Wealth & finance International - Wealth & Money Management Awards 2015

www.wealthandfinance-intl.com 9 Winner: Most Innovative Fund Management Firm - UK Best for Long Term Returns SCM was founded in June 2009 as a challenger brand in a largely outdated UK investment management industry. The company operates with a smart but simple approach, contrarian mind-set, modern implementation and an investment strategy based on evidence, experience and ethics. We got in touch with them to find out more about their company, and what makes them a unique service for prospective clients. Company: SCM Direct Name: Gina Miller, Founder Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.scmdirect.com Address: 2 Eaton Gate, London, SW1W 9BJ Telephone: 020 7838 8650 In September 2014, we launched SCMDIrect.com, SCM50.com and MoneyShe.com, three life style orientated on-line Direct to Consumer wealth manager brands that incorporate technology and efficiency to offer ordinary clients low cost access to high end wealth management, previously the preserve of the very wealthy. As discretionary wealth managers, we operate three investment strategies focused on asset allocation, via actively managed pure ETF portfolios. To ensure that our clients know they are in safe hands, all aspects of the business and investment strategy are underpinned by 100% transpar- ency and honesty, with the founders aligned with clients by co-investing their personal wealth alongside clients on exactly the same fees and terms. As no investment manager has a crystal ball, we concentrate on the things we can control and seek to balance Cost, Risk and Returns to provide our clients consistent returns, year after year. We go to great lengths to ensure any prospective client fully under- stands what we do, how we do it and the total fees they will be paying. We offer full transparency at all levels and provide clients with a host of independent research and commentary as each website has a Knowl- edge and Research Centre. We believe that there are four factors that separate us from our competi- tors. These include: (I) Cost Transparency: At present we are the only wealth manager that operates 100% transparency on fees with no hidden costs and one Total Cost of Investing, with every client receiving a valuation once invested that clearly shows how much it has cost to invest, in £s and ps, and how much of their money is working for them. (II) We have pioneered a truly actively passive hybrid investment ap- proach that actively manages our discretionary portfolios which are fulfilled with passive ETFs. (III) Fund Manager: Another competitive advantage is our Chief Invest- ment Officer, Alan Miller, who is one of a handful of high respected skilled fund managers in the UK with over 25 years’ experience across a wide range of asset classes and client segments. (IV) Direct to Consumer Offering: Our online investment platforms devel- oped with Societe Generale Securities Services (SGSS) allows us to offer clients wealth management without going via intermediaries. Self-directed clients can apply, invest (including an eSIPP) and save with online access 24 / 7 to their accounts and view 100% of all holdings. Clients can be confident that as professional managers we take the day to day responsibility of asset allocation and keeping an eye on the portfolios, markets, economic and political circum- stance globally and anything that would impact the portfolios. In order to stay ahead, all aspects of our business and investment offer- ing are constantly scrutinised and reviewed. We never take anything for granted and are seen as being at the forefront of industry evolutions. From our experience, there has been, and will continue to be, debates about ethics, culture and consumer protection within the fund industry. The prevailing levels of mistrust of the industry continues the move towards self-directed, DIY investors, debates over showing all costs – im- plicit and explicit - and outdated “high fees, low performing” traditional active funds, and closet index hugging by supposedly active managers Much of this has been fuelled by a campaign we started in 2012, the True and Fair Campaign. In terms of these awards, it is very exciting to have the innovative award for the first time and the Long Term Returns award for a second year in a row as our overwhelming aim is to produce consistent positive growth for our clients. We believe our success is based on our contrarian mind-set, disciplined principled process and focus on fundamentals. Independent awards that are judged by experts and peers are very important as they add credibility to our business and act as a robust testimonial.