Vanguard has launched an Advisory Research Centre (ARC) to support investors in the UK and continental Europe.
The centre will provide insights and thought leadership on investing, portfolio management and financial planning. It will also provide investment professionals with research into best practice on client relationships and practice management.
ARC is led by Scott Johnston, supported by Warwick Bloore and new Vanguard crew members Sebastian Lewis and Fabrizio Zumbo.
Lewis joins Vanguard from Sanford Bernstein where he was director of European Research, while Zumbo joins from Cerulli, where he led the European asset and wealth management research business.
The team will leverage the experience and data gained from Vanguard’s position as a trusted partner for investors and intermediaries across Europe.
ARC will also draw on Vanguard’s global reach and resources, to localise Vanguard’s international research, insights and information for European audiences.
Robyn Laidlaw, head of Financial Adviser Services, Europe, Vanguard, said: “The launch of ARC is the latest step in our efforts to support investors across Europe. The team’s purpose is twofold; to provide practicable insights and to act as an advocate for investors and investment professionals alike.
“The team’s work will complement Vanguard’s existing research and resources, including the cutting-edge thinking of Vanguard’s Investment Strategy Group and Investment and Product Analytics teams, as well as programmes such as Vanguard 365 in the UK, aimed at helping advisers best serve their clients.”
Vanguard currently serves approximately 640,000 UK investors directly through the UK Personal Investor platform, over a million retail investors via brokers in Germany, and more than 50 million investors around the world.
ARC’s first piece of research examines how advisers can build their practice and help their clients through the UK’s ‘Great Wealth Transfer’, which will see approximately £7 trillion pass to the next generation of investors over the next 30 years.
Recently, Vanguard has undergone restructuring at the senior management level. Last month, the wealth manager appointed Doug Abbott as head of UK client group.
Abbott, who joined from Schroders, replaced Neil Cowell. The latter retired from Vanguard after 12 years to commence a career as an independent consultant and executive coach.
Earlier this month, Vanguard’s longstanding managing director for Europe, Sean Hagerty, announced that he will step down in December this year after 27 years at the company. He will be succeeded in the role by Jon Cleborne.
Last May, Vanguard closed its financial advice service arm after low uptake. The service was launched in 2021 and aimed at UK retirement savers with more than £50,000 invested on its platform.
