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As financial services communication specialists, we BlueChippers are privileged to have a box seat view of the way investment managers have risen to the challenge of re-establishing their reputations and standing since the GFC.
That includes observing – and assisting – as financial services organisations adapt to a market environment that, for many, is a far cry from the one they cut their teeth on.
Many of the challenges they've faced lie squarely in the communication heartland. For a start, there’s the clear imperative for financial services organisations to earn – or earn back – the trust of investors (and others) by increasing transparency, strengthening governance and making frequent, frank and timely communication with stakeholders.
So, when we’re asked about what we do for our clients, and what big challenges we’re facing on their behalf, often these are among the first to spring to mind.
However, there’s another issue that our clients, almost without exception, have been facing. It’s one that has taken up a vast share of mind, given rise to numerous debates and disagreements, and one that has also formed the basis of much of our communications work.
And that is the bare bones, back-to-basics question of: where should investors be putting their money?
Of course it’s the age old question that underpins much of what our clients do. However, what’s not so age old is the environment in which they find themselves, the need to question all assumptions, to rethink previously accepted wisdom – and to meet the needs of investors who are arguably warier and more risk averse than ever before.
It’s been enormously heartening – and extremely instructive – for us to see the willingness among so many of our clients to question accepted wisdom, to reassess their past and present methods, and to make adjustments where needed. This can often lead to new approaches that meet more defined needs of a far more discerning audience.
The outcomes of much of their thinking are ultimately expressed in their actions – again, simply put – where they put investors’ money. In short – in the way they choose and allocate assets.
For many of our clients, getting asset allocation ‘right’ is no longer a matter of following an established formula or taking a set-and-forget approach that relies on the market to ride itself out or follow past trends.
Monitoring, research, modelling, keeping an open mind and having no room for complacency. Oh, and of course: communicating, communicating and communicating. This is far more the order of the day for the clients we represent and, we believe, for the industry as a whole.
But don’t just take it from us. Inspired by some of the great work and commitment we've seen from our clients, the efforts they've put in and the genuine ‘investor first’ approach they bring to what they do, we've organised an event that will enable some of our clients to showcase their hard work.
We've dubbed it ‘The Asset Wars’, an evening where five of our clients will put the case for their investment approach and their asset class. Each presentation will last for five minutes, and each presenter will answer a ‘question with notice’ as well as responding to questions from an audience of peers and selected media. A winner will be selected by the audience.
We’ll be filming and blogging about the event, getting audience reactions (sustained by food and drink aplenty, of course!) So watch this space to find out the highlights from the evening and what some of the best of the best in investment management are saying about Aussie and international equities, fixed income, property and cash.
The Asset Wars takes place in Sydney from 5.30 to 8.30pm on 22 November 2012. To find out more or to receive an invitation (spaces are limited), please email events@bluechipcommunication.com.au, stay tuned to our BlueChip Blogspace – or both.
