Whitechurch Securities investment manager Tim Jones lists the chance to go on holiday and the reopening of the local bakery among his hopes for a more normal 2021.
What have been your top and worst performing fund picks during the year?
We met the managers of the Ninety One (Investec) Global Environment Fund towards the end of last year and invested shortly after, so seeing that go from strength to strength this year has been pleasing. However, I have to mention one of our long-term holdings which we added to earlier in the year – the Baillie Gifford Positive Change fund, because it has been exceptional. The holdings which have disappointed have generally been small, historic investment trust positions, particularly those with exposure to UK smaller companies.
What are your biggest over and underweights as vaccine news points towards a return to normality?
We are overweight UK equities, as we see enough drivers for them to be less out-of-favour over the next few years. Along with many other UK houses, I’d say we are slightly underweight US equities. However, we are excited to see what the recent election result will mean for us, given our strong ethical suite.
What would be your ideal lockdown Christmas present?
The return of some normality for 2021, which could be anything from seeing friends and family again to, dare I say, a holiday. I’m also fast running out of ideas for how to keep my two-year old son entertained.
How are you altering your Christmas plans in light of the pandemic?
This will be the first Christmas where I won’t get to see my brother. He lives in Australia, so travel restrictions mean that he and his wife won’t be able to make their annual visit home this year. That aside, I’ll be doing my best to make it feel as normal as possible.
Which local haunt are you most looking forward to returning to once office working returns?
Being based in a leafy suburb of Bristol, we aren’t blessed with the same choice of eateries available in the City, but rumours of the local bakery reopening in 2021 will be enough to get us excited.
What lockdown movies, series or books would you recommend for people hunkering down during the holidays?
Little Fires Everywhere and Big Little Lies had me hooked during lockdown one. I also recently re-watched Damages from the beginning. I’d not seen it since watching it on TV more than 10 years ago, but, looking back, it was definitely ahead of its time.
Tim Jones is an investment manager at Whitechurch Securities
