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Tailored investment management services for charities

At Adam & Company Wealth Management, we believe that every charity is different and that you need to feel sure that we understand the unique requirements and objectives of your charity or foundation.

We are acutely aware of the challenging responsibilities you face as a trustee of charitable investments, and we have tailored our services to help in any way you need. With extensive experience taking care of charitable organisations, and over £1bn in charity assets under management, Adam & Company is a name you can trust. 

How we will work with your charity

Your dedicated Investment Manager will take the time to get to know you, and will ensure our service, and your portfolio, are tailored to your specifications. They will be in regular contact with you, meeting either face-to-face or virtually, and can attend trustee meetings, if you need them to.

Our process is flexible, which allows us to reach our goals of ensuring your investment needs are met with the best possible returns for your selected risk level and inline with your charity’s Investment Policy Statement (IPS).

Speak to one of our charity investment experts

To discuss your charity’s investment needs, book a free consultation.

Get in touch

Why choose our investment management services for your charity

  • Our investment offering includes equities, funds, securities, investment trusts, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), alternatives, bonds and cash
  • We offer a distinct, in-house ESG portfolio service, dedicated to sourcing ‘responsible companies’ in which to invest
  • Our expert teams use the open market to select quality investment opportunities for your charity or foundation
  • We utilise the knowledge of our specialist investment committees to agree the best possible positioning for your portfolio
  • Risk is measured through our own risk management calculator, and our portfolios are built from approved lists of investments
  • We consistently refer to your organisation’s objectives, to ensure your portfolio remains on track and meets IPS standards
  • Investments are actively managed and monitored to minimise losses and maximise returns.

We understand that your focus is on managing your charity’s fund effectively, and ensuring it works for the benefit of others. Our job is to make sure you have the right advice and support to achieve this, and we will be there every step of the way. 

Investment management designed for charities

To find out more about how we can meet your charity’s investment needs, download our guide.

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Working with charities: case study examples

Every year, we work with charitable organisations to ensure they make the most of the assets they are entrusted with. Read on to learn about how we helped some specific charities with their financial objectives by navigating the challenges they face and implementing specialist investment strategies to achieve their goals. 

We help a number of charitable causes, just like the Alba Caledonians Hockey Club (or Alba Callies, if you’re a local), every year. Read on to learn about how we helped them to navigate the economic challenges of COVID-19, and set them up with a financial plan for the years to come. 

A stalwart of Scottish grassroots sport

The Alba Callies is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), whose trustees came to us in 2020 because they needed to preserve and grow the assets that were essential to guarantee the club’s future.

When we met the trustees, the club had funds in the bank, and the prospect of recurring annual income from other teams and clubs renting their AstroTurf pitch. At that stage, interest rates on bank accounts had fallen to 0% due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with no knowing when they might increase. If the Alba Callies wanted their money to grow, they needed a new solution. Left in the bank, it wouldn’t even keep up with inflation.

The pitch is the club’s main asset, but the Astro carpet has a lifespan of just 15 years. It will likely need to be replaced in 2030, at a cost of around £150,000, so the club needed to be ready with that sum when required.

The plan of action

We talked to Angela, the club’s Treasurer, and discussed how specialist investment management from Adam & Company could help them. They were understandably cautious, as we were well into the COVID-19 pandemic at the time, so they decided to start by investing £10,000 in a ‘fund of funds’, gradually adding more to build up their investment. Over the last three years, they have entrusted us with over £100,000.

The Dickson McCunn Trust* was set up in 1922 to help combat child poverty. In those days its main aim was to provide sturdy boots and hot meals for disadvantaged children in Scottish cities. It was created with a large endowment, which was then invested, with the stipulation that the charity’s work should be funded by the interest from the investment portfolio.

Looking forward

Over the years the charity’s remit has grown to include fighting child poverty in Scotland in all its guises, but the board of trustees felt that in some ways it was still stuck in the last century. They wanted to raise the Trust’s profile and make it more relevant, including modernising their fundraising techniques and employing a full-time professional fundraiser.

This would incur costs above and beyond the charity’s regular spending on its vital work with children, and the new expenditure could not be covered from the regular income produced by the investment portfolio. 

Plan of action

To create the extra income, the trustees needed agreement from their regulator, the Charity Commission, to move from a ‘permanent endowment’ to a ‘total return approach’. This would allow them to take some capital from the portfolio each year.

We had been advising the trustees on their portfolio for some time, and now we worked closely with them to help them achieve their new goal.

We advised them what long-term capital returns they might reasonably expect from the portfolio, so that they could establish a sensible level of annual capital withdrawal. As their portfolio had recently benefited from several years of very strong capital growth, it was important to remind the trustees not to expect the same returns in the future. Following much discussion, the trustees approved a resolution to adopt a prudent total return approach, which was approved by the Charity Commission.

*Names have been changed for reasons of confidentiality.

Speak to one of our investment experts

To discuss your charity’s investment needs, book a complimentary, no-obligation consultation.

Get in touch

Investment involves risk. The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and you may not get back the amount originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

The information provided is not to be treated as specific advice. It has no regard for the specific investment objectives, financial situation or needs of any specific person or entity.

This is not a recommendation to invest or disinvest in any of the companies, themes or sectors mentioned. They are included for illustrative purposes only.

The information contained herein is based on materials and sources deemed to be reliable; however, Adam & Company makes no representation or warranty, either express or implied, to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of this information. Adam & Company is not liable for the content and accuracy of the opinions and information provided by external contributors. All stated opinions and estimates in this article are subject to change without notice and Adam & Company is under no obligation to update the information.

Contact a personal investment manager today

If you would like to know how we can help with your charity's investment needs, get in touch. We will be delighted to provide more details of our services.

Photo of Cameron Glasgow

Cameron Glasgow

Investment Director

As an Investment Director, Cameron is responsible for managing discretionary and charity portfolios. He is a member of the CGWM ESG Investment Committee.

Cameron has over 23 years of investment experience. Prior to Adam & Company, he worked for Aberdeen Asset Management and for Edinburgh Fund Managers.

Cameron has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of St Andrews and a Diploma in Investment Analysis from the University of Stirling. He is an Associate of the Society of Investment Professionals.


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Photo of Richard Hyder

Richard Hyder

Investment Director

I graduated from St Andrews University in 1990 with an MA (Hons) in Management and International Politics. After working for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, I switched to a career in investment, focusing on managing the portfolios of trustees, private clients and their families, initially at Murray Beith Murray and then Turcan Connell. I joined Adam & Company as part of the acquisition of Punter Southall Wealth, and am based in the Edinburgh office. As well as over two decades of portfolio management experience, my background includes a range of charity roles including being an elected Council Member of the National Trust for Scotland, a member of the Scottish Episcopal Church investment committee and currently a member of Erskine’s finance and performance committee. I am also a Chartered Fellow of the CISI.


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Book a freeconsultation with an Investment Manager

Typically, we work with clients who have over £250,000 of investable assets. Please note, we do not offer a one-off share sale service below these amounts.

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What happens next?

1. Arranging an initial consultation

First you can expect to receive an email from our team within 48 hours to find a suitable time that works for you, to arrange a voice or video call for an initial consultation.

2. Your consultation 

During this consultation, a member of the team will discuss your situation with you to understand your requirements and answer any questions you might have about Adam & Company and the services that we provide.

3. Referral to a Wealth Planner or Investment Manager

If you decide to progress with us, you will be referred to one of our Wealth Planners or Investment Managers to discuss your situation and requirements in more detail. They will then design a bespoke proposal detailing a unique investment portfolio that matches your individual requirements and attitude to risk, to meet you and your family’s needs.

4. Working with you long-term

With our wealth planning and investment management professionals, your wealth is in expert hands. We will always keep you informed about your investment portfolio and performance and will continue to work with you to build our relationship on your terms. We can meet with you face-to-face, by phone or by email, whichever is more convenient for you. You can also access your account online at any time through our app. Our wealth management professionals are always readily available to speak with you.

 

Investment involves risk and you may not get back what you invest. It’s not suitable for everyone.

Investment involves risk and is not suitable for everyone.