Linda Stangherlin

The Zurich Investments Equity Income Fund has been upgraded to a ‘Recommended’ rating from Lonsec, reflecting increased conviction in the quality and experience of the co-Portfolio Managers.

In its review, Lonsec noted: ‘Lonsec believes that Denning and Callaghan are two of the better options strategists and traders in the Income Specialised sub-sector’ and has conviction in ‘their ability to effectively implement the options strategy.’

Managed by Zurich’s strategic investment partner Denning Pryce, who, with more than 50 years of combined experience, are acknowledged experts in the derivatives market. By investing in blue chip Australian shares and exchange traded options the Zurich Investments Equity Income Fund aims to provide high levels of income paid monthly together with lower volatility than other equity funds.

Zurich Investments National Sales Manager, Linda Stangherlin said it’s great to see the pedigree and quality of the Denning Pryce team being recognised.

“This upgrade reflects the team’s expertise and ability to evolve the strategy to manage the ever changing options environment,” said Ms. Stangherlin.

“The fund suits investors who are risk averse but still need equity market exposure, and who are looking for regular income and lower volatility,” she added.

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Linda Stangherlin

Zurich Financial Services Australia (Zurich) is proud to announce the Zurich Investments Australian Property Securities Fund (“The Fund”) was awarded ‘Winner’ in the ‘AREIT’ category for 2017 at the Professional Planner Zenith Fund Awards on Friday.

Managed by Zurich’s strategic investment partner, Renaissance Property Securities Pty Ltd (Renaissance), the award was in recognition of its highly experienced team, and time-tested value approach to investing in Australian listed property stocks.

Zurich Investments National Sales Manager, Linda Stangherlin, said the fund offers investors access to some of the best value listed property trusts in Australia and is actively managed by one of the most experienced investment teams in the industry.

“The success of the fund is in large part due to the collective experience and deep, specialist knowledge that the Renaissance team apply in actively investing in the asset class.

“Their track record is easy to quantify – aside from the returns the fund delivers, this is the third time the Fund has been recognised by the research houses this year.

“We’re proud to have worked with such a great partner for more than 11 years and absolutely delighted with the win,” she said.

“The Fund won the Morningstar Fund Manager of the Year in the Property & Infrastructure category for 2017, and was also recently added to the Lonsec model.”

The Fund suits investors seeking exposure to Australia’s diverse property market, through investing in property trusts listed on the ASX. It aims to provide capital growth and regular income over the medium-to-long term, and when added to an existing portfolio, contributes to a growth allocation.

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Linda Stangherlin

Zurich Investments Australian Property Securities Fund (the Fund) has maintained its “Highly Recommended” rating from research houses Lonsec and Zenith in their 2017 reviews.

This follows the Fund also being named this year’s ‘Morningstar Fund Manager of the Year: Property & Infrastructure Category’ in March, and rounds out the recognition from Australia’s leading research houses for exceptional investment performance.

As well as maintaining its “Highly Recommended” rating for the third year in a row, Lonsec further recognised the Fund by adding it to their model portfolio, effective July 2017. This is on the ‘belief that current market dynamics, including benchmark exposure to retail centres, rising interest rates historically high valuations now warrant an active approach to the asset class.’

The Fund is managed by Zurich’s strategic investment partner Renaissance Property Securities Pty Ltd (Renaissance), who were lauded for their active management approach.

Zurich Investments National Sales Manager, Linda Stangherlin said the Fund offers investors access to some of the best value listed property trusts in Australia and is actively managed by one of the most experienced investment teams in the industry.

“This Fund goes from strength to strength in terms of performance and recognition from industry experts. Much of that is down to the in-depth knowledge of our specialist fund manager; it could be argued that few know Australian property better. This experience and active management approach will be even more important as the dynamics of the property market change,” said Ms. Stangherlin.

Commentary from the Research houses:

• Lonsec: The ‘rating is underpinned by Lonsec’s strong conviction in the Fund’s co-portfolio managers, who are viewed as high-quality specialist A-REIT investors.’
  ‘Lonsec believes that the Manager’s active approach and the high degree of conviction in portfolios via significant holdings in smaller A-REITs and off-benchmark names give the Fund a meaningful chance of meeting the Fund’s outperformance objective.’
• Zenith: Renewing the rating for the fourth year, Zenith also ‘maintains strong conviction in the collective abilities of both Cocaro and Barrack owing to their experience and long standing working relationship. Zenith believes this is a key strength of the Fund.’
• Morningstar: Adding to these top ratings, the Fund was also awarded the Morningstar Fund Manager of the Year in the Property & Infrastructure category for 2017 earlier this year. The award was ‘in recognition of its highly-experienced team and time-tested value approach to investing in Australian listed property stocks.’

‘Carlos Cocaro, managing director, and Damien Barrack, director of Renaissance adopt a genuinely active investment approach, taking sizeable departures from index weightings and investing in unloved stocks and turnaround stories.’

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Linda Stangherlin7

Zurich is proud to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Zurich Investments Equity Income Fund.

According to Zurich’s National Investment Sales Manager, Linda Stangherlin, the fund, which invests in blue chip Australian shares and exchange traded options, has proven to be a solid performer during a decade of complex and volatile market conditions.

“When the fund was launched in October 2006 it was the first of its kind. No other fund offered investors high regular income with lower volatility through a ‘buy-write’ strategy,” said Ms Stangherlin.

“Ten years on, we’re incredibly proud that the fund has consistently delivered tax-effective income every month across all market conditions. We think that the Fund remains highly relevant for conservative income-seeking investors, particularly given the current low interest rate environment,” she said.

Zurich’s Equity Income Fund is managed by strategic investment partner Denning Pryce, an independent and privately-owned fund manager with a reputation for being experts in options markets.

“Zurich’s global strength means we can partner with fund managers that are among the best in their field. The fact that this fund has weathered downturns as significant as the Global Financial Crisis is a testament to Denning Pryce’s expertise,” said Ms Stangherlin.

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Mr Green has more than 17 years’ experience in financial services both in Australia and the United Kingdom. His diverse background includes senior positions at MLC, Russell Investments, Nikko Asset Management AMP and Lloyds TSB.

Zurich’s National Sales Manager of Investments, Linda Stangherlin, said Mr Green’s appointment comes at an important time for Zurich.

“Zurich’s global strength means we can partner with fund managers that are among the best in their field, enabling us to offer a unique stable of funds, each with their own intelligent investment strategy. Having expertise like Bevan’s in the team positions us exceptionally well for the future,” said Ms Stangherlin.

Another recent change to the Zurich Investments team is the appointment of Maggie Mills into the role of Strategic Account Manager. Previously Zurich Investment’s Account and Territory Manager, this position lifts her focus to an expanded national remit.

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Linda Stangherlin

Zurich Financial Services Australia (Zurich) has announced that its Emerging Markets Equity Fund has received its first rating from Zenith: ‘Recommended’.

In its report, Zenith points to the Fund’s unique focus on companies with sustainable high dividend yield that have the potential to outperform low dividend yielding stocks with lower volatility over a full market cycle.

Zurich’s Emerging Markets Equity Fund is managed by US-based investment manager Wells Capital Management’s (WellsCap) SF Global Emerging Markets Equities team (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo Asset Management), with more than $340 billion USD* in assets under management.

According to Zurich’s National Investment Sales Manager, Linda Stangherlin, Zenith recognises the teams’ long tenure working together, which has produced a strong investment track record and competitive advantage.

“Zurich’s global strength and experience means we can partner with fund managers that are among the best in their field, creating a broad stable of highly specialised investments funds. WellsCap adds to the strong pedigree of managers in Zurich’s Investments line up,” said Ms. Stangherlin.

Zenith’s report anticipates Zurich’s Emerging Markets Equity Fund performance profile will exhibit defensive characteristics, given the companies held within the portfolio are generally more established and less cyclically driven. It also said the Fund will be tilted towards large and mid cap stocks which are typically higher yielding securities.

“We are delighted with the ‘Recommended’ rating from Zenith and look forward to working with our mutual clients,” Ms. Stangherlin said.

The fund is currently available through direct wholesale with Zurich as well as the following investment platforms – BT, IOOF and Netwealth.

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Linda Stangherlin

Zurich Financial Services Australia (Zurich) yesterday announced that its new Concentrated Global Growth Fund has been added to the Netwealth platform, following its launch in December last year.

Managed by Zurich’s strategic Investment partner American Century Investments, the fund provides investors a higher alpha alternative for global equity allocations.

Zurich Investments National Sales Manager, Ms. Linda Stangherlin said the fund invests in a focused portfolio of securities with high growth potential.

“Concentrated Global Growth is a concentrated portfolio of about 30 to 50 stocks that represent the ‘best ideas’ in the global market, typically sourced from the top half of Zurich’s existing diversified Global Growth Share Fund,” said Ms. Stangherlin.

“The fund suits investors who want high conviction exposure to international share markets, as well as those seeking a global portfolio managed for long-term growth.”

Recently awarded a ‘Recommended’ rating by Zenith Investment Partners, the Concentrated Global Growth Fund is the latest offering from Zurich’s six-year partnership with American Century.

The original Global Growth Share Fund was launched in 2009, using the same, distinctive growth-oriented investment strategy that has shown a strong track record of success.

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Ms. Kristine Brooks has been promoted to Head of Distribution, Life and Investments, and Ms. Linda Stangherlin will join Zurich as National Sales Manager, Investments.

In the newly created Head of Distribution role, Ms. Brooks will assume complete responsibility for the planning and execution of Zurich’s distribution strategy across both investments and retail life risk, encompassing Zurich’s engagement with dealer groups, researchers and advisers.

Ms. Brooks was previously Zurich’s Head of Sales, Retail Life and Investments.

Reporting into Ms. Brooks will be Ms. Linda Stangherlin, appointed to the newly created role of National Sales Manager, Investments.

In this role Ms. Stangherlin will lead a team of national account managers and state based regional managers responsible for driving growth across our investments business.

Ms. Stangherlin joins Zurich from Colonial First State, where she spent the last 4 years as National Sales Manager, Investments. Linda has also held senior sales and relationship management roles with Russell Investments, ING and HSBC.

Zurich’s GM Retail Life & Investments Mr. Philip Kewin said that the appointments follow a series of recent changes, designed to drive increased integration and specialisation within those teams managing dealer group, research and fund manager relationships.

“Kristine has been instrumental in driving two years of outstanding sales growth, underpinned by her exceptional strategic thinking and an ability to create a culture of excellence amongst her people,” said Mr. Kewin.

“The broadening of her remit will not only strengthen our distribution capability, it will be warmly welcomed by our strategic investment partners.

“We are equally excited about Linda’s appointment,” said Mr. Kewin.

“Linda is a highly experienced and widely respected investments distribution specialist, and we are delighted to welcome her to the Zurich business,” he said.

Ms. Brooks’ appointment is effective immediately, whilst Ms. Stangherlin will take up her role on November 17th.

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