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Exclusive Fund Focus Cornelian Defensive Fund January 2026 Think Differently This Month’s Fund in Focus – Cornelian Defensive Fund We have selected the Cornelian Defensive Fund as this month’s Fund in Focus due to its clear emphasis on downside protection and disciplined risk management at a time when market conditions remain uncertain. The fund operates with a defined cap on risk, ensuring portfolio exposure does not exceed its defensive mandate, while crucially maintaining no minimum risk requirement. This allows the managers to reduce risk meaningfully when conditions warrant, rather than being constrained to stay invested during periods of heightened market stress. Combined with a flexible, diversified multi-asset approach, this structure makes the fund particularly well positioned to navigate volatile environments while focusing on preserving capital and delivering real returns over the long term. In our view, these characteristics make the Cornelian Defensive Fund a timely and relevant example of a genuinely defensive strategy, and a strong candidate for this month’s Fund in Focus.

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Learn about QuantQual’s commitment to transparent, research-driven investment insights for financial advisers. Meet our team and explore our mission. QuantQual is a specialist portfolio research and consultancy firm dedicated to supporting independent financial advisers (IFAs) with outsourced investment research, fund recommendations, and comprehensive due diligence reports. Our mission is to streamline your investment research, strengthen client reporting, and help mitigate risk by enhancing your research capabilities. Tailored Solutions for IFAs At QuantQual, we work closely with your team, seamlessly integrating with your current processes to construct or align our solutions with your Centralised Investment Propositions (CIP), Centralised Retirement Propositions (CRP), and client segmentation strategies. This approach ensures you save time while delivering clear, actionable insights to your clients. Clear, Client-Centric Communication We understand the critical role of clear communication for financial advisers and their clients. With extensive experience working in and with financial advisory teams, our experts craft each document, focusing on clarity and readability. Our reports are designed from the end client’s perspective, with accessible summaries and straightforward language in updates, reviews and mailings. About Us Delivering Clarity Through Independent Analysis Meet the Team Gillian Lamb Director and Head of Business Gillian launched QuantQual in 2022 to offer outsourced investment research to the adviser market that is fully independent. Gillian manages the QuantQual company strategy and all operations, covering a wide range of duties to ensure we meet our key business goals. Responsible for financial, staffing and wider operational decisions, Gillian oversees the company’s processes and policies. Working across departments with all staff, Gillian allocates resources to QuantQual’s projects and clients. Her research and development experience (over 25 years both within and beyond financial services) extends to cover our due diligence reporting with fund groups, supporting the Investment Director and Client Services team. Matthew Dewsnap IMC, Cert.PFS Investment Director Matthew joined QuantQual in 2022 as a Partner and Lead Analyst, where he leads the development of our quantitative screening models and oversees the final stage of our qualitative assessments. He brings valuable, hands-on experience in financial planning, having previously managed the Centralised Investment Proposition (CIP) and portfolios for a regional IFA with £250 million in assets under management. This background gives him a deep understanding of the practical needs and challenges faced by financial advisers, ensuring that QuantQual’s insights remain relevant, implementable, and aligned with real-world advisory work. Jon Baker Director & Head of IFA Propositions After 20 years working for life companies, Jon spent ten years working at large regional IFA, Jelf Financial Planning. He was part of the management team and responsible for marketing and communications, proposition development, and he chaired the Investment Committee. When the business was taken over by Mercer, Jon took the opportunity to build on his practical experience and become a consultant to the IFA community specialising in investment governance, research, and proposition development. He has worked with IFA businesses and sits on four IFA Investment Committees. Jon joined forces with QuantQual in 2024. Bashar Aboush Investment Analyst Bashar joined QuantQual in August 2025, having previously served as Head of Investments and Head of Dealing in earlier roles. With over 25 years of experience in financial services, he has managed investment portfolios for clients on an advisory and discretionary basis, navigating a wide range of market conditions and regulatory changes over the years. This experience has taught him that focusing on clients’ long-term objectives rather than short-term results is paramount to successful investing. Bashar’s strengths lie in assessing stock market risks and understanding the needs of financial advisers and their clients. He plays a key role in supporting Jon Baker in delivering outstanding service to IFAs, while also working closely with Matthew Dewsnap on fund and portfolio research. Bashar holds a Certificate in Investment Management from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI).

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All Posts georgeladds1 Aug 15 2 min Navigating Market Volatility: Lessons from the MSCI World Index and Investor Sentiment Over the long term, investing in the stock market has consistently proven rewarding, but navigating market volatility is challenging.... 2 views 0 comments Post not marked as liked georgeladds1 Aug 15 3 min Retirement: what is it good for Over the last few months, I have studied the FCA Thematic Review into Retirement. It has challenged my thinking about retirement and the... 3 views 0 comments Post not marked as liked

Search Results Blog Posts (2) Other Pages (10) 2 items found for "" Sort By: Best Match Retirement: what is it good for Over the last few months, I have studied the FCA Thematic Review into Retirement. It has challenged my thinking about retirement and the challenges facing financial planners. So, we ask, "Retirement: what is it good for?". Below are two case studies: Case Study One Imagine a financial planning firm that operated without a clear retirement strategy. As clients approached retirement, they were left to navigate their retirement income with their existing risk profile, relying on selling units for income. This lack of a clear strategy led to potential pitfalls and challenges. Case Study Two Consider a couple I recently encountered trying to determine if they had enough money to retire. The financial planner, however, was only considering a solution for one of the pair, neglecting to account for their combined assets and needs. This case underscores the importance of comprehensive financial planning that includes both partners. It's important to note that the complexity of retirement planning is not to be underestimated. Even in the cases I've presented, where all the facts may not be fully disclosed, the intricacies of retirement planning are evident. This underscores the need for professional advice in navigating this increasingly complex landscape. Why Is the FCA Concerned? As I have developed propositions for financial planners, it has become clear how complicated retirement planning is and the opportunities to demonstrate value. In this blog, I want to touch on some of these. I call it the retirement conundrum. I often use this to illustrate what we face at retirement: We live longer, are worried about whether we can afford to retire, and the golden age of guaranteed pension schemes has passed. Navigating and making the right decisions is becoming increasingly complicated. Looking at this and the two scenarios at the start, we can see why the FCA is concerned. Inflation, longevity and tax Inflation (the silent killer) is crucial because it erodes what we can afford to buy. When I started managing defined benefit schemes in the late eighties, a lady was receiving a pension of £60 per annum. She began receiving this in the early sixties, and it never increased. What she could afford then, she couldn’t afford now. Just because inflation has been low for the last ten years doesn’t guarantee a path into the future. The second factor is longevity . Today, a male 60-year-old has a 1 in 4 chance of living to 92. This means any savings to provide income must last a long time. There is also tax , which is the most efficient way to receive income in retirement. Delivering on income in retirement Far from being negative about the FCA paper, I believe this is a defining moment for retirement planning. It also provides opportunities for financial planners to demonstrate value within their proposition. Before we even start, a couple entitled to the entire state pension will receive circa £23,000 p.a. A recent report by the IFS showed that expenditure goes down in retirement. The point is that managing needs and expectations is becoming increasingly complicated. Switching income on and off to reflect different needs at different times is a crucial element of retirement planning. Managing Income One of the other aspects is how do you manage income: Annuities : Buying a guaranteed income from your fund. Selling Units : Selling down units within your fund to provide an income supported by many academic papers. Natural Income : Taking an income from natural income. There are probably a hundred more you can add. New solutions are coming to the market every day, and tax also plays a big part in ensuring the right solution is delivered. Conclusion We started with two scenarios that reflect some people's approach to retirement planning. The latest FCA paper is good for consumers and financial planners. Financial planners have a massive opportunity to really help consumers in retirement. Consumers, in turn, should be able to feel comfortable knowing that they will be okay in retirement. Disclaimer: Please note these are my thoughts. There are no recommendations within this. I am not regulated, nor can I provide advice. I would always recommend seeking advice from a financial planner before making any investment decisions. Investments can also fall and go up, and past performance is no guide to the future. Navigating Market Volatility: Lessons from the MSCI World Index and Investor Sentiment Over the long term, investing in the stock market has consistently proven rewarding, but navigating market volatility is challenging. Historical data from the MSCI World Index , spanning from January 1999 to July 2024, supports this with an average return of 7.39% and volatility of 14%. However, the journey to achieving these returns is far from smooth, as recent fluctuations in the stock markets show. One insightful tool that captures the emotional rollercoaster of investing is the Fear and Greed Index , which gauges investor sentiment in the US. Over the past year, this index has swung from extreme greed to fear, illustrating how quickly market sentiment can shift. Timeless advice is to imagine setting aside £10,000 for a decade without monitoring market news. Would we be satisfied if that investment grew to £15,000? Likely, the answer is yes. However, the value could have been significantly higher or lower during that period. We might not notice these fluctuations without the emotional tug-of-war from watching daily market swings. This underscores the importance of focusing on the long term rather than being swayed by short-term volatility. Here are three key takeaways from the current market swings: Markets Go Up : While it’s thrilling to watch investments grow, it’s essential to remember that past performance doesn’t guarantee future returns. Staying grounded during bullish periods helps prepare for eventual downturns. Markets Go Down : Downturns are not a reason to panic. With cash reserves, market dips can be like a sale, offering the opportunity to buy quality investments at lower prices. History shows that good investments typically recover and appreciate over time. Time in the Market : As the chart from the FTSE (sourced from Fidelity ) highlights, spending time in the market is more beneficial than attempting to time it. Trying to buy low and sell high often leads to poorly timed trades and diminished returns. In conclusion, despite the hype surrounding certain high-flying stocks and the anxiety that accompanies market downturns, it’s crucial to maintain a long-term perspective. Holding nerves through market swings is often the best strategy for navigating marketing volatility and achieving investment goals.