W&F Issue 4 2018

www.wealthandfinance-news.com 32 Wealth & Finance International - Issue 4 2018 Founded in 1979, FACET has grown over the years as a discretionary fund manager offering a range of investment services. Recently, the firm has added a full wealth management division, which allows clients to invest in everything from direct equities to multi-asset portfolios whether it be bespoke portfolios or through investment in FACET’s three risk-managed open-ended funds. Christian explores how this growth has led the firm to provide the service that its clients, who range from individuals to corporations, need. “At FACET, we saw our expansion as something that would benefit a number of our existing clients, as well as opening up the potential for further growth. It is important to us that we continue to offer a personal service from managers who have been with the company for years. We have found that this approach complements the technical risk analysis that we carry out for all clients and, ultimately, underpins a strong relationship with clients to whom we can have honest and frank discussions about what they really want from their investments. “This is especially important at a time of increased and ever-changing regulation of the financial sector. Our industry has had to innovate and invest in new technology to keep up with, or get ahead of, increased regulation. Of course, having a full understanding our client’s attitude to risk is both necessary and desirable, but one notable change has been a marked pick-up in our number of corporate clients. The reasons for this vary, however, by far the most important factor is that Facet is able to offer a discretionary wealth management service. This is attractive for financial advisers who want to de-risk their business by outsourcing investment management to a firm, with the technology and expertise to look after their client portfolios in a fully compliant way in a regulated environment.” Looking to the future, the firm is dedicated to continuing to provide the service and solutions that its clients need, as Christian concludes. “Moving forward, 2018 will be an interesting year of consolidating on the significant growth already achieved and we will be looking for opportunities for further expansion in a fast-changing regulatory environment which we are well equipped to deal with. Indeed, our ongoing investment in systems is part of what makes our proposition attractive. “In addition, it is vitally important to use the experience of the investment management team both to manage the portfolios, given their risk parameters, but also to place an emphasis on wealth preservation during the current period of volatility as global markets come off recent highs. Wherever we look, distortions in asset prices resulting from the Great Financial Crisis are evident and persist even after recent movements. We are conscious of the influence of central bank policy which may ultimately dominate whilst the day-to-day business of managing money for growth and income goes on. “Therefore, it is clear that super-low interest rates have driven investment policy towards yielding assets and set up asymmetric risks between different asset classes. Getting the balance between asset classes occupies our thoughts more than trying to make short term investment calls, which are based on every twitch and turn in sentiment that’s driven by speculation over economic data, or geopolitical concerns that come and go as they always have. “Ultimately, at FACET, we want to continue to make good risk-weighted investment returns for our clients and ensure that we keep them informed about what we’re doing and thinking. This is Friendly, Accessible and Professional Service FACET is a Crawley based fund manager offering a range of investment opportunities to its valued clients. We spoke to Director, Christian Holland to learn more about the successful company. 1804WF07 Company: FACET Contact: Christian Holland Address: 1-2 The Courtyard, East Park, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 6AG, UK Phone: 01293 590066 Website: www.facetonline.co.uk especially true when we make significant changes which, generally speaking, we have been right not to make as we work with our partners and clients in an increasingly uncertain world that is changing as fast as we are.”