From the Caribbean to Costa, multi-asset investments head David Coombs arrived back from holiday in time for another lurch downward for the pound. He explains why currency moves will be crucial to returns in January.

As you tuck into some left-over turkey on Boxing Day, desperate to keep the conversation from drifting to Brexit, here’s our suggestion for five things to consider that we hope will help you and your loved ones have many prosperous new years to come.

Examining the finer details of the Rathbones Value of Discretionary Fund Management (DFM) report over the course of its two chapters has offered unrivalled insight into the real impact a third-party investment manager has on financial adviser businesses.

As Christmas approaches, US President Donald Trump has played the Grinch to US Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell’s Santa Claus. Chief investment officer Julian Chillingworth thinks investors are getting too riled about 2019 growth, but their soured mood could linger.

The immediate impact of adopting a discretionary fund manager (DFM) on adviser businesses and clients is now clear to see as a result of the Value of DFM report, but what do we know about the effect over the long-term?

Nobody knows for sure who first coined the maxim that politics, religion and money should never be discussed in polite company. We live in a society where the right to free speech is taken for granted, but as far as advisers are concerned, one thing is certain – the first two topics should definitely be handled with care.

Among the main barriers to adopting a DFM cited by financial advisers it is the cost, the potential loss of control and the inability to justify their own fee to clients that crop up as the main issues.

We’ve seen in our first two blogs in our series on brands how millennials are driving big changes in the consumer landscape, and some of the challenges posed to global branded goods – challenges faced by smaller and more personalised businesses like advisers too. In this final instalment, we explore how established businesses can thrive in this ‘brand new world’.

Making the decision to enlist an external investment manager to manage client portfolios is, in all likelihood, a tough call for a financial adviser business - particularly if there are concerns that clients may react negatively to the change.

After a stomach-wrenching drop in early October, chief investment officer Julian Chillingworth takes stock. A correction doesn’t mean it’s time to cut and run from stock markets.

Comforting for financial advisers will likely be that of all the findings from the Rathbones’ value of DFM report discussed so far, data which reveals the positive impact a third-party investment manager has on client relationships. 

David Coombs tried as hard as he could to buy a suit from the high street, but they just weren’t selling. Our multi-asset investments head worries deep-seated problems are behind poor performance from UK retailers.