UK equity income update

2020 was a highly challenging year for insurers with large falls in asset values and worsening of balance sheets over the earlier part of the year, ongoing increased volatility and wider stresses to operating models. Now the dust has (at least partially) settled, insurers are now facing a different challenge – generating an acceptable level of return under the now much lower yield environment. In addition to the market environment, climate risk management and the evolving regulatory framework will remain at the forefront of discussions in 2021.

Join us for a 2021 insurance outlook webinar hosted by the RLAM team comprising: Andrew Epsom (Insurance Client Solutions Director); Carlota Garcia-Manas (Senior Responsible Investment Analyst); Martin Foden (Head of Credit Research); and Azhar Hussain (Head of Global Credit) who will provide an insight into how insurers can adapt their portfolios to the new economic and regulatory environment. Topics of discussion will include key themes such as climate risk management, effective integration of ESG into credit investing and unlocking increased returns in a post-Covid world.

The RL Global Equity Select Fund’s investment approach is used to differentiate stocks across their respective lifecycles, in order to build a relatively neutral style portfolio. Whilst a portfolio with either a distinct growth or value bias enhances risk exposure, this investment approach may help negate that by offering idiosyncratic stock picking which can work across multiple market environments.

The fund has a proven track record with a style agnostic approach, which distinguishes it from its peers.

Listen to find out more about how the lifecycle concept is put into practice, plus hear about practical stock examples and Peter Rutter’s views on the current market.

As we approach five years since the drafting of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, we examine the climate landscape, and discuss:

• Trends in emissions and policy - what 2020 has meant for climate, the ramifications of COVID and the delay to COP26 discussions, and what China’s announcement of its commitment to net zero emissions by 2060 means

• The investment industry’s response to climate change in this unprecedented year

• Climate risk mitigation and integration across RLAM’s investment strategies

This live webinar will be hosted by John Burke, Head of Institutional with RLAM's climate expert Carlota Garcia-Manas, Senior Responsible Investment Analyst.

Sustainable investing against the backdrop of Covid-19 and its potential impact over the next decade, addressing key sustainable themes and how they’ve fared during the pandemic, and looking at the pros and cons of a global approach to sustainable investing and how best to overcome obstacles. The session will be hosted by Kate Parker, Institutional Client Solutions Director, with RLAM's Head of Sustainable Investments, Mike Fox, and George Crowdy, Sustainable Fund Manager.

In this session Jeremy Smith and Vicky Pearce from B-Compliant discuss the key compliance topics facing advisers and wealth managers.

Treasurers face unique investment challenges. In this session, Kate Parker focuses on how to implement cash investment strategies when rates are so low, as well as how sustainable investing can fit with longer term investment horizons.

Andrew Epsom, RLAM’s insurance investment specialist, looks at how the economic and regulatory environment (particularly ESG integration) for fixed income investing is changing, and provides practical examples of how insurers could change their fixed income approach to be better positioned going forwards.

Carlota Garcia-Manas looks at integrating climate change disclosure requirements for asset owners and how we see the regulatory environment evolving.

Craig Inches explains what is happening in the UK gilt market as it absorbs record government issuance and where buying is dominated by the Bank of England, and how this is an environment for more active approaches.

Stephen Tapley gives an overview of the availability and sources of liquidity within the High Yield market during the recent market correction, and outlines that substantial parts of the market performed admirably.

Paola Binns looks at sterling credit, how the Bank of England has added inefficiency to a market that already offered active investors exploitable opportunities, and the prospects for defaults and income over the next decade.

Paul Rayner looks at the myths and reality of the death of inflation, with a focus on what Covid could do to inflation and why inflation markets may be wrong in writing off the risk of any inflation increase.

James Clarke and Carlota Garcia-Manas examine how ESG integration and governance have impacted global equity investing, and how these portfolios can help meet developing client needs.

Ashley Hamilton Claxton looks at corporate behaviour during the crisis. How did companies act, and what do their actions in stressed circumstances tell us?

Rachid Semaoune talks about how sustainable investing translates to fixed income investing, with particular emphasis on global credit.

George Crowdy on the advantages and disadvantages of taking a global approach to sustainable investing, and how he overcomes the obstacles that this can create.

Mike Fox looks at sustainable investing at RLAM, what’s changed, and what’s next. In this session we will look at how sustainable investing was impacted by the coronavirus and what impact this could have over the next decade.

Keynote speaker Andrew Neil

Matt Burgess looks at the future of equity investment. Equities have always been a part of holistic investment solutions. But client needs and demands are more diverse. In this session we look at some of the ways that investors can get what they want from equity exposure.