Asset Allocator

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167

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

Every week the Asset Allocator Podcast discusses the big issues in UK fund selection, the major investment trends of the moment, and exclusive data on how wealth managers are positioning their portfolios. They'll be joined by guests from across the profession to unpick some of these trends. Asset Allocator is a news and analysis service tailored to the needs of UK wealth managers, fund selectors and discretionary fund managers. Our proprietary fund and asset allocation data, compiled using information provided by the UK’s leading DFMs, provide unique insights into the issues that drive investment decisions. To sign up to the free newsletter, click here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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60 recent

June 11, 202631 min

Currency hedging the key to protecting clients income

Financial advisers must hedge against currency risk if they want to truly protect their client’s income, explains Jason Da Silva, the director of global investment strategy at Arbuthnot Latham.Discussing the relevance of the dollar’s weakness for UK advisers and their clients, Da Silva highlighted the importance of currency management in both equity and fixed income portfolios.Also on this episode of Asset Allocator, why sticky inflation remains the biggest investment risk, whether the US dollar retains dominance and what IPOs and today's credit markets are signalling about risk appetite.The Asset Allocator Podcast discusses the big issues in UK fund selection and how wealth managers are positioning their portfolios. Sign up to the newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

June 4, 202627 min

Emerging and developed market government bonds have "swapped places"

Bond and equity markets are sending very different signals. While stocks continue to rally on optimism around earnings and AI-driven growth, bond investors are grappling with inflation risks, geopolitical tensions and mounting government debt.In this episode of the Asset Allocator Podcast, Aamina Zafar and David Thorpe are joined by Henry Cobbe, head of research at Elston Consulting, to discuss whether investors need to rethink traditional portfolio construction.The conversation explores whether the classic 60/40 portfolio still works, why government bonds may no longer provide the diversification investors expect, and where income opportunities can be found in today’s markets. Cobbe also explains how inflation, energy shocks and geopolitical events are reshaping asset allocation decisions, and why investors may need to look beyond conventional approaches to build resilient portfolios.The Asset Allocator Podcast discusses the big issues in UK fund selection and how wealth managers are positioning their portfolios. Sign up to the newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 28, 202618 min

Is 3% the new 2% when it comes to the UK’s inflation target?

On this week's Asset Allocator, Simoney Kyriakou is joined by Joe Little, chief strategist at HSBC Asset Management, to discuss the diverging opinion between economists and investors over the repercussions of the Iran conflict and what the closure and blockade of the Strait of Hormuz means for the global economy. Are investors simply ignoring the mood music?Alongside the Middle East conflict, Little and Kyriakou also discuss the mega trend that is refusing to give up: AI. Many have predicted a fundamental change to the way we live and work, while others say it is the dotcom bubble 2.0 – is the truth somewhere in the middle? Little also lays out what the high gilt yields means for your clients.Asset Allocator has made some changes; each week you can still get the same analysis and insight into asset management and asset managers, but you can now choose whether to listen or watch our episodes. Watch on Asset Allocator, Spotify or YouTube by following the links.Timestamps:00:00 - Why are economists and investors diverging on Iran?04:51 - UK gilt market & inflation challenges09:55 - Pension surpluses & gilt opportunities12:05 - AI hype & global growth outlookClick here for more investment insights from HSBC Asset Management: Investment Insights | HSBC Asset ManagementThe Asset Allocator Podcast discusses the big issues in UK fund selection and how wealth managers are positioning their portfolios. Sign up to the newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 21, 202622 min

Achieving diversification in an age of uncertainty

There is still a free lunch in diversification, but investors just need to look a bit harder for it and reframe what that means, says David Aujila, multi-asset fund manager at Invesco. Aujla discusses what true diversification looks like with funds reporter Aamina Zafar and contributing editor David Thorpe.The Asset Allocator Podcast discusses the big issues in UK fund selection and how wealth managers are positioning their portfolios. Sign up to the newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 14, 202623 min

Why income portfolios remain relevant in 2026

James Mee, co‑head of multi‑asset and director at W1M, joins funds reporter Aamina Zafar and contributing editor David Thorpe to discuss the latest developments in markets, and why income portfolios remain key to his firm's offering. The Asset Allocator Podcast discusses the big issues in UK fund selection and how wealth managers are positioning their portfolios. Sign up to the newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 7, 202620 min

Why active fund management still has a role to play in portfolios

Cranley Macfarlane, head of bespoke private clients and deputy chief investment officer at Church House Investment Management, discusses how client needs are shifting, the use of in-house funds, and whether active management still has a meaningful role to play as passive investing continues to gain momentum, with funds correspondent Aamina Zafar and contributing editor David Thorpe. The Asset Allocator Podcast discusses the big issues in UK fund selection and how wealth managers are positioning their portfolios. Sign up to the newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

April 30, 202621 min

Diversification is not a free lunch for investors

Industry veteran Dan Kemp, founder of Portfolio Thinking, discusses the challenges of diversification on the latest edition of the Asset Allocator podcast.The Asset Allocator Podcast discusses the big issues in UK fund selection and how wealth managers are positioning their portfolios. Sign up to the newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

April 23, 202620 min

Inflation protection a major priority for Pictet’s multi-asset boss

Focused fixed income portfolios and European nominal bonds are important building blocks of Pictet’s investment strategy to beat inflation, says Shaniel Ramjee, co-head of multi-asset investments at Pictet Asset Management, who dives into the parts of the fixed income and equity markets he regards as attractive right now with Aamina Zafar, funds reporter, and David Thorpe, contributing editor at Asset Allocator.Ramjee also discusses corporate earrings in the US, as well as the market’s rapidly changing view on inflation as tensions between the US and Iran continue to unfold. He also delves deeper into the picks and shovels angle of backing infrastructure behind AI and defence. The Asset Allocator Podcast discusses the big issues in UK fund selection and how wealth managers are positioning their portfolios. Sign up to the newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

April 16, 202631 min

Quilter WealthSelect boss: What 20 years in the MPS market has taught me

Stuart Clark, who jointly runs the WealthSelect range of model portfolios at Quilter, discusses markets and the lessons he has learned along the way with funds reporter Aamina Zafar and contributing editor David Thorpe.The Asset Allocator Podcast discusses the big issues in UK fund selection and how wealth managers are positioning their portfolios. Sign up to the newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

April 9, 202616 min

RBC Brewin Dolphin: We have moved away from the 60/40 portfolio

David Hood, head of investment solutions at RBC Brewin Dolphin, discusses the traditional asset allocation approach and how his firm tries to do it differently, with contributing editor David Thorpe, and funds correspondent Aamina Zafar. The Asset Allocator Podcast discusses the big issues in UK fund selection and how wealth managers are positioning their portfolios. Sign up to the newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.