Investing in property can be a rewarding experience, but how do you make informed, cost-effective decisions in this often difficult sphere? We offer a full range of advice on property-related issues.

A Complex Field

Property investment is an area often shunned by advisors. Too often trustees get stuck with a property holding they don't know what to do with. The weighting to property within fund benchmarks has declined over the past 20 years and the purpose of holding property is often questioned, given the default and liquidity risks inherent to the asset class. Another influencing factor that has driven this decline is the belief that property returns are cyclical and open to highly subjective valuation techniques. In this environment of limited available advice and increasing obsolescence, how do you ensure you make the most informed, cost-effective decisions in this potentially rewarding field?

In order to provide the service we carry out a rolling research programme of property managers, including analysis of performance and portfolio activity.

Hewitt offers a full range of property investment advisory services that can help you to make the right decision first time. This will help you to negate some of the risks and draw on the diversification benefits and high income available from holding property.

Comprehensive Advice

We can offer advice in the four key areas of property investment advisory services: strategy, implementation, contractual terms and ongoing monitoring. The services we can offer include:

Strategy:

• Advice on the role of UK and/or European property in a multi-asset strategic framework
• Trustee training and workshops to help trustees understand property investment
• Advice on the inclusion of non-core property opportunities

Implementation:

• Devising a property strategy and workable management structure
• Advice on direct versus indirect, balancing funds and level of discretion
• Selection of third party providers (managers, valuers)
• Planning entry and exit strategies
• Analysis and review of property funds

Contractual terms:

• Review of investment instructions
• Guidelines, restrictions and incentive arrangements
• Benchmarking fee levels and fee structures to market

Ongoing monitoring:

• Provide focus on the key issues for your manager
• Independent analysis of returns
• Risk analysis

Selecting the Best

We have been providing advice on property-related issues for 25 years, and have a wealth of experience allied to a genuine interest in the sphere. We have the imagination to find a workable solution within the context of your fund.

Giving clearly communicated advice that can be understood and implemented is of the utmost importance to us.

Contact Nick Duff via email, or by phone at +44 (0) 20 7939 4427.