Money Wise UK®
Beyond Active vs Passive: Building Investment Portfolios That Behave — with Ash Weston
The debate between active and passive investing is often presented as a simple choice. But does that binary argument distract advisers from the questions that really matter? In this episode of the Money Wise UK Podcast, George Ladds is joined by Ash Weston, Head of Model Portfolio Services at 8AM Global , to explore how investment portfolios can be designed to behave consistently, support a financial plan and deliver outcomes clients can understand. George and Ash discuss the limitations of relying on past performance, the SPIVA research, active-manager selection and why even choosing a passive strategy is an active decision. They also explore how systematic investment processes can help control human bias, identify when an investment is no longer behaving as expected and reduce the temptation to chase recent winners. The conversation covers: • Active versus passive investing and why there may be no single right answer • What SPIVA does—and does not—tell us about active fund management • Why recent investment performance can be a dangerous basis for selection • What a “well-behaved” investment portfolio should look like • Systematic investing with human oversight • Investment manager due diligence and evidencing value • Risk profiling and genuine client understanding • The role of model portfolio services within financial planning • How AI and better data could change financial advice and investment management • Why investment decisions should begin with the person and the financial plan—not the product This is a wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation for financial advisers, planners, investment professionals and anyone interested in portfolio construction, behavioural investing, MPS due diligence and the future of financial advice. The central message is simple: the label attached to an investment approach matters less than whether the process is clear, repeatable, adaptable and capable of supporting better client outcomes. Important information This podcast is provided for general information and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, legal or tax advice, or a personal recommendation to invest. The views expressed are those of the individual speakers at the time of recording and may change. References to particular investment approaches, funds, model portfolios or providers should not be treated as an endorsement or recommendation. The value of investments, and the income from them, can fall as well as rise, and investors may get back less than they originally invested. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future returns. Any investment decision should take account of an individual’s objectives, financial circumstances, attitude to risk, capacity for loss and investment time horizon. Where appropriate, seek advice from a suitably qualified and regulated financial adviser. Money Wise UK does not provide regulated financial advice.
