Proud as punch. Bar the occasional glitch – for example, Woodford Investment Management – it is a business sector that thrives more than survives.
Both diverse (in terms of products) and dynamic (many talented fund managers). A world leader, I would suggest.
The City I love is more like an early Sunday morning rather than a Friday lunchtime
Even coronavirus has spared it the emasculation that other industries have experienced in recent months, although I did find it rather alarming wandering around a deserted City of London 10 days ago – the industry’s ‘home’ – after having a company health check (‘all fine’ for those who are interested in my good/ill health).
The City I love seemed like a ghost town – more like an early Sunday morning in the capital rather than a Friday lunchtime stroll through the Square Mile.
I want our bustling City back. I fear for all the ancillary businesses – the sandwich shops and bars – that depend upon an alive City. Apocalyptic.
Of course the fund management industry is as adept at working remotely as it is firing on all cylinders from London (or other city) offices.
Indeed, since lockdown and coronavirus changed all our lives for the worse, only a handful of fund managers I have spoken to have returned to their place of employment.
The vast majority are content to work from home and have no inclination to come back to the office until long after the New Year has been welcomed in – and maybe even later, if the anticipated second coronavirus wave bites as viciously as an Australian cattle dog. God forbid.
Yet world leader as it may be, the fund management industry cannot be complacent.
While it can not mitigate falling stock markets – more a probability in the coming months than a possibility – it needs to move with the times; be progressive rather than regressive or stagnant.
In its defence, its embracing of environmental, social and governance investing is welcome, although some of the fund labelling remains a little tenuous – if you do not believe me, take a look at SCM Direct’s work on the issue: ‘Greenwashing report – misclassification and mis-selling of ethical investments’.
But it needs to do much more in ensuring retail investors get value for money from entrusting them to look after their long-term investments. Value in terms of access to robust and successful investment and also in terms of ‘fair’ ongoing charges.
