Ethical Financial Planning and Sustainable Impactful Investment Management
For almost 30 years, Ayres Punchard has resolutely focused on the provision of truly independent investment advice, with sustainability and ethics at the heart of how we help clients invest their money.
In 2019, we launched the Key to the Future model portfolio service, containing funds which we believe are some of the cleanest and greenest in the investment industry. This includes impact infrastructure funds designed to support the transition to net zero.
We conduct in-depth research into the funds that we use, analysing their underlying holdings to uncover transgressions against the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact and to uncover activities that undermine the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The Key to the Future research project uncovers human and labour rights violations, environmental degradation, and corruption, reporting back to the funds and questioning their investment decisions.
We argue the case for divestment from dirty companies that we see as egregious transgressors or as incapable of adequate improvement at an appropriate pace, while encouraging engagement that drives meaningful and positive change in those companies that are genuinely transitioning towards sustainability.
With over two decades of experience in constructing portfolios for our clients, we have developed a strong, holistic investment philosophy, focused on sustainable investment strategies that our clients can use to achieve their investment goals.
We know that good returns can be made from investing in companies that try hard not to damage the environment and have a positive effect on society, both where they operate and where their customers and suppliers are located, often globally.
Ultimately, good governance in the companies that our clients are invested in is vital to ensuring the security of our clients’ capital.
Our Investment Philosophy
We believe that the global flow of investment moneys is one of the key drivers in determining our collective response to major issues such as climate breakdown, child labour and modern slavery, pollution, land and resource waste and recycling.
Traditional investment is falsely marketed as a way to grow one’s personal wealth with little personal responsibility for the wider consequences. It is perhaps the only area where otherwise responsible, educated, and mature individuals have been encouraged, and have agreed, to act in a way that may have significant negative outcomes for people and the planet.
This has happened as a direct consequence of the false claims from fund managers and investment professionals that it is impossible to achieve good returns from investments that screen out unsustainable and unethical activities.
Yet years of experience, research, evidence, and analysis have led us to the fundamental belief that the opposite is true.
In addition to companies which drive the sustainability movement forward, we believe that, with proper engagement, companies which are transitioning towards sustainability can help drive returns for our clients.
Reduced exposure to unsustainable practices and poor corporate governance should expose investors to less risk, with lower volatility and higher returns over the longer term, when compared to traditional investment strategies. With this in mind, we can provide investors with the traditional investment characteristics of income and growth, combined with modern concepts of sustainability, ethics, good corporate governance, and social responsibility.
We believe that, by focusing on these fundamentals, we can deliver better long-term returns in global investment markets. Risk can be reduced, and potential returns enhanced, by a thorough analysis and understanding of corporate sustainability within the framework of the UN’s Global Compact and SDGs.
Meet The Team
A family-run business, Ayres Punchard was established in 1995 by managing director Chris Welsford, who works alongside his wife from their office on the Isle of Wight.
Chris Welsford, Managing Director, Independent Financial Adviser & Investment Adviser
Chris is a graduate of the University of Southampton (1986) with a BSc Hons in Social Sciences Politics.
Chris established Ayres Punchard in 1995 specialising in fees based advice and ethical investing, which remains a core value and a strong part of the investment process employed today.
He joined the UK’s first execution-only share-dealing service, Sharelink, as a Client Account Manager on the 20th October 1987, the day after Black Monday.
Chris then moved on to work in IT accountancy sales, before joining one of the last Canadian mutual life insurance companies, Confederation Life in 1992 as a life Underwriter.
In 1993 he joined Laurentian Mildon as a financial adviser and Mentor for their fees based financial planning service.
A Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment, Chris is committed to the highest professional standards and also holds the IMC (Investment Management Certificate), and is an IMC member of the Chartered Financial Analysts Society of the UK.
In addition, he holds the Chartered Insurance Institute’s CF8 Long Term Care Insurance qualification and is therefore qualified to provide advice to clients and their representatives on matters associated with long-term care fees planning, affairs of the elderly and those in need of, or already under, a power of attorney.
Chris Welsford has undertaken 5 days intensive dementia training: “Communication and Care Giving in Dementia – A Positive Vision” and “Lighting DARC (Dementia Awareness Reaching Communities) provided by Dr. Gemma MM Jones, an internationally known dementia care educator, director of The Wide Spectrum – which develops and promotes dementia education resources and is the founding and current chair of the Alzheimer Café UK.
Wendy Welsford, Office Manager and PA to Chris
Wendy is a graduate of London’s Southbank Polytechnic (1986) with a BSc Hons in the Social Sciences.
She spent most of her working life in the Library Service and was a school librarian until 2009 when she decided to join Chris in the business as his personal assistant and office manager.
Wendy is responsible for the smooth running of the Ayres Punchard back-office administration systems. She works closely with the company accountant, monitoring costs and budgets.
She is also the driving force behind the company’s recycling and environmental policies which have resulted in 100% of our office waste being either recycled or composted.
She also managed the sourcing and installation of our photovoltaic (solar) electric generating system which means that almost 100% of our office electricity is generated by renewable energy.
Ell Welsford, Sustainability & Impact Research Project Manager
Ell is a graduate of University College London (2021) first class BA Hons in History.
Ell designed and runs the Key to the Future research project that we use to help us engage with our selected fund managers. Their work helps us to evaluate the impact of our portfolios through an analysis of the underlying holdings.
In 2023 Ell managed the company’s successful bid to become a B Corp.
They have written a number of thought papers on issues associated with sustainable investment.
Thea Welsford, Marketing and Design Consultant
Thea is a graduate of the University of the Arts London (Camberwell 2013) 2:1 BA Hons in Graphic Design.
She was responsible for the modern development of the company logo and branding – including the graphics for this website. Thea built on the original designs of iconic graphic designer, John Williams who in 1995 designed the company’s brand image having previously designed campaigns for big brands such as M&S and Boots.
Thea provides her services to Ayres Punchard on an ad hoc basis. She runs a freelance graphic design business, AdaMay.
Thea is also a founding member of The Ventnor Fringe Festival and remains involved with this amazing organisation. In July 2023 one of her other clients Beau’s Gelato paid her a great tribute when they interviewed her for their website.
