We live in interesting times….

The saying “may you live in interesting times” is often quoted as being a Chinese curse. Although no actual historical reference can actually be found to confirm its origin, the events over the last few weeks in the global markets would certainly affirm its origin now.

There are, of course, many opinions and points of view as to the cause of the recent volatility in global markets, the impact it will have and how long it will take to recover. As is often the case, there is no simple “one word answer” and the explanations generally tend to be quite technical and complicated (especially if you read the comments from analysts and commentators).

The most pressing question on most people’s minds is probably “should I be concerned?”  Let me answer that in a pragmatic way, by sharing a question I put to my team: “are we doing everything we can to look after the interests of our clients in good and bad times?”

Here is a selection of the answers we have come up with:

Carrick has partnered with leading institutions and specialists who are at the top of their respective fields. Our partners display the same values that we do of integrity, long-term stability and consistent performance. We are in constant communication with our partners to ensure that they are delivering on our promise to you.

Our focus is to be 100% client-centric, driven by a strong service ethic. Consistent communication and relevant content are the cornerstones in any successful financial relationship. Over and above the normal expectation of our advisors seeing their clients at least four times a year, we have recently created a dedicated client servicing team. Some of the initiatives the team is working on include the introduction of a regular market commentary,  monthly client events and seminars and in the near future, an online client portal allowing you access to real-time valuations. As in any relationship, communication is a “two way street”, so I would really encourage you to let us know if you have any feedback or if there are any areas that we can improve on.

We are in it for the long term. Our recommended investment strategy for our clients is always to diversify your risk by diversifying your portfolio across multiple asset classes. We have to accept that there will always be some degree of volatility in the markets. To quote Scott Campbell of Miton Optimal: “the only cheap asset class in town is volatility”. While it is always easy to get caught up in the gloom of equity market falls, we must look for the opportunities to make longer term gains and the most uncomfortable times to invest can also be the most rewarding.

Spring is in the air, the seasons are changing, so perhaps the markets are reflecting the same mood? As with the weather, things will get better with time!

Until next month, all the best

Craig