Wealth Management
My wealth management approach is rooted in the belief that decades of academic research and evidence should guide how we should build and manage portfolios. These should be designed to capture what markets offer efficiently.
No predictions, no forecasts, nor market timing.
What is Evidence-Based Investing?
Evidence-based investing is grounded in a simple but powerful idea: markets work, and the collective wisdom of millions of participants is reflected in prices almost instantly. Rather than attempting to outguess the market, we rely on rigorous, peer-reviewed academic research to identify the dimensions of return that matter—and build portfolios designed to capture them efficiently.
This approach is neither passive nor static. It is an active commitment to discipline, data, and the science of capital markets.
The Three Pillars
Pillar 1: Markets Are Effective
Prices reflect the aggregate expectations of all market participants. Rather than betting against this collective intelligence, we embrace it. New information is rapidly incorporated into prices, making it extraordinarily difficult to consistently identify mispriced securities.
Pillar 2: Dimensions Drive Returns
Academic research has identified specific, persistent sources of expected return. For Equity markets there are size, value, and profitability. In fixed income they are term and credit. We structure portfolios to target these dimensions systematically, rather than relying on stock picking intuition.
Pillar 3: Discipline Preserves Wealth
The greatest threat to investor returns is often the investor themselves. Evidence based investing replaces emotional reactions with a structured, rules based framework designed to keep you invested through market cycles, rebalance strategically, and maintain focus on long-term objectives.
Key Investment Philosophy
Principles are not opinions, they are conclusions drawn from decades of peerreviewed financial science.
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Spreading investments across thousands of securities reduces risk without proportionally reducing expected return.
Diversify broadly, globally, and systematically.
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Higher expected returns come with greater risk.
Calibrate your portfolio to take only the risks worth taking those with a reliable expected payoff.
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Every basis point of expense reduces your compounded return.
Be relentless about minimising unnecessary costs, from fund expenses to transaction fees to tax inefficiency.
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Missing the best days in the market can devastate returns.
Staying invested through volatility is one of the most powerful, rewarding and hardest things an investor can do.
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A manager's hot streak is not evidence of skill. Be wary of chasing after prior success.
Rely on structural evidence, not rear-view mirror optimism. It will work out better in the long term.
The Process of Managing a Portfolio
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1. Discovery
We begin by understanding your complete financial picture. Your goals, time horizon, risk tolerance, liquidity needs, tax position, and existing arrangements across all jurisdictions.
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2. Design
Using academic research on expected returns, we construct a diversified portfolio targeting the dimensions most appropriate for your profile. Asset allocation, not security selection, drives the majority of long-term returns.
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3. Implement
Portfolios are built using institutional-grade instruments, broadly diversified, low-cost, and engineered for precise market exposure. We favour systematic funds over actively managed ones where the evidence supports it.
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4. Monitor & Rebalance
Markets drift. Portfolios that begin aligned can become unbalanced over time. We monitor continuously and rebalance strategically—restoring target allocations, harvesting tax losses where appropriate, and keeping costs low throughout.
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5. Review
Life evolves. Goals shift. Tax residency changes. Regular reviews ensure your investment strategy remains aligned with your circumstances—not last year's plan.
FAQs
Is evidence-based investing the same as passive investing?
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Not quite. Passive investing typically means tracking a standard index like the S&P 500. Evidence-based investing goes further—it uses academic research to identify which dimensions of the market offer higher expected returns, then constructs portfolios that systematically target those dimensions. It is more deliberate than simply buying an index.
Does this approach mean you never adjust my portfolio?
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Regular rebalancing is essential. As markets move, your portfolio's allocation drifts from its targets. We monitor and rebalance to maintain your intended risk profile—but we do not attempt to time market entry and exit based on predictions.
How do you handle international investments?
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Comprehensive global diversification is a cornerstone of the approach. We allocate across developed and emerging markets, currencies, and sectors to ensure broad exposure and reduce concentration risk.
What about ESG or ethical investing preferences?
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Evidence-based principles can be applied alongside responsible investing preferences. We can incorporate ESG screens and values-based exclusions while maintaining portfolio integrity and diversification standards.
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What evidence supports this approach?
Decades of research from institutions including the University of Chicago, Dartmouth, MIT, and others underpin this methodology. Ongoing studies continue to validate and refine the framework. This is a living discipline, not a fixed dogma.
Ready to Invest with Evidence on Your Side?
Schedule a consultation to discuss how evidence-based investing can serve your goals with transparency, discipline, and the weight of academic research behind every decision.
No pressure, no product pitches. Just an honest conversation about where you are, where you want to go, and what it would take to get there.