Market View From the Top from Spicers CEO Gordon Noble-Campbell

Knowledge and understanding create confidence in volatile times

18 June 2010

Over the past month, I’ve immensely enjoyed the opportunity to meet with Spicers clients from around New Zealand, as part of our annual client briefing presentations. Joining me on this year’s series of 24 national presentations was Murray Harris, Spicers’ National Investment Manager.

In an investment environment characterised by financial market volatility, it’s understandable that many investors are adopting a cautious approach to investment decision making. As a result, it’s crucial that all decisions are made with confidence. In my experience, that confidence is only be created through increased knowledge and understanding. This is one of the key objectives of our annual client briefings.

In my presentation this year, I shared the results of a global survey which was aimed at identifying what people considered to be most important in a financial advice relationship. The following statements describe these attributes.

“Listen to me, and understand my requirements”
“Give me choice if you want me to trust your advice, but not too much.”
“Put my interests first.”
“Prove the value of your advice, and I’ll pay for it.”
“Give me some help.”
“Stop the jargon and information overload.”
“Put me in control.”
“Provide clarity.”
“Don’t use complexity to justify your advice to me.”
“Tell me what it costs.”

I’m sure that most, if not all, of the above expressions of value will resonate strongly with most New Zealanders. In my view they’re certainly attributes which all financial advice businesses ought to subscribe to. From Spicers’ perspective, these points are captured in a simple expression of “who we are” and “what we stand for”, as noted below.

“Through our professional advice, and ongoing mentoring, we’ll empower you to make informed financial choices, which improve your quality of life”.

“We aim to grow your financial confidence, by sharing our financial knowledge, planning experience, and technical skill, as it applies to your personal situation.”

Over the past 20 years, these values have become part of our business “DNA”, and a key building block of our client relationships throughout New Zealand.

While the future is seldom revealed before the present, with knowledge and understanding, we can face our financial goals with confidence.