Investments · Portfolio Management
Discretionary Portfolio Management for Global Investors
You define the objective and the constraints. We manage the portfolio. Discretionary portfolio management places your investments in the hands of experienced professionals while you retain clear authority over the mandate, the asset class scope, and the risk budget. Suitable for internationally mobile HNW investors who want institutional-quality management without constant personal involvement.
Service overview
What is Discretionary Portfolio Management?
You Set the Mandate — We Manage It
Discretionary portfolio management begins with a thorough mandate definition process. You define your investment objectives, target return, risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity requirements, currency preferences, and any asset class exclusions. This becomes your Investment Policy Statement — the authoritative document governing how the portfolio is managed.
Once the mandate is agreed and signed, our investment team makes all day-to-day portfolio decisions within its parameters — selecting securities, managing positions, rebalancing, responding to market events — without needing to seek your prior approval for each transaction. You are updated regularly and can review or amend the mandate at any time.
This contrasts with execution-only (where you make all decisions and we simply execute) and advisory (where we recommend but you decide). Discretionary management is appropriate where the client wants professional judgement applied consistently, without the need to be consulted on every market move.
Mandate Definition: What We Agree at Outset
- ✓Investment objective: Capital growth, income, capital preservation, or a combination — with a defined target return.
- ✓Benchmark: A market index or blended benchmark against which portfolio performance is measured.
- ✓Risk budget: Maximum acceptable volatility, maximum drawdown, and portfolio beta — defining the risk envelope.
- ✓Asset class scope: Which asset classes are permitted, their maximum allocations, and any exclusions.
- ✓Currency: Base currency, permitted currency exposure, and hedging policy for non-base-currency assets.
- ✓Liquidity requirements: Any requirement to maintain a minimum liquid allocation for anticipated near-term cash needs.
- ✓Ethical constraints: Excluded sectors or companies (tobacco, weapons, fossil fuels, etc.) if applicable.
Asset class coverage
What We Manage Within a Discretionary Mandate
A fully diversified portfolio under a Global Investments discretionary mandate spans six primary asset classes, with allocations tailored to the Investment Policy Statement.
Global Equities
Direct shares in listed companies and equity ETFs across developed and emerging markets. Active stock selection or index-tracking depending on mandate and conviction.
Bonds & Fixed Income
Government bonds, investment-grade and high-yield corporate bonds, emerging market debt. Duration and credit quality managed within mandate parameters.
Investment Funds
UCITS funds, SICAVs, offshore funds from leading managers across equity, bond, and mixed strategies. Fund selection based on process, performance, and cost.
Alternatives
REITs, infrastructure funds, commodity exposure, absolute return strategies, and hedge fund-style allocations for appropriate mandates. Improves diversification and reduces correlation to equities.
Structured Products
Capital protected notes, autocall notes, and fixed-coupon instruments within the portfolio. Used to manage specific return profiles or downside risk for defined periods.
Cash & Short-Term Instruments
Offshore fixed-term deposits, money market funds, and short-dated instruments used for liquidity management and as a tactical reserve within the portfolio.
Transparency
Reporting and Client Communication
Quarterly Reporting
Every quarter, clients receive a comprehensive portfolio report covering:
- Portfolio valuation at quarter-end, with holding-by-holding breakdown
- Asset allocation versus mandate limits
- Performance versus benchmark — quarterly and since inception
- Attribution analysis: which positions and asset classes contributed to or detracted from performance
- Risk report: realised volatility, maximum drawdown, Sharpe ratio
- Transaction record: all trades executed during the quarter
Annual Review
Once a year, we conduct a formal review of the mandate and strategy. This covers:
- Full-year performance analysis — what worked, what did not
- Review of mandate appropriateness — does it still reflect your objectives?
- Changes in circumstances — relocation, tax status, liquidity needs, time horizon
- Market outlook and strategic asset allocation adjustments
- Fee transparency — all charges clearly disclosed
Reviews are conducted in person, by video, or by written report depending on the client's location and preference.
Minimum investment
Typical minimum for a full discretionary portfolio management mandate. Below this threshold, we recommend managed fund solutions or an advisory service.
Also available: Advisory Service
For investors who want to stay involved in investment decisions, our advisory service provides research, analysis, and recommendations — with you retaining the final decision-making authority on all transactions.
Discuss your requirements →Ideal clients
Who Discretionary Management Suits
Time-Poor HNW Individuals
Senior executives, business owners, and entrepreneurs whose primary focus is their professional and business activities. Discretionary management removes the burden of portfolio decisions without sacrificing quality of investment outcomes.
Multi-Market Investors
Investors with assets in multiple jurisdictions who cannot effectively monitor all positions, currencies, and market developments simultaneously. A single mandate consolidates oversight and decision-making.
Investors Transitioning from Active to Passive
High earners nearing retirement who have accumulated wealth through direct involvement in markets and now want to transition to a more systematic, less intensive management approach.
Offshore Bond Holders
Clients holding wealth within offshore investment bond wrappers who want the underlying investment portfolio professionally managed under a defined mandate, within the tax-efficient wrapper structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between discretionary and advisory portfolio management?
In a discretionary mandate, you set the investment objectives and constraints at the outset — your target return, risk tolerance, time horizon, excluded asset classes, currency preferences, and ethical constraints. Once the mandate is agreed, the portfolio manager makes all day-to-day investment decisions without needing to consult you before each trade. In an advisory relationship, the adviser researches and recommends, but you retain the decision-making authority — you must approve each transaction. Discretionary management suits investors who want professional management without constant involvement. Advisory suits investors who want to remain engaged in decisions.
What is the minimum investment for discretionary management?
Our discretionary portfolio management service has a typical minimum of USD 250,000 (or currency equivalent). Below this threshold, diversification across asset classes becomes constrained and the cost-to-benefit ratio of full discretionary management is less compelling. For portfolios below this level, we offer an advisory service or managed fund solutions that provide professional management at lower minimums.
How are discretionary portfolios reported?
Clients receive quarterly portfolio valuations showing current holdings, allocation by asset class and geography, performance against the agreed benchmark, and a risk report showing key metrics such as volatility and maximum drawdown. Performance is shown net of all fees. We also provide an annual review meeting — in person, by video, or by written report depending on the client's preference and location — at which we review the mandate, discuss any changes in circumstances, and assess whether the portfolio strategy remains aligned with objectives.
What asset classes do you manage within a discretionary mandate?
A typical discretionary mandate covers global equities (direct shares and ETFs), government and corporate bonds, investment funds (UCITS and offshore), structured products, and cash. Alternative allocations — including REITs, commodities, hedge fund-style strategies, and private credit — can be included for appropriate clients with longer investment horizons. The scope of each mandate is defined in the Investment Policy Statement agreed at inception, based on the client's risk profile, liquidity needs, and preferences.
Begin a portfolio management conversation
Setting up a discretionary mandate starts with a conversation about your objectives, your existing assets, and how you want them managed. There is no obligation at this stage. We will assess whether our service is the right fit and provide a clear proposal.
The value of investments and income from them can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the amount originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future results. All investment decisions carry risk. Independent advice should be sought.
Begin a portfolio management conversation
Tell us about your portfolio size, investment objectives, and how involved you want to be in day-to-day decisions. We will assess whether our discretionary service is the right fit and provide a clear proposal.