Our investment philosophy
We believe that investment decisions should be guided by the wealth of evidence available to us. We define a successful investment experience as one where our clients can sleep soundly at night, have a strong chance of achieving their future goals, and both understand and believe in the investment journey they are taking.
Our core beliefs
1. Markets work effectively
The market mechanism for pricing financial assets does so in a broadly efficient and fair manner, based on supply and demand, as in any market. We expect that the price of a companyā€™s shares should closely reflect all the information known about it, at any point in time.
2. Risk and reward go hand-in-hand
There are few free lunches in investing. If a client needs a higher rate of return to achieve their financial goals, they will, inescapably, need to take on a higher level of risk in their portfolio. We also believe that if an investment looks too good to be true, it probably is.
3. Diversification is crucial
Not putting all your eggs in one basket is an intuitive and valuable concept. We use diversification broadly in client portfolios, spreading risks across individual securities (equities and bonds), geography and by investment type.
Our practical principles
1. Structure a successful client portfolio
Building the right portfolio structure for a client is the central focus of our process. Our role is to fully understand the risks that we are happy for our clients to take and to combine them in a way that delivers them with a strong chance of achieving their investment goals.
Above all, a portfolio must be suitable for the client and their circumstances. Considerable effort is focused on ensuring that the portfolio structure is suitable in terms of a clientā€™s willingness, capacity for and need to take on investment risk.
2. Manage costs effectively
We believe that costs come in two forms: financial and emotional. From a financial perspective, our approach focuses on minimising investment product and transactional costs. In our view a systematic, non-judgemental approach to investing in low-cost investment funds should deliver the bulk of the return to the investor. Costs matter with investing; you get more of what you don’t pay for.
From an emotional perspective, our disciplined approach to the ongoing management of client portfolios, along with ongoing expectation management and education, helps to reduce the emotional costs of weak and poorly timed emotional decisions.
3. Manage risk tightly
Portfolios are managed using a disciplined, toleranceā€‘based rebalancing approach, rather than making frequent or reactive changes, portfolios are only rebalanced when asset allocations move beyond predefined ranges. This helps manage risk, control costs and remove emotion from the investment process by systematically trimming assets that have grown disproportionately and reinvesting into those that have fallen back. Portfolio construction, rebalancing and ongoing risk oversight are undertaken on a discretionary basis by our appointed investment manager, with governance provided through a formal Investment Committee structure.
The basics of investing
Watch our series of videos to explore more about the ins and outs of investing.
Hear from our clients
Read what some of our clients have to say about their experience of working with Expert Wealth.
Over the years Jonathan has helped us in several ways financially, but also the wider aspects of navigating and planning our lives as a family. This is a long term relationship which has been really fruitful, and taken away many of the anxieties of securing financial security whilst getting older, something incredibly valuable in the current climate.
David Crowe
Jonathan, Dom and the team have created an appealing ethos around Expert Wealth Management. More importantly they have lived up to it - both in their professional conduct and in terms of financial returns for clients. In both calm and choppy waters on the investment front, one senses that EWM and their clients are 'in it together', which is a source of comfort and confidence.
Graham & Liz
For people who have little knowledge of investment strategies, Dominicā€™s reassurance and guidance, particularly at times of market instability, has proved accurate, reliable and confidence-building. We believe we owe our comfortable retirement in no small measure to the Expert Wealth Management team.
David & Yvonne
During the annual review Jonathan takes the time to ask if there are any changes in my circumstances, he closely listens and adjusts the investments accordingly if needed. At all times I have found Jonathan Hunt and his excellent team to have a high work ethic, are courteous and always professional. I am certainly a satisfied client.
Patricia
Jonathan helped us to paint a picture of how our future could look, combining our wish to be able to enjoy our interests with the stability of a secure income. He assessed our attitudes to money and used these to plan a portfolio. We liked the fact that Jonathan developed a strategy centred around us rather than simply from a bundle of financial products from the market.
Phil & Sue
Jonathan has given good advice on all aspects of finance including returns, pensions, trust funds and long-term security. Additionally, most valuable advice for my family in taxation such as for military service personnel. From the outset EWM provided a complete advice and management service that gave me peace of mind and confidence that all my financial matters were in safe hands.
Dr Michael L Browne
What I love about Dominicā€™s approach is that he treats money as a means to an end, not as an end in itself: he carefully helped me to work out what my priorities are, what I want out of life and what income I need, and when, in order to achieve those ends. Frankly, I donā€™t understand finance and it terrifies me: Dominic has given me good, reliable advice (in plain English!) and I trust his guidance.
Jan Penrose
I liked Dom straight away - thorough, straight-talking, consistent but also, critically for me, human. He sees beyond the numbers into peopleā€™s lives - understands that life needs to be lived in the present as much as we need to have an eye on saving for the future. Most importantly, he understands me and my life goals, and shapes his advice to suit my needs rather than around his agenda.
Sally Emslie
The clear explanation of options, future projections and regular reviews have continued to give me confidence that I had made the right choice to move my pension. Dom has been a constant presence throughout and has continued providing guidance including how to invest an inheritance. Dom and the team at Expert Wealth have been an oasis of calm in the turbulent world of financial investment.
Sarah E
Dom Spalding was personally commended to us. All the family are signed up with EWM now. Weā€™ve enjoyed a good, personal rapport, felt totally at ease in our trust, and at the same time been given a real sense and understanding of the way our money can work for us into the future. We are very grateful to the whole team at EWM who are, in these times, internet-ready, at any time, to look after our issues and help us fulfil our objectives.
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