Abena Affum

I've shared some thoughts in Game Changers Magazine this month, thanks to Paul Orford. The topic? Trust—critical yet often overlooked within teams. At Taurex, our journey with trust has profoundly shaped our approach, impacting both morale and operational efficiency. In the article, I discuss the subtle, transformative power of trust and offer straightforward strategies to cultivate it within teams. For those interested in fostering a trusting environment, I invite you to read further:)

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Just out: Infrastructure Investor's Women in Private Funds Report 2024: https://okt.to/Nz14Pl The infrastructure investment industry is actively focusing on DE&I within both GP and portfolio areas, although there is still much work to be done to address the persistent gender gap in private markets. This report examines the gender-lens investing landscape in infrastructure and looks into how funds are weighing their investment impacts on women. We also highlight perspectives from women leaders regarding the asset class's future and unveil this year's Women of Influence in Private Markets list. Additionally, the report features exclusive discussions with senior women from Fiera Infrastructure, Instar Asset Management, and RGREEN INVEST. #womenininfrastructure #WOI24 #InfrastructureInvesting

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Fair to say the election has been dominating the news agenda this week, but broadcasters have been looking for news to break up the wall to wall politics. Standard Life UK's Sangita Chawla was able to provide something a little different and featured on BBC Radio 4's You and Yours (c. 12:30) to discuss the concept of 'loud budgeting', which involves being more open about your finances: https://bbc.in/3WbU2PK Elsewhere: 👉 Our analysis with Dean Butler on how to buy more days of retirement with small increases to your savings was picked up by the Daily Mail: https://bit.ly/4crSMh7 🚶‍♂️ vs 👫 Another issue that's received a lot of traction is the challenges that come from being single in retirement. Unfortunately costs don't half and this powerful piece in The i Paper brings that to life with figures from Standard Life UK: https://bit.ly/4ckpwch

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Samina Hussain-Letch, Executive Director of Square UK, discusses the importance of economic empowerment and financial inclusion today. Find out more in our exclusive interview below. #Fintech #FinancialInclusion #EconomicEmpowerment

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It's far from easy being an emerging manager in today's PE landscape. The firms featured in this list have managed to carve a niche for themselves, with a focus on creating value in high-opportunity markets – in what has been the most challenging of times! Read about all the specialisms here. #privateequity #emergingmanagers

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Last night the Chancellor unveiled a bold vision to ignite growth and innovation in the UK's financial services sector, spotlighting the transformative role of #fintech. The plan seeks to balance high regulatory standards with a focus on dynamic growth, empowering fintech advancements and new investment opportunities, particularly through digital payments and sustainable finance. This proactive approach aims to solidify the UK's global standing while driving domestic innovation. Exciting times for the industry! https://lnkd.in/eismRkuY #FinanceInnovation #GrowthStrategy #fintech

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Banking history (and business history more broadly) has so many fascinating stories. This book, which I just bought in Inverness, opens yet a new chapter of my research. EABH

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Great achievement to make the final again for everyone at Continuum (Financial Services) LLP. Well done all. If you are considering where to build your business and value, please let's have a chat. #Partnership #Growth #wealthmanagement

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Ending the week with a few Fidelity news highlights 🤗 We announced plans to integrate private assets into FutureWise, our default investment strategy for UK workplace pension schemes, via Fidelity’s LTAF, in a significant milestone for Daniel Smith (he/his), James Monk and the team, appearing here in Pensions Age - https://lnkd.in/dmy2HM5W In other news, we were pleased to announce we intend to adopt three "Sustainable Focus" labels as part of the FCA's new sustainability disclosure and labelling regime (SDR), as covered by Darius McQuaid in Money Marketing - https://lnkd.in/du42hrZn With the first quarter of the current century almost complete, Tom Stevenson looks at the lessons investors can take from the past 25 years in The Telegraph - https://lnkd.in/dVr-getJ With inflation rising beyond the BoE’s target, Ed Monk looked at the implications for savers and investors in This is Money - https://lnkd.in/dn3cKYhG Views on Europe’s growth prospects from Salman Ahmed were featured in a report from Reuters - https://lnkd.in/dv6uhDsW Craig Terrington Holly Deegan Katie Jordan Matthew Birtles

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Calling all #financialplanners #financialadvisers and #financialcoaches. I attend a great many webinars to stay up to date on various ideas around content creation, writing, marketing and all that technical financial planning stuff too. But today was a rare and special treat - as we were reminded of (or taught) some keys to sales success by the super-generous Andy Bounds Like me, Andy doesn't waste money on haircuts. Nor does he waste time in getting his points across. I learned a few years back that I'm 97th percentile on the Social Boldness scale of personality. I never thought it would happen, but I've just found someone who is an even more direct communicator than me. Go man go. I'm not going to share any of the 20 key insights I've jotted down from this morning's session. Talk nicely to to Phil Bray ➡️ Financial Services Marketing Specialist ⬅️ or Abi Robinson and they might tell you where the find the replay. And you really do NOT want to miss this one. But I will try to answer the only question that Andy didn't fancy answering - which is about the difference between Marketing and Sales. Andy said he wasn't concerned about the difference and I totally get that - because we *should* all be working to the same end. But here's my take. Marketing is generally about pushing out communications - to attract and engage existing and potential clients / customers. It's hugely expensive to create great communications - which is why I've launched a new licensed content service - to cut 95% off the cost to have great educational content on your website. However, 'Sales' is where the rubber really hits the road. And the difference with 'Sales' is that you engage in a conversation. You don't just send messages and hope - and sit back and wait while the tumbleweed rolls by. You reach out to people who you think might LOVE what you do - and have the capacity to pay for it (Thanks Andy - great reminder) and you talk with them. And you don't send them proposals for work. You send them confirmations of what you've agreed in conversation that they need and you can supply. Simple when you think about it - right? Yes, but how many people do it? And does it really work? Well clearly this works for Andy, big time. And FWIW - when I worked in the corporate world as a B2B broker consultant - I was using almost all of Andy's tips - without knowing it. And it worked for me too - taking me to the top of a 200 strong sales team. That's not a brag btw - it's just evidence. Watch the replay of this video, take notes - and follow Andy's advice. It's brilliant. Thanks guys - you've all made my day.

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From changing work patterns to supporting ageing parents, our latest research into the Second 50 is filled with helpful insights on the many ways later life is evolving, as we all live a little longer. Check it out here: https://ow.ly/ZQlK30sH3F6

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This week, Morningstar published its in-depth annual review of the UK Managed Portfolios landscape. This showed that there has been a steep decline in the number of UK managed portfolios labelled as active, as providers grapple with cost pressures. Read more in Ignites Europe. https://lnkd.in/e9VW_Pn8 #activefunds #passivefunds #ManagedPortfolios

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There's a longer term question here about who the buyers of #gilts will be in the future, now that (a) DB schemes are maturing and moving to buyout, and (b) insurers are being encouraged and enabled to invest in a broader range of asset classes. We touched on this earlier this year: https://lnkd.in/eW972e3g

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💬 💳 It was so lovely to chat with financial planner Sarah Woodfield Chartered ALIBF, ACA about her new financial advisory firm WealthStream and how it reflects the changing industry. The article is now available to read on thewealthnet ⬇ https://lnkd.in/et6s75rT

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How do you celebrate a year’s worth of breakthroughs? In the Schroders Client Insights Unit, we have a tradition before our Christmas party to lay it all out on a timeline—every new idea, milestone, and moment of progress, captured in one sweeping view. I love doing this as it gives people a chance to stand proud and shout about what they have achieved, and I’m always inspired to see how much we have grown! Here are some of the highlights from the CIU 2024 edition: -> 🤖 Launch of “Ada” our virtual Sales Assistant - driven by Gen AI, it is already re-shaping how Sales goes about client research -> 💡 The team triumphed at 3 hackathons (with Snowflake, OpenAI, Kubrick Group) with winning ideas having already been built out in production. -> 🚀 We opened doors to a neurodiverse intern from DFN Project SEARCH - a first for Schroders. Finn - you are star in the making! -> 📈Our predictive client insights have contributed to some big and exciting wins and new client relationships, smashing last year’s highs. -> 👏 And importantly, we take time to celebrate life’s milestones: 5 CIU babies; 2 marriages; 1 engagement - proof that growth isn’t just about metrics For me, this month also marks a decade at Schroders. In these 10 years, I’ve watched as we have embraced a more data-focused, innovation-oriented culture—it’s not always been easy, but together we have broken things, fixed things, and helped re-define what is possible in our industry. To everyone in the CIU: Congratulations and thank you for another great year! You have all made this a journey worth celebrating. It remains a privilege to work alongside such a bold, inventive and committed group of individuals. Cristina Gil-Sevilla Konstantina Kapetanidi Briony Bloom Amy Pyemont, MBA Joshua Heafield Khush Thakur Joseph Hanna Melanie Tang Charles Shen Ashleigh Truong Alex Bushnell Nicole Coutts Natasha Johnson Christiana Stavrou Joseph Honeywood Johann Cheng Nigel Fung Shirley Guevara-Soto Phoebe Cutter Charlotte C. Kevin Jackson Kirsty Payne (nee Jordan) Toby Isbell Matthew Tanton Lorna Mason James Thornton Gary H. Daniel Bishun Priya Dash Jerry Ye Nuno Venâncio Kevin Laurence Elen Dafydd Olivia Pimenta Louise Vallely #innovation #teamsuccess #hackathons #assetmanagement #ai #neurodiversity

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When it comes to bringing new blood into the financial advice sector, firms need to weigh up the required investment of time, resources and budget, writes Heather Ross (Dip PFS, CIPD), head of academy at Progeny. Read Heather's full article for Money Marketing below. #FinancialAdvice #Apprenticeships #Graduates https://lnkd.in/e_qK9r2G

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Register for a webinar with Ian Rees and David Hambidge, fund managers of our range of multi manager funds, on the 9th July at 11am. In this webinar, Ian and David will discuss changes within the Team, provide an update on the Multi-Asset Distribution, Multi-Asset Monthly Income and Multi-Asset Global Growth funds, before sharing their views on markets and the outlook for the remainder of 2024. For Investment Professionals only. Capital at Risk. #multiasset #activemanagement #multimanager

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"What started as a nuanced point of fund of funds fee disclosure has led to a political frenzy, whereby the continued disclosure of ongoing costs of investment trusts is seen as anti-British, anti-stock market and anti-growth. This is crazy. To say it’s ‘misleading’ to disclose these underlying costs is itself, well, misleading." — Henry Cobbe, CFA on why rowing back on cost disclosure would be a backwards step for transparency Hat tip Andrew Latto, CFA Citywire New Model Adviser #Investing #InvestmentTrusts #Transparency https://lnkd.in/eprm4Sx9

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