An update from our CEO 09 June

The coronavirus outbreak continues to affect the nation and I hope that you and your loved ones are keeping well at this difficult time. In my recent letter to you, I explained the steps we were taking to continue providing you with a high level of service and how you can remain in contact with us. As events continue to unfold, I wanted to take the opportunity to update you.

As I hope you have experienced, we have been able to maintain our full range of services throughout this pandemic while continuing to remain available to you in the usual ways. This is testament to our resilience and adaptability, and our commitment to providing you with an exemplary service. We have worked hard to minimise any disruption that may have occurred and I would like to thank you for your support and understanding throughout this challenging period.

As the UK takes its first tentative steps towards easing lockdown, we have been reviewing our working arrangements. Most of our staff have been successfully working from home for several weeks now and we have decided that they should continue to do so. The office will therefore remain closed to all but a handful of employees while we determine what the future may look like and how we can ensure the safety of our staff, clients, and communities. As the outlook changes, we will of course update you but in the meantime please feel reassured in our ability to continue managing your portfolio without making any compromises.

For now, I would encourage you to stay in touch with your investment manager by phone or email. In particular, if your circumstances have recently changed, I would ask that you share this with us at the earliest opportunity because it may affect how we need to manage your portfolio from now on. While we are able to continue handling post, we would also ask that you telephone or email us wherever possible to avoid any unnecessary delays. Registration to our online portal helps us even further and can be completed via our website, should you wish to do so. Similarly, it is also our preference that payments are made to us electronically, rather than by cheque, wherever possible.

With respect to the turbulence stock markets have experienced in recent months, I understand that this may feel unnerving and I would encourage you to discuss any concerns you have with your investment manager. As you know, markets rise and fall, and while the initial reaction to the coronavirus outbreak was severe, there are now tentative signs of recovery. As always with investing, your long-term financial goals remain our priority and with the stewardship of our team of investment professionals, we remain committed to helping you achieve them. In addition, despite the outbreak, Blankstone Sington continues to be well-capitalised and we have the necessary buffers in place to weather this event, and others, ensuring that your investments are protected now and well into the future.

These continue to be challenging times for us all. Please feel reassured however, that we are committed to remaining available to you, supporting your long-term financial goals, and protecting your investments through exceptional customer service. With best wishes and thanks for your continued support