Jerome Booth, Ashmore

Protecting clients from downside risk while taking advantage of investment opportunities will occupy wealth managers in 2012

In this highly uncertain macro-economic environment, dominated by the eurozone debt crisis, the Holy Grail of wealth preservation and portfolio diversification has become particularly challenging to achieve.

Gary Withers, First State

First State’s Gary Withers explains how one of the group’s priorities is enticing existing clients into specialist products such as infrastructure and real estate funds

Yes

While a breakup of the European Monetary Union (EMU) should not be ruled out, it is unlikely to occur. Such an event would not be economically optimal for any member state. The associated costs of a breakup are significant and would outweigh the benefits of exit.

Dan Briggs, Fleming Family & Partners

A wide range of vehicles are available to investors looking to adopt volatility strategies, either as a source of return, or as a way of protecting portfolios

With volatility expected to remain high over coming months, strategies which profit from market swings or try to hedge portfolios from those wild market movements are very much in demand.