What on earth could strawberries have to do with prestigious investment management firm Joseph Palmer & Sons? Differentiation!

In an era of apparent ‘sameness’, where it can be difficult for some to differentiate one investment firm from another, this brief essay provides an opportunity to perceive key differences.

More than half a year has passed since the global pandemic wreaked havoc in societies and financial markets worldwide. Regrettably, the virus remains virulent so has slowed the pace of economic recovery and caused a multitude of social implications to remain prominent. The path towards a vaccine seems promising, with more than 130 projects globally, funded almost limitlessly, with accelerated clinical trial processes. A rapid rebound in consumer confidence and associated economic activity is expected should a successful vaccine become widely available.

There is no shortage of information, advice and opinion in newspapers, magazines and on the airwaves about successful investing – what to invest in, how to do it, what to avoid – but separating the good advice from the questionable advice is difficult. How do investors cut through to what really matters?