Chris Beckett
Head of Research
London
What attracted you to a career in wealth management?
Generating superior investment returns is difficult – that is what makes equity research a challenging and rewarding role. If we do our job well our clients enjoy higher living standards and improved financial security. This is great responsibility but has also provided me with a varied and fulfilling career.
I began my career with a hedge fund before I moving to long only equity analysis and portfolio management for insurance companies and a charity fund manager. My undergraduate degree in Management Studies and Masters in International Securities have given me the academic knowledge to pursue this career but the experience of the market tribulations of the last 30 years has been more important in developing the judgement to make effective investment recommendations.
This is a role where you never stop learning – studies for the CFA Charter and other professional qualifications are supported by exposure to the management of some of the world most successful companies. There are lots of different thing that can make a company a successful investment our job is to identify the ones that really matter.
I joined Quilter Cheviot in 2008, just in time for the great financial crisis, and have been fortunate to lead one of the most talented equity research teams for the last 15 years.
How do you work with / look after clients?
My goal is to ensure that Quilter Cheviot’s equity research team to add value to client investment performance through the generation of superior investment recommendations. An effective central research department married with client focused investment managers adds value to portfolios but retains the bespoke portfolio construction and individual service interaction that Quilter Cheviot is famous for. Being responsive to investment manager requests and clear and effective communication of recommendations translates academic success into real world investment returns.
What are your interests outside of work?
Outside of work, I am a keen, but not very fast, runner. You will invariably find me at a parkrun on Saturday mornings and helping to organise junior events on Sundays. Having teenage children, the rest of my time is spent proving a taxi service to drama rehearsals, rowing, training and their many other interests.