A piworld Thursday webinar
Richard Leonard talks us through how he manages money in a
Family Office. Including, what he’s
learned from his mentors over the years?
How it formed his investment philosophy?
What he looks for? Current markets? What he’s buying? Where to spot red
flags? And much more.
Click here to register for the webinar.
Richard outlines his background:
My interest in the London stock market came about in the
early 80’s – working over the summer holidays whilst at college, as a post boy
– leading to being somewhat of a gofer for a man call Zimmerman, who help build
Mercury Asset Management in the 1980s.
The taste of the moving parts of the City gave me my first real joy of
City life – and I loved it.
1986 – joined Lazard Brothers (via the back door) as a Trust
Accountant, valuing and doing the daily book-keeping for investment trusts/unit
trusts. Had my chance to move to the
front office in 1988 as an assistant fund manager on the bond the international
desks. Met my first real mentor John
Innes, helping to manage and win major international global accounts – flying
around the world in my mid 20’s.
Realised the real way to learn the skills needed to manage
money was via mentors – very good ones.
My real passion is to manage money invested directly in stocks and shares
– where I saw the excitement and thrills – and having the belief I could make
serious money. Passed my analyst and
other professional exams then had the chance to join a real modern day
investment legend – Richard Smith – becoming his no.2 on the Lazard UK Small
Companies desk. Over the following 5
years gained the opportunity to build the investment style foundation stones –
I still follow today.
The importance of skilled mentors – is the real key to
success of any young professional – especially in the investment world. True 30 years ago – true today.
1997 – left Lazard to join the sell side (stockbroking),
Chaterhouse- specialising in small and mid-cap UK companies. An amazing experience, helping to take a mid-
ranking firm to No1.
2001 – sold my soul to Merill Lynch.
2005 – returned to the buy-side with Cazenove to help run
the UK focused hedge funds – mixing my stock picking skills to their business
cycle style. Ended up with about £1.5billion of funds to manage and becoming
one of the most successful performing UK hedge funds in the UK in that period,
especially the GFC.
2010 – left Cazenove to join Trium – a private family wealth
office – manging our own money – no clients – simply an absolute returned
focused approach. Long – short. And both
short and long term objectives and managing my own pa. money alongside.
