OUR INVESTMENT APPROACH

The value of investments can fall as well as rise. You may not get back what you invest.

Independence Assured investment philosophy

There are various investment philosophies, i.e. Active Management, Passive Management, Blended Management etc.

Active investment management relies on research, market forecasts and the individual investment managers’ own judgement and experience in selecting securities to buy and sell holdings, believing that they can outperform the market at a greater rate than the additional expenses of using their services.

Passive investment management assumes that the markets are efficient in that everyone has access to information therefore individual stock picking adds more cost than value. Therefore, it is better to track the market at reduced costs.

We recognise that both active and passive approaches to investment fund management have their place. Active management, whilst more expensive, can add value because of the opportunities it can seize. Whilst also appreciating that a passive approach gives our clients access to diverse markets at a competitive price, we believe at Independence Assured, that by adopting a blend of both strategies, given the appropriate risk profile, that this gives our clients the best of both Worlds.

Most appropriate tax wrapper

We believe that the agreed investment strategy should not be constrained, where possible, by the tax wrapper. Selecting the most appropriate tax wrapper is important to ensure the returns on client’s investments are not eroded unduly by tax and charges.

Asset allocation

Opinions have grown from previous studies that approximately 90% of investment performance is derived from asset allocation decisions, not market timing or stock selection.

Diversification

To reduce volatility and concentration in one market, spreading exposure across different asset classes. This includes countries, currencies, industries, types of stock and commodities. It is very important to ensure diversification.

Researching funds and 3rd party expertise

Whilst we have years of investment experience, with a possible 30,000+ funds to choose from, along with market trends and cycles, having a robust method of selecting and reviewing investment funds is essential. We therefore consult with and refer to, a number of leading specialist investment research and analysis organisations.

Re-balancing – The value of keeping your portfolio in shape

As different stocks, asset classes and geographical regions etc. will perform differently at different times, this means the investment spread can fall out of balance with the weightings required to maintain the target asset allocation in line with a clients risk tolerances. It is important for your investment funds to be reviewed and rebalanced regularly to ensure that the funds included are weighted correctly to keep the overall risk profile of your portfolio in line with your attitude to risk. This also helps lock in gains made (selling stocks that have done well) and reinvest in those that may be underpriced and have their time to come.