Taking Stock - July 2012

Welcome to this edition of Taking Stock which I hope provides a little light relief whilst we’re all basking in the cloudy skies that are masquerading as our Great British summer! The rain hasn’t dampened the spirits of our team though and you can see below what everyone has been getting up to during the last quarter.

As recent months have seen the country honour the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, we thought it would be fun to carry on with the theme and feature those of our clients who celebrated the Jubilee in style – as an incentive to send in a photograph of your festivities (be it a street party, garden party or other red, white and blue themed event), we’d be delighted to offer you the chance to win a luxury hamper via a prize draw. We’ll simply pull a name out of a hat of everyone that entered to determine the winner!

I hope you find this issue to be of interest and, as always, would welcome any feedback. If there’s anything you’d like us to feature or celebrate, please let Olivia ([email protected]) know.

Kind regards

Colin Lawson Managing Partner

Equilibrium Asset Management LLP (a limited liability partnership) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Equilibrium Asset Management is entered on the FSA register under reference 452261. The FSA regulates advice which we provide on investment and insurance business; however it does not regulate advice which we provide purely in respect of taxation matters. Copyright Equilibrium Asset Management LLP. Not to be reproduced without permission

Taking Stock July 2012

In our last issue of Taking Stock we mentioned Gareth’s departure from Equilibrium and how he had been spending his time travelling around Australia. Since then, he’s visited Thailand to brush up on his scuba diving skills and even became a qualified search and rescue diver. He then returned for a short stint in the UK after which he left for Zambia to volunteer in a local high school, coaching football. He’s now planning his next trip a little ‘closer’ to home in the Pyrenees Mountains, in which he attempts to follow in the tracks of Bradley Wiggins and cycle a part of the Tour de France route.

Thanks to our generous and hard earned holiday package, in the last quarter our team has travelled to:

Phoenix, Paris, Marrakech, Ibiza, Turkey, Kefalonia, Rome, Portugal, Marseille, Sharm El-Sheikh, Bordeaux, Nürburg and Bermuda.

Where in the World is Gareth?


Taking Stock | July 2012

Equilibrium FoundationIt’s been a busy year for the Equilibrium Foundation. Since its establishment in 2010 we have raised and donated £21,000 to the work of 13 different charities in the region, focusing on the needs of the young and elderly, as well as those with whom our clients and staff have a personal affiliation. Just recently the Foundation donated £1,000 to Time Out Group, which provides social and leisure activities for those with learning difficulties in the Wilmslow, Alderley Edge and Handforth area. Our donation went towards taking the group on a biennial week away to Ribby Hall in Blackpool.

Our team has also been busy securing donations by participating in fundraising events. On Sunday 24th June, Rob Ellis, Graeme Black, Toby Ellington, Matt Dobson and Mike Deverell ran the “We Love Manchester 10k Run” event which is situated in and around the City of Manchester Stadium, originally built for the Manchester Commonwealth Games. All those who took part managed to finish in under an hour and saw Matt taking the lead with an impressive time of 46 minutes!

It proved to be an athletic week as the following Sunday saw Partner, Jason Lowe, donning a wetsuit and braving the cold waters of the Salford Quays to take part in the Great Manchester Swim. More than 3000 participants took the plunge and endured a one mile swim around the ‘dock to dock’ course between The

Lowry and the Salford Water Sports Centre. Jason managed to raise over £1,000 which after being matched by the Foundation totalled a fantastic £2,052.

July’s weather might have taken a turn for the worst, but it wasn’t enough to put off Investment Analyst, Graeme Black, from taking on The 3 Peaks Challenge. This involved trekking up and down the 3 highest peaks in the UK in just 24 hours. Graeme started his journey at 5.00am at the foot of Ben Nevis and finished 22 hours and 20 minutes later at Snowdon. Congratulations to Graeme and the rest of his fellowship who all rose funds for their charity of choice.

To those of you who are wondering what happened to our would be parachute jumpers, (Colin Lawson, Andrew Hirst and Matt Dobson) it seems that the intended date of Friday 13 July lived up to its reputation as the jump had to be postponed due to the weather. A new date has now been arranged which we hope will prove to be a bit luckier. We will of course keep you posted.

Meanwhile, thank you to everyone who has supported our team in these events, and donated to The Foundation. If you wish to contribute please contact Debbie on 0161 486 2250 or email [email protected]


Equilibrium Asset Management LLP Brooke Court Lower Meadow Road Handforth Dean Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 3ND United KingdomVisit us at www.eqasset.co.uk t : +44 (0)161 486 2250 f : +44 (0)161 488 4598 e : [email protected]


Equilibrium Events 2012We’re pleased to introduce a new seminar topic for the autumn and will be taking bookings as of now. “Current Financial Affairs” is an interactive presentation covering topics such as the Euro crisis, the UK economy, the threat of inflation and the effect of these factors on your investments!

As a result, we will help you identify how to spot opportunities in these turbulent times and take advantage of them. We’ll also donate £100 to our Equilibrium Foundation for every guest you bring so please feel free to invite friends or acquaintances if you think this would be of interest.

Celebrity Spot!• William Roach (Corrie’s Ken Barlow) was recently seen in

Wilmslow town centre crossing the road whilst our very own Andrew Hirst was stuck in a traffic jam!

• Another Coronation Street star, Samia Smith was spotted by Client Manager, Mark Hird at our local TESCO in Handforth buying a television set.

• Client Manager, Rebecca Johnson-Townley recently competed at the Diamond Jubilee Royal Windsor Show in front of the Queen herself!

• Actor Max Beesley was seen eating in San Carlo’s restaurant in Manchester by Partner, Gaynor Booth.

• Our new Marketing Assistant, Niall Sweeney regularly spots comedian, John Bishop, in a well-known gym in Didsbury and has also recently spotted Manchester United footballer, Rio Ferdinand in a café just down the road!

• Whilst returning from a trip to London, Equilibrium’s intern Olivia Thomas spotted Neil Morrissey in Euston and Michael Portillo in Gatwick airport.

Wednesday 12th September

Wednesday 10th October

Thursday 20th September

Thursday 18th October

“Current Financial Affairs” The Mere, Knutsford

“Current Financial Affairs” Hunting Lodge, Adlington Hall


Equilibrium Asset Management LLP Brooke Court Lower Meadow Road Handforth Dean Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 3ND United KingdomVisit us at www.eqasset.co.uk t : +44 (0)161 486 2250 f : +44 (0)161 488 4598 e : [email protected]


60 seconds with….Niall Sweeney!Equilibrium’s latest addition to the Marketing team, a Graduate from MMU steps up to the plate for some quick fire questions.

What are you looking forward to about Equilibrium? As this is my first real job coming out of University, I’m looking forward to being able to contribute to something real, not just a hypothetical assignment. I am excited that as a Marketing Assistant at Equilibrium I will experience and have a say in many different marketing functions.

Tell us a bit about your background: After growing up in a few different countries, I graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a degree in Business Management with Marketing. Before joining Equilibrium, I spent the last two summers working for Abbott Vascular’s European Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, as an intern for their exports then accounting departments.

What would you be if you weren’t a Marketing Assistant? I know it’s the answer of a 5 year old, but in a dream world I would be a professional American Football player.

And finally, tell us something we don’t know about you! I once played in a baseball tournament in Cairo, Egypt.

CongratulationsWe would like to take this opportunity to share some good news on behalf of two members of our team and their partners. Client Manager, Mark Hird, and partner Joanne are expecting their second child next January, whilst Deputy Team Leader, Catherine Snailham and husband David are expecting their new addition just in time for Christmas. Both couples have agreed to keep the gender as a surprise, so we will be sure to keep you updated!

Welcome Back Nicola!Finally, we’d like to say welcome back to Equilibrium’s Administrator, Nicola Smith, who has just returned from maternity leave after giving birth to baby girl, Halle, last July.

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Taking Stock - July 2012