Will Nicoll is head of fixed income and private assets at RLAM
As part of our series looking at what firms did to win their accolades at the PP Investment Awards 2024, PP speaks talks to Royal London Asset Management head of fixed income and private assets Will Nicoll about winning the UK Fixed Income Manager of the Year accolade.
What does it mean to win this award?
Being awarded the UK Fixed Income Manager of the Year award is a reflection of the dedication, expertise, and innovative spirit of our Fixed Income team, and the commitment of the entire firm to delivering exceptional investment performance and client experience. The award validates our strategic approach and the effectiveness of our investment processes, which are designed to meet the medium to long-term needs of our clients. The award also serves as a motivation for us to continue to strive for excellence, ensuring we remain at the forefront of the industry.
What do you believe sets you apart from your peers?
Royal London Asset Management's' fixed income investment capability ranges across cash and government bonds to investment grade credit, high yield and loans. Our fixed income capability is distinguished by a series of differentiated investment approaches, each defined by its own investment philosophy and implemented through investment processes backed by experienced teams with deep market insights but keeping a client-centric approach in terms of investment objectives.
With regards to pension funds in particular, our long-term investment approach aligns with their time horizons, emphasising such objectives as capital preservation, low turnover and bespoke performance requirements. Additionally, our innovative commitment to ESG integration addresses the distinct nature of fixed income markets. Our robust client service, highlighted by consistent communication, further sets us apart.
How do your investment strategies help pension schemes meet the challenges they face?
Our investment strategies are designed to address the specific challenges faced by a broad range of investor types, including pension schemes, such as matching liabilities and generating stable cash flows to seeking to produce superior risk-adjusted returns versus benchmarks through traditional active management.
Our buy and maintain credit strategy, for example, involves active, continuous monitoring of the portfolio, aiming to deliver robust long-term cashflows that align with pension fund liabilities. Additionally, our use of corporate bonds with a focus on under-researched issuers and issues provides opportunities to lock in superior quality excess returns over the long term.
Furthermore, our focus on sustainable and ESG investing allows us to offer pension schemes access to critical sectors and under-researched bonds, potentially enhancing their investment returns and ESG benefits.
How will you continue to improve your investment offering over the coming 12 months?
Over the next 12 months, we plan to continue to enhance our investment offering by focusing on innovation, sustainability, and client service. We will continue to develop and refine our sustainable investment strategies as well as those that more generally integrate ESG and climate research into investment processes, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of our clients and the market.
In 2025 we look forward to expanding the spectrum of opportunities available to investors in the form of funds and bespoke solutions, providing tailored investment options that address specific client requirements.
Additionally, while we have invested a great deal in technology and operational capabilities over the last few years, we will continue to invest in technology and data analytics to improve our investment processes and outcomes. And our commitment to thought leadership and client communication will remain a priority, ensuring our clients receive timely updates and insights into fixed income markets.
The value of investments and the income from them may go down as well as up and is not guaranteed. Investors may not get back the amount invested. To find out more about Royal London Asset Management's range of fixed income investment solutions please visit www.rlam.com.
For Professional Clients only, not suitable for Retail Clients. This is a financial promotion and is not investment advice. The views expressed are those of the author at the date of publication unless otherwise indicated, which are subject to change. Issued in January 2025 by Royal London Asset Management Limited, 80 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 4BY. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, firm reference number 141665. A subsidiary of The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited.
The winners of the 11th annual PP Investment Awards were announced at a reception in London on 20 November. To see the full list of winners and find out more about the awards, visit: www.investmentawards.co.uk
