun the traditional 60:40 model to create a proposition to protect against major drawdowns that could result from macroeconomic and geopolitical turmoil.Dave Baxter and Joseph Wilkins discuss these portfolios and whether it is possible to create a single solution which rides out every bump.They also discuss whether increased volatility is something investors will just have to learn to live with, reflecting on recent commentary in Asset Allocator by historian Russell NapierThe Asset Allocator Podcast is a weekly series aimed at discretionary fund managers, fund selectors and wealth managers, providing insight into the issues that drive investment decisions.To receive the Asset Allocator email in your inbox for free, sign up here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever since Donald Trump announced he was "reforming" the US approach to trade, the question of whether the American equities and government bonds will continue to hold their pre-eminent position has been hotly debated.This week Joseph Wilkins, David Thorpe and Damian Fantato discuss the extent to which allocators are moving away from the US.They also discuss the state of the wealth management sector in light of some new research by Platforum which suggests not all is as rosey as it could be, and they discuss the rising price of gold and silver.The Asset Allocator Podcast is a weekly series aimed at discretionary fund managers, fund selectors and wealth managers, providing insight into the issues that drive investment decisions.To receive the Asset Allocator email in your inbox for free, sign up here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A lot of focus recently has been on the pros and cons of equal-weight exposure but other factors are available, such as minimum volatility, momentum and value.This week David Thorpe and Joseph Wilkins are joined by William Marshall, chief investment officer of Hymans Robertson Investment Services, to discuss why he is keen on factor investing and how he uses it.They also discuss the recent volatility seen in the fixed income market and whether alternative options exist. And they discuss the continued dominance of US equities at the expense of other regions.The Asset Allocator Podcast is a weekly series aimed at discretionary fund managers, fund selectors and wealth managers, providing insight into the issues that drive investment decisions.To receive the Asset Allocator email in your inbox for free, sign up here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Typically, fiscal and monetary policy is counter cyclical but in recent years this appears to have changed, most prominently in the US fiscal policy. This is complicating monetary policy and the task of running portfolios.This week David Thorpe and Joseph Wilkins are joined by Peter Dalgliesh, chief investment officer at Parmenion, to discuss how this is affecting his portfolios and how it is affecting the value and growth styles of investing.They also discuss seeking downside protection, valuations and whether US markets have reached some sort of new normal.The Asset Allocator Podcast is a weekly series aimed at discretionary fund managers, fund selectors and wealth managers, providing insight into the issues that drive investment decisions.To receive the Asset Allocator email in your inbox for free, sign up here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2011 the Federal Reserve stopped issuing 30-year bonds to "twist" the maturity profile and reduce the nominal value of US debt.This week we're joined by Henry Cobbe, the founder and head of research at Elston Consulting, who has recently written a white paper calling for a British version of what became known as "operation twist".David Thorpe and Joseph Wilkins discuss how he thinks retail investors can be incentivised to "step in where pension schemes are stepping out".They also discuss the rising price of gold and the current state of the ESG portfolio management market, based on Henry's consulting work with financial advice firms.The Asset Allocator Podcast is a weekly series aimed at discretionary fund managers, fund selectors and wealth managers, providing insight into the issues that drive investment decisions.To receive the Asset Allocator email in your inbox for free, sign up here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At times it might seem like Donald Trump's campaign slogan was actually "make markets volatile again". If so, he seems to have succeeded.This week David Thorpe and Joseph Wilkins are joined by Nathan Sweeney, chief investment officer of multi-asset solutions at Marlborough.They discuss navigating Donald Trump's role in the markets, why he's been adding to the US and Japan and the search for protection from volatility.The Asset Allocator Podcast is a weekly series aimed at discretionary fund managers, fund selectors and wealth managers, providing insight into the issues that drive investment decisions.To receive the Asset Allocator email in your inbox for free, sign up here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comparing the performance of model portfolio solutions can sometimes be a challenge, given the difference risk levels and approaches across the market.This week David Thorpe and Joseph Wilkins discuss the trials and tribulations of achieving this, given Arc's recent decision to launch a performance index.They also discuss SDR labelling regulations and the FCA's decision to pause these for portfolio managers, and the recent recovery of a poor performing fund.The Asset Allocator Podcast is a weekly series aimed at discretionary fund managers, fund selectors and wealth managers, providing insight into the issues that drive investment decisions.To receive the Asset Allocator email in your inbox for free, sign up here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are many ways to skin a cat, and even more ways to run a model portfolio service.This week Ash Weston, head of MPS at 8AM Global, joined David Thorpe and Joseph Wilkins to offer his take on some of the issues facing MPS providers.They discuss the pros and cons of investment committees, risk-variable portfolios and the tight margins in the multi-manager space.The Asset Allocator Podcast is a weekly series aimed at discretionary fund managers, fund selectors and wealth managers, providing insight into the issues that drive investment decisions.To receive the Asset Allocator email in your inbox for free, sign up here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Markets have been in a tetchy state ever since Donald Trump announced he was launching a trade war with the entire planet (or maybe not as it later turned out).This week David Thorpe and Joseph Wilkins are joined by Julien Dauchez, head of portfolio consulting at Natixis, to discuss whether it's possible to diversify away from the noise during a particularly volatile period.They also discuss why markets are particularly sensitive to geopolitical risk at the moment and whether Treasuries are still the safe haven asset we all thought they were.The Asset Allocator Podcast is a weekly series aimed at discretionary fund managers, fund selectors and wealth managers, providing insight into the issues that drive investment decisions.To receive the Asset Allocator email in your inbox for free, sign up here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump's policy decisions continue to reverberate through markets as he decides whether or not to fire Fed chair Jerome Powell.This week David Thorpe and Joseph Wilkins are joined by Eleanor Ingilby, head of high net worth clients at Atomos, to discuss her thoughts on the US market, managing volatility and why she recently upped her exposure to the UK equity market. They also discuss her fixed income exposure and balancing yield with capital appreciation for income investing clients.The Asset Allocator Podcast is a weekly series aimed at discretionary fund managers, fund selectors and wealth managers, providing insight into the issues that drive investment decisions.To receive the Asset Allocator email in your inbox for free, sign up here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.