Investment Team
As mentioned previously, Stattman, Roldan and Chamby are collectively managing the BlackRock fund.
Dennis Stattman has been managing the fund since its launch in 1997. Roldan and Chamby joined him in 2011.
Stattman is a managing director and head of the global allocation team within BlackRock’s portfolio management group. He has been with the firm since 1989, including his years with Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, which merged with BlackRock in 2006, according to FE Analytics.
Both Roldan and Chamby are also managing directors, portfolio managers and members of the global allocation team. Roldan started with the firm in 1998 while Chamby has been with the firm since 1993.
The Schroders fund has been managed by Aymeric Forest and Iain Cunningham since its inception in April 2012.
Forest joined Schroders in May 2011 as a fund manager on the multi-asset team and as a member of the global asset allocation committee. Cunningham has been with Schroders since 2007 and is responsible for the management of the international multi-manager portfolios and research into alternative asset classes.
Fees
The BlackRock fund charges a 1.5% annual management fee, higher than the Schroders fund (1.25%).
The total expense ratio (TER), or ongoing charges for the BlackRock fund, was 1.77% for the year ended August 2014. The TER for the Schroders fund was 1.6% for the year ended 31 December.
“The TER of the BlackRock fund is slightly higher. But TERs of both funds are similar to the market average in the multi-asset sector funds,” Ng said.
Conclusion
The BlackRock fund has been delivering strong and consistent performance over the past decade, Ng said.
The Schroders fund has a relatively short track record, but nonetheless has been delivering a steady income stream.
The BlackRock fund would be more suitable for investors who want to diversify investments across multi-asset classes and at the same time seek capital appreciation, according to Ng.
By comparison, the Schroders fund would be suitable for investors who look for a steady income stream through a multi-asset solution, but also want more emphasis on downside protection, in case equity markets fall, he added.
