Announcing the winners in the annual Research IP Fund Manager of the Year Awards held on 15 November 2023.
Congratulations to the team at Milford Asset Management, taking out this year’s coveted Fund Manager of the Year 2023 Award.
Since the 2016 FundSource Awards, Milford has consistently been shortlisted, a finalist, and a winner in several sector category awards, and now the Australasian Equities and Fund Manager of the Year. Fund Managers have made a lot of comments around the persistency of inflation and where to for interest rates, in a volatile year that saw central banks pause from their tightening regimes. There may be further rate increases, but currently all directions up, down, sideways are all on the table. Despite the choppy and fast-moving markets, Milford has hoisted the active investment flag up the pole, after Smarshares winning Fund Manager of the Year in 2022. However, Smartshares were firmly in the mix again, highlighting passive strategies continued to deliver in key market categories last year.
About the Awards
The Research IP Fund Manager of the Year Awards is based on one-year returns and several additional factors to ensure the winners and funds shortlisted in each category were not “one-hit wonders”. The Research IP Awards started with a whole of market approach across all investment styles including active, passive, smart beta. This includes regional, country specific, and thematic investments. There is no prefiltering applied to restrict each asset class. Every shortlisted fund, finalist, and winner is based on merit.
“Through our rigorous process, we want to ensure the best managers are awarded each year. However, Research IP is cognisant that investors may choose a fund because it is award winning. The focus is acknowledging outstanding performance in the last 12 months.”, said Research IP managing director Darren Howlin.
The Responsible Investment category continues to highlight the progress funds management is making in New Zealand. The expansion of product and the investment into green bonds with Pathfinder Asset Management, social housing projects with Generate, bringing a local flavour to the RIAA and a focus on environmental and social aspects via Mindful Money, and extending responsible investing into ethical giving with Tahito. All positive contributions to better outcomes and hopefully improving the planet we leave for our families into the future.
The Adviser Choice awards continue to prove popular, with advisers choosing Devon Funds Management for equities, Kernel Wealth for property & infrastructure, Clarity Funds Management for fixed interest, and Pathfinder Asset Management in the KiwiSaver category. Howlin said, “Having an inclusive approach to awards is a small step to ensuring the views of advisers and investors are captured. We openly acknowledge the market may have different views to us and we respect that. With that in mind, we highlight the Investor Choice Award, which went to Generate Investment Management for 2023. The voice of many makes a difference.”.
A special mention goes to all the local Kiwi and Aussie fund managers who continue to support the New Zealand marketplace, acknowledging those who were shortlisted, the finalists, and eventual winners through the sector categories. Collectively, all participants should be very proud of their achievements. Consistency of performance over not just one year but three years, makes a difference in who moves beyond the shortlisted funds in all sectors. These awards aim to shine a light on strong efficacy and persistency of performance across sectors for clients to invest in with confidence.
Boutique Fund Manager of the Year was hotly contested, with Daintree Capital and Salt Funds Management both winning in 2023. Howlin said, “It is not unusual for the Boutique category to end up with more than one winner, as fund managers look to grow their market share”.
The Innovation Awards and Relationship / Business Development Manager of the Year have been introduced to recognise the work that goes on behind the scenes. The response to both new categories has been exciting, as the industry has put its best foot forward and business development teams have leveraged their networks with advisers.
“We look forward to the 2024 Awards, which will be a very interesting lens as conflicts around the world develop and the maturing inflation and interest rate cycle hopefully become clearer.”, Howlin said.
All the award winners and finalists are available at https://research-ip.com/awards/ and https://research-ip.com/awards/fmoy-awards-2023/.
Announcing the Winners and Finalists
Fund Manager of the Year
- Milford Asset Management – WINNER
- QuayStreet Asset Management
- Schroder Asset Management
- Smartshares
KiwiSaver Manager of the Year
- BNZ Investment Services
- Fisher Funds Management
- Milford Asset Management
- QuayStreet Asset Management – WINNER
Boutique Fund Manager of the Year
- Clarity Funds Management
- Daintree Capital – WINNER
- Kernel Wealth
- Octagon Asset Management
- Salt Funds Management – WINNER
Innovation of the Year
- Booster Innovation Fund
- Devon Global Impact Bond Fund
- Kernel Wealth – WINNER
- Kōura Wealth Carbon Neutral Crypto Fund
- Mindful Money
- Pathfinder Green Bond Fund
Responsible Investment Manager of the Year
- Generate Investment Management
- Pathfinder Asset Management – WINNER
- Tahito
Relationship Manager / BDM of the Year
- Marc Grigg – WINNER
Choice Awards
Adviser Choice – Equities
- Devon Funds Management – WINNER
Adviser Choice – Fixed Income
- Clarity Funds Management – WINNER
Adviser Choice – Property and Infrastructure
- Kernel Wealth – WINNER
Adviser Choice – KiwiSaver
- Pathfinder Asset Management – WINNER
Investor Choice
- Generate Investment Management – WINNER
Sector Winners and Finalists
Global Fixed Interest Fund of the Year
- Bentham Syndicated Loan Fund
- Colchester Emerging Markets Bond Fund – WINNER
- Dimensional Five-Year Diversified FI NZD
- Milford Global Corporate Bond Fund
Australasian Fixed Interest Fund of the Year
- Daintree Core Income Trust (NZD)
- Daintree High Income Trust (NZD) – WINNER
- Milford Cash Fund
- Nikko AM NZ Cash Fund
Global Property & Infrastructure Fund of the Year
- Maple-Brown Abbott Global Listed Infrastructure Fund – WINNER
Australasian Property Fund of the Year
- Alceon Australian Property Fund – WINNER
Alternatives Fund of the Year
- Janus Henderson Global Natural Resources Fund
- Partners Group Global Value Fund
- Salt Long Short Fund – WINNER
- Schroder Specialist Private Equity Fund
Global Equities Fund of the Year
- Clarity Global Shares Fund
- Fairlight Global Small & Mid Cap Fund
- Schroder Global Recovery Fund – WINNER
- SuperLife Europe Fund
Australian Equities Fund of the Year
- Airlie Australian Share Fund
- Allan Gray Australia Equity Fund
- Octagon Australian Equities Fund – WINNER
- QuayStreet Australian Equity Fund
Australasian Equities Fund of the Year
- Devon Alpha Fund
- Milford Dynamic Fund – WINNER
- Milford Trans-Tasman Equity Fund
- Pie Australasian Dividend Growth Fund
New Zealand Equities Fund of the Year
- Clarity New Zealand Equity Fund
- Kernel NZ 50 ESG Tilted Fund – WINNER
- Nikko AM Core Equity Fund
- Salt NZ Dividend Appreciation Fund
Diversified Fund of the Year
- Generate Focused Growth Managed Fund – WINNER
- InvestNow Foundation Series Growth Fund
- Milford Active Growth Fund
- QuayStreet Growth Fund
Congratulations to all the award winners, finalists, and fund managers shortlisted for the 2023 Awards.