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WHo let tHe dogs out?

Siobhan Record Our Lifestyle’s Financial Expert

Sometimes I read an investment article that makes my blood boil. Those that I’m talking about, rank funds and offer ‘dog’ lists. They would be laughable if they did not have such a potentially serious impact on investors’ wealth.

Despite their caveats, these lists influence the decisions of many DIY investors (those who do not seek advice) and can also unsettle sensible long-term investors if they see a fund on the list that’s in their portfolio for good reason.

I have no problem calling out the all-toocommon poor value for money funds, but the methodology used to identify ‘dogs’ is blunt to the point of being unhelpful.

In essence, a ‘dog’ fund is one that has underperformed cumulatively over the past three years. Yet from an investment perspective, three-year performance is riddled with market noise and is too short a timeframe on which to base a decision.

Most investors have long investment time horizons of 20-30 years or more, which provides the luxury of being able to take evidenced-based, strategic decisions when building a portfolio.

In the case of systematic investors, it is the decision to own overweight positions of value stocks, smaller companies and more profitable companies, as the empirical evidence points to higher expected returns that may be captured over the sorts of horizons investors hold.

If you happen to come across one of these lists or you see one quoted in the Sunday papers, remember fund ranking and ‘dog’ lists can be injurious to your wealth. Ignore the barking.

At Cre8, our systematic approach means low cost, diversified portfolios based on empirical evidence. If you are interested in knowing more about how I work and you have investments of over £200,000 why not give Jo a ring on 01562 745730 to arrange a no obligation 30-minute free meeting in our office.

The information in this article does not constitute investment advice; you must not rely on the content when making investment decisions without taking advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. The value investments and the income from them, may fall or rise and investors may get back less than they invested.

Our Finance & Legal

momentum continues to build for midlands firm WitH neWcorPorate additions and anotHer aWard

Talbots Law has been named “Legal Firm of the Year” at the City of Birmingham Business Awards 2022.

This year has so far marked a banner year for the firm which has now won two prestigious awards, as well as opening two new offices and recruiting more than 130 new staff as it continues to grow rapidly.

The win comes fresh off the back of bosses investing heavily in the firm’s corporate offering, bringing in specialist new staff across its corporate law, commercial property and commercial dispute resolution teams, as well as adding to its award-winning conveyancing service.

Among the high-profile solicitors to join Talbots in recent months are Prayag Patel, who is heading up the firm’s national conveyancing and new build conveyancing departments; Adam Pike and Nasar Sarwar, specialist litigators working within the world of corporate disputes; James and Emma Monk, a husband and wife team of specialist employment lawyers; Katie Hodson, an experienced commercial property lawyer and Helen O’Leary, a solicitor working closely on the firm’s pipeline of residential development projects.

They are joined by more than 10 new support team members, adding to the firm’s existing business-facing services and creating the capacity for the level of client care the firm is quickly becoming best known for.

Speaking on the night of the award win, Dave Hodgetts, CEO of Talbots Law, said: “It is our ambition to make the highest quality of legal support and client care available across the Midlands and beyond.

With each new staff member who joins us, each new office we open in a new geography and each award we win, we are taking another step towards that goal and we’re just so grateful to all those who have recognised the hard work and expertise of our team by choosing them as the Legal Firm of the Year.”

The event, organised by Downtown In Business, celebrates professionals from across the city’s diverse corporate landscape and was held on Thursday 9th June at the Park Regis Hotel in Birmingham.

Talbots Law are still actively recruiting towards their goal of adding more than 100 new people to the business in 2022, with all active vacancies listed at: https://www. talbotslaw.co.uk/site/careers/

The firm also enjoyed a big win back in February at this year’s British Conveyancing Awards, when it was named the Best New Build Conveyancing team in the UK and had the honour of having their new Merry Hill-Waterfront Office officially opened by Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, who praised Talbots for the work they’re doing to boost the region’s economy and reputation. To find out more about Talbots Law, visit www.talbotslaw.co.uk or call 0800 118 1500