The impact leverage had on investment and draining of liquidity from all assets makes this a crisis never to forget. The nature of market participants has changed and this leads to very violent swings in asset prices around an economic event. In 2008 the immediate economic picture did not deteriorate materially, but asset prices moved in a geared fashion based on money flows and fear. This leverage is still evident in the system today and asset price behaviour is impacted by it.

Too many private client investors were encouraged by the popular press and privatisation campaigns to expect to make a fast buck, but investing in stock markets should always be long-term. Investors should always build in a suitable buffer to absorb losses and then sit tight in the teeth of a gale because the problem with bailing out is that you can never be sure when to get back in again.

This was a lesson in how money flows and momentum can drive returns for a long period but the fundamental value of an investment is what ultimately matters. Investments can trade away from their fair value for extended periods but will revert to their long-term value at some point in every investment cycle.

If we learned one thing from Black Wednesday, it is that central banks or governments have limited power to manipulate investment markets. It was a reminder that exchange rates cannot be pegged indefinitely at a valuation that does not reflect the underlying economy and competitiveness of that economy. The value of a currency is dictated by buyers and sellers based on their need or willingness to own a currency.

The events of 1994 taught me a number of key lessons. Risk is not always in a place where the consensus thinks it is. Any asset, however “safe”, is risky if bought at the wrong price. Recognise that leverage is hugely powerful in an upswing , utterly toxic in a downswing. Don’t buy what you don't understand or buy “time-limited” investments and don’t be a forced seller – always match the duration of your investments to the duration of your liabilities.

Beginning his career amid the uncertainty of the pandemic and the subsequent inflationary period, Will developed a strong appreciation for risk management and disciplined investing. Navigating market swings early on reinforced his belief in evidence-based portfolio construction and long-term thinking, principles that continue to guide his work today

With a degree in Politics and International Relations, Matthew is particularly interested in how global events shape financial markets. The elections and referendums of 2016 highlighted this connection early in his career, while the onset of COVID-19 shaped his perspective on the future of financial services, driving his commitment to enhance client service and outcomes.

Client service has transformed over the past few years, driven by rising expectations for transparency, accessibility, and tailored support. It's no longer just about providing information, it's about understanding each client's unique circumstances and being genuinely responsive to their needs. This shift has challenged us to think differently about how we communicate, collaborate, and build lasting relationships, ensuring every client feels valued and well-supported throughout their time with us.

Customer service has evolved significantly in recent years, shaped by rapid digitisation and automation. Yet the human element remains vital. While technology delivers speed and efficiency, it cannot replicate the empathy and personal connection that human interaction provides. This has prompted businesses to reconsider how they balance digital convenience with genuine engagement, particularly for complex or sensitive matters. The challenge now is ensuring customers feel truly heard and valued as individuals, not just processed by systems that treat them as data points.

It taught me that herd mentality is capable of driving markets to extremes beyond any rational limit, whether up or down, and that when an asset class is totally shunned by everyone it’s probably as attractive as it will ever be. When the penny drops, the snap back will be unpredictable and so rapid that the unprepared can never catch up. In short, it taught me to be a contrarian investor.

The one event that had a profound impact was the Covid 19 pandemic. Living in Singapore and being impacted by its draconian safety rules and lengthy quarantines made him re-evaluate the value of proximity to extended family and living in one's place of birth vs being a foreigner.

When Charles started out in the early 1990s, most client portfolios were heavily focused on a fairly narrow approach. Over the past three decades, the opening up of global markets has changed everything. Access to a far wider range of international investments has given investors more opportunities to diversify, leading to stronger returns and greater stability. This shift has made investing less speculative and more strategic, allowing portfolios to be shaped around what each client actually wants to achieve.

While training in the Chicago financial futures markets in the 1980s, Mark witnessed the intensity of open outcry trading bodies literally falling from the packed Eurodollar pit in the frenzy. The chaos was both exhilarating and unsettling, sparking a lifelong interest in using charts and technical analysis to bring structure to market movements and measure risk more objectively. That early lesson about the importance of having a clear framework has shaped how he approaches markets and guides clients through uncertainty ever since.