Fund Selectors – Details, episodes & analysis

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Fund Selectors

Lucy Walker

Business

Frequency: 1 episode/43d. Total Eps: 6

Introducing the Fund Selectors podcast. Fund selectors play a crucial and often under-appreciated role in the investment industry. There are some incredible minds that we're excited to spotlight. We're going to dig into what makes them tick, what they hate, and how they got to where they are. We hope you enjoy & would love your feedback at lucy@fundselectors.com.

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Score global : 63%

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Fund Selectors #6 - Shakhista Mukhamedova, Head of Global Manager Research Europe, RBC Brewin Dolphin

Season 1 · Episode 6

Friday, February 14, 2025 • Duration 01:05:47

In this episode of Fund Selectors, host Lucy Walker speaks with Shakhista Mukhamedova, Head of Global Manager Research Europe at RBC Brewin Dolphin. Shakhista shares insights from her unique career path, starting in structured products before moving into fixed income and alternatives. The discussion explores the evolution of fund research, the challenges of professionalising manager selection, and the importance of investment philosophy and behavioural analysis in fund research. Shakhista also reveals how her team distils complex information to identify high-conviction fund managers and why gut instinct can sometimes be as crucial as data. Plus, she shares her favourite book recommendations and discusses the behavioural biases fund selectors need to overcome.

10:15

Lucy

[0:03] – Introduction by Lucy Walker
[0:22] – Guest introduction: Shakhista Mukhamedova’s career path into fund research
[1:40] – How Shakhista became interested in markets and investing
[5:09] – Career journey at RBC Brewin Dolphin: from structured products to fund selection
[9:54] – Expanding into infrastructure, property, and alternatives
[13:02] – Leading a global manager research team: defining the team’s purpose
[17:02] – Evolution of manager research: from informal selection to professionalisation
[22:31] – The four pillars of fund research: people, philosophy, process, and performance
[23:45] – Why investment philosophy is often overlooked but crucial
[26:08] – The importance of understanding behavioural finance in fund research
[31:38] – When a fund “feels” wrong: the role of gut instinct in research
[37:01] – How Shakhista’s team collaborates across asset classes and investment solutions
[40:23] – Refining the due diligence questionnaire: from 50 pages to a distilled focus
[47:00] – Why Brewin Dolphin reduced its recommended fund list to high-conviction picks
[51:35] – Book recommendation
[57:22] – A past fund research mistake and lessons learned
[1:04:26] – Shakhista’s question for the next guest

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Fund Selectors #5 - Matthew Piro, Global Head of Oversight and Manager Search, Vanguard

Season 1 · Episode 5

Friday, December 13, 2024 • Duration 01:00:25

In this episode of Fund Selectors, host Lucy Walker interviews Matt Piro, Global Head of Oversight and Manager Search at Vanguard. Known primarily for their passive strategies, Vanguard’s $750 billion in actively managed assets is a surprise to many. Matt shares insights into his team’s rigorous process for selecting external sub-advisers, the long-term philosophy underpinning their approach, and the challenges of navigating periods of underperformance. The conversation explores how Vanguard structures its manager research team, the role of deep analysis in evaluating managers, and the importance of balancing consistency and adaptability. A must-listen for those interested in active fund management and sub-advised strategies.

Timestamps:

[0:03] Introduction by Lucy Walker
[0:20] Guest introduction: Matt Piro, Global Head of Oversight and Manager Search at Vanguard
[0:44] Vanguard’s commitment to active management: surprising industry perceptions
[1:57] Overview of Matt’s role and team structure at Vanguard
[3:26] The long-term approach to manager selection and evaluation
[5:46] Balancing specialisation and breadth within the research team
[7:50] Key elements of Vanguard’s due diligence process
[10:30] Insights into behavioural analysis and skill-based attribution
[12:25] A case study on identifying style drift in managers
[17:30] How team dynamics drive decision-making in fund oversight
[22:45] Adapting team structure to industry changes and new perspectives
[29:04] The importance of search readiness and maintaining a strong manager bench
[36:11] Case study: constructing a core global equity fund with manager diversification
[43:34] Lessons learned from evaluating managers through volatile periods
[49:02] Encouraging open dialogue and challenge within the research team
[54:05] Matt’s book recommendation
[57:02] Matt answers: “What is your biggest bugbear in manager research?”
[1:00:02] Matt poses a question for the next guest: What’s a manager research mistake you’ve learned from?

Fund Selectors #4 - Hannah Evans, Head of Manager Research at Omnis Investments

Season 1 · Episode 4

Wednesday, October 23, 2024 • Duration 55:16

In this episode of the Fund Selectors Podcast, host Lucy Walker interviews Hannah Evans, Head of Manager Research at Omnis Investments.

The conversation centres around fund idea generation, manager selection, and the processes Hannah’s team undertakes when overseeing £11 billion of assets across various mandates. Key themes include the meticulous approach to filtering managers, adapting processes to each search, and the importance of transparency from asset managers.

The episode highlights the challenges of balancing fund and manager oversight, navigating manager transitions, and Hannah’s focus on building long-term, sustainable relationships with managers.

Timestamps:

0:04 - Introduction by Lucy Walker

0:23 - Guest introduction: Hannah Evans

3:04 - Hannah’s journey into fund research

5:00 - Meeting with fund managers

7:00 - Managing Omnis’ funds

10:07 - The unpredictability of manager changes

12:24 - Conducting a recent manager search at Omnis

16:30 - Filtering down over 300 fund candidates

19:00 - The “RFP light” process for narrowing down managers

23:39 - Importance of consistent process and long-term conviction

30:06 - Identifying key person risk in fund managers

37:00 - Feedback to asset managers: honesty is key

49:05 - Closing remarks on fund selection

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Fund Selectors #3 - Ryan Hughes, Investments Director at AJ Bell

Season 1 · Episode 3

Monday, September 9, 2024 • Duration 57:12

In this episode of Fund Selectors, host Lucy Walker interviews Ryan Hughes, Investments Director at AJ Bell.

The discussion covers Ryan’s 25-year career, from his early days in financial advice to building AJ Bell’s investment business from scratch.

Ryan shares insights into understanding liquidity, team dynamics in fund selection, and the role of culture in investment performance.

They also discuss the evolution of asset management and how firms must adapt to growing pressure on fees.

0:03 - Introduction by Lucy Walker
0:22 - Guest introduction: Ryan Hughes
1:10 - Ryan’s career journey: from financial advice to fund research
2:58 - Early lessons in financial advice and pensions
4:16 - The tech bubble and crash’s impact on Ryan’s career
5:53 - Continuous learning in the investment world
6:53 - Building AJ Bell’s investment business from scratch
10:14 - The challenge of starting with a blank slate at AJ Bell
13:03 - Importance of using passive investments with active only when there’s a strong case
14:45 - AJ Bell’s focus on passive and active allocations
15:56 - How AJ Bell works with both DIY investors and advisors
22:06 - Experience and track record as a key factor in selecting active managers
25:05 - The evolving importance of liquidity in fund selection
30:18 - Deep understanding of managers’ philosophy and processes
34:03 - How team dynamics affect investment decisions
37:00 - Red flags in fund management: cultural and organizational issues
44:46 - How active management can remain competitive
49:04 - The success of investment trusts in lowering fees
53:03 - Ryan’s recommended book: The Hour Between Dog and Wolf by John Coates

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Fund Selectors #2 - Carly Moorhouse, Fund Research Analyst at Quilter Cheviot

Season 1 · Episode 1

Thursday, August 8, 2024 • Duration 35:04

In this episode of Fund Selectors, host Lucy Walker interviews Carly Moorhouse, an award-winning fund research analyst at Quilter Cheviot.

The conversation explores Carly's approach to fund selection, highlighting her emphasis on trust, passion, and investment philosophy. Carly shares insights into the importance of meeting managers face-to-face, the unique strengths of boutique managers, and her experiences from global research trips.

They also discuss the value of personal instincts in fund selection and Carly's sociology background's influence on her career.

0:03 - Introduction by Lucy Walker

0:21 - Guest introduction: Carly Moorhouse

0:57 - Importance of trust in fund management

1:48 - Carly’s human approach to fund research

2:15 - Carly’s principles in fund selection

4:21 - Sticking to a philosophy in tough times

5:05 - Building and destroying trust

6:40 - Importance of face-to-face meetings

10:00 - Carly’s sociology background

13:21 - Attraction to boutique managers

15:27 - Insights from research trips

17:04 - Macro versus micro focus in different regions

20:57 - Recent trips to the US and Asia

26:00 - Growing up in Asia and its impact on her career

31:08 - Carly’s book recommendation

32:06 - Trusting gut instincts in fund selection

Fund Selectors #1 - Simon Evan-Cook, Fund Manager at Downing

Season 1 · Episode 1

Monday, July 15, 2024 • Duration 58:38

In this episode of Fund Selectors, host Lucy Walker interviews Simon Evan-Cook, an experienced fund manager at Downing. The discussion delves into Simon’s investment philosophy, the challenges and opportunities in fund management, and traits that distinguish great fund managers from average ones. Simon discusses the importance of active management, the role of boutiques, and the significance of being true to your investment philosophy. They also touch on industry trends, career risks, and founder fee structures. Timestamps: 0:03 - Introduction by Lucy Walker 0:34 - Guest introduction: Simon Evan-Cook 2:16 - Simon’s investment philosophy 3:08 - Belief in active fund management 4:09 - Starting with a blank sheet at Downing 5:03 - Challenges and opportunities in fund management 6:21 - Identifying passionate fund managers 7:49 - Traits of exceptional fund managers: “Belicious” 10:54 - The importance of being true to one’s investment philosophy 13:00 - Evaluating fund managers’ flexibility and decision-making 17:03 - The impact of career risk on fund management decisions 19:38 - Advice for asset managers on handling career risk 23:30 - Simon’s approach to portfolio construction - The role of diversification in Downing Fox portfolios - The “Whiskey and Water” model - Time in the market vs. timing the market - Blending different investment styles - Importance of bottom-up stock picking - Understanding fund managers’ processes - Team dynamics in fund management - Curiosity in fund manager meetings - Advice for asset managers presenting to fund selectors - Fee structures and their impact - Founders fees and long-term incentives - Simon’s recommended book - Importance of systems thinking - Final question for the next guest

Fund Selectors – Details, episodes & analysis

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Fund Selectors – Details, episodes & analysis

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