International Finance Awards 2016 / 17 OE160017 Newscape Capital Group support firms looking to outsource the management of investment solutions or those seeking a partner who can construct and manage an investment fund for their clients. Charlie outlines the firm’s client focus and how this is encompassed in every aspect of Newscape’s work. “Here at Newscape we are committed to providing a leading investment management service to our clients that embraces quality, value and opportunity. “In order to achieve this we have a range of multi-asset, risk-targeted investment portfolios that serve wealth managers and financial advisers. When combined with sound financial advice, they produce robust outcomes for their customer”. “Our investment process uses quantitative models to provide the framework for our portfolios and funds. The investment committee, which has a breadth of industry experience, provides a tactical overlay that helps to cushion the portfolios from excessive downside risk and take advantage of compelling investment opportunities as they arise.” Staying ahead of the market is particularly vital for the firm, and as such Charlie is eager to highlight the techniques the firm employs in order to remain at the forefront of the latest industry developments. “At Newscape, we have a motivated team that strives to improve all aspects of the business and a culture that allows us to be nimble and react to change. In particular, we keep up to date with technological advances and developments in other industries or overseas – particularly the USA. We also design and build new products that will keep us at the forefront of industry developments.” As his final comment Charlie talks us through the firm’s latest exciting venture, as it moves into fund management. “Newscape also manages a range of its own funds, offering a range of products which blend fund manager skill with a strong sense of risk management acquired from the lessons learnt in portfolio management. Not only are we excited about managing portfolios of funds for our financial advisor and wealth management customers, but also these funds in their own right. Working in a firm that has such a breadth of capability and knowledge is invigorating and gives us an edge over our competitors and, moving forward, we are excited to taking advantage of the opportunities this advantage provides us with.” Company: Newscape Capital Group Ltd Name: Charlie Morris Address: 86 Jermyn Street, London, SW1Y 6JD Email:
[email protected] Web Address: www.newscapegroup.com Newscape Capital Group is an independent investment management and advisory firm, dealing with financial advisors and wealth managers. We caught up with Charlie Morris to learn more about the firm and explore how it came to achieve its current success. Best Specialist Investment Manager - UK MAB is the UK’s leading intermediary consumer brand* and has over 850 advisers offering expert mortgage advice on a local, regional and national level to UK consumers, both face to face and over the phone. Specialising in new build, estate agency, client servicing, and protection, as well as operating mortgage shops and telephone advice centres. Here Peter talks us through how far the firm has come in recent years and what its aspirations are going forward. “Two years ago we achieved our mission for to become a listed company. Our aim now is to make MAB a household name in the very fragmented intermediary market, and to build a customer experience through technology, to deliver a fast, convenient and easy process in terms of mortgage advice and application. We have our own 25 strong IT team, that delivers the sort of technology led solutions that consumers expect in today’s world. “This is particularly vital as the customer experience is effectively our business plan. We review every element of what we do, say, and how we act. We video mystery shop our advisers and invest heavily in a compliance structure that supports the consistency in terms of advice standards and customer outcomes. Our sales process is adhered to by all our advisers, and we monitor customer feedback very carefully asking them all to rate the key elements of our service.” As a national firm, the biggest challenge to MAB’s sector currently is a lack of investment in technology and therefore the customer experience, which is something the firm is keen to safeguard, which is a focus that sets it apart from competitors. In his final comments Peter is keen to focus on the firm’s commitment to building upon its current success, whilst continuing to offer a superior client experience. “Last year was MAB’s seventh year of 30% plus profit growth, resulting in a £10.4million pre-tax profit. We manage our costs well; we have never compromised on our proposition and quality standards, and have the bar raised very high in terms of quality with the advisers and firms we work with. We tend to lead rather than follow, and by doing so increase our market share year on year regardless of market conditions. “As such we are keen to build upon this success in the future, and believe that a world changing fast in terms of technology will benefit MAB, providing us with additional opportunities to grow market share. As a mortgage broker we need to become more like data managers, engaging with potential customers as early as possible. We are investing significantly in digital and telephone advice to complement the already strong high street and face to face distribution that we have.” *Based on Opinium Research, Summer 2016. Company: Mortgage Advice Bureau Name: Peter Brodnicki Address: Capital House, Pride Place, Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8QR Phone: 07774675880/ 013322000 Email:
[email protected] Website: Mortgageadvicebureau.com Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB) is the UK’s leading intermediary consumer brand. We invited Peter Brodnicki, the firm’s Chief Executive, to tell us more. Best National Mortgage Broker 2016