63: Rewind | From Startup to $5B+ to Startup Again, Award-Winning Fund Mgr Simon Evan-Cook on Storytelling in Investments | Why He’ll Take Qualitative Over Quantitative Due Diligence | What (Really) Defines Edge and Differentiation

Billion Dollar Backstory

UK’s award-winning fund manager Simon Evan-Cook was a senior member of the Premier Miton Multi Asset team, which managed over $5B. He’s now establishing the Downing Fox Fund Range at Downing LLP in London.

In this episode, Simon and Stacy discuss:

• His backstory: from taking a load of jobs he disliked to discovering a love for writing, which brought him to the investment industry
• Why the world would need another fund, let alone a fund of funds
• The power of niche
• Why you must be disagreeable to excel
• What role qualitative plays in his research process
• His flexibly dogmatic approach to assessing a fund
• Proof that authenticity works in asset management
• Advice for boutiques on their journey

More About Simon Evan-Cook

Simon also writes on investment (and beyond), including a monthly column for Citywire Magazine and his investment blog on Medium.com. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and dog, devouring movies and books, and superficially damaging European golf courses.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Book: Any Human Heart by William Boyd

Book: Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein

Article: Investors: The one thing separating excellent from competent

Article: Should you invest with Han Solo or C-3PO?

Article: Should you invest with Indiana Jones?

Article: Should you invest with Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid

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