Experience is the key in wealth management

Jani Lehti is one of the most experienced members of United Bankers’ personnel. Lehti, who is currently the CEO of UB Asset Management and a member of the management team – this year marks his thirtieth year with the company. His journey to United Bankers began through a business acquisition in 1995, when United Bankers, originally a stockbroker, decided to expand into asset management. The target of the transaction was Kariluoto & Lehti Oy, a company specialising in equity portfolio management, co-founded by Jani Lehti and Jukka Kariluoto.

 

Throughout his long career, Jani Lehti has witnessed significant shifts in the investment market, observing firsthand the evolution of the asset management industry. Digitalisation and globalisation, for example, have profoundly transformed and diversified the field. “In the 1990s, portfolios were often built with individual stocks, and there was a heavy focus on domestic markets. By the following decade, Finland began adopting investment funds and ETFs, which made geographical diversification much easier,” Lehti explains.

Today, global index-based allocation plays a central role in investing in equity and fixed income markets. United Bankers has embraced this philosophy. “A few years ago, we renewed our wealth management concept. At the core of our new UB 360 model is diversification across global equity and bond markets. This global diversification approach has delivered strong returns for our cli-ents, even in volatile times. The diversification of portfolios can be further improved by including real asset classes like forestry, energy, or real estate,” says Lehti.

 

United Bankers’ expertise in real asset investments is a key strength in its wealth management services. “Many of our clients seek diversification into real assets because it improves the risk-return ratio of portfolios and offers the potential for cash flow returns. Real assets also typically have a low correlation with other asset classes, such as equities and bonds. In recent years, the inflation protection offered by real asset investments has made them even more attractive. This has been particularly evident in forestry investments,” Lehti elaborates on the advantages of real assets.

 

In addition to his role as CEO of UB Asset Management, Lehti remains actively involved in client work and daily investment activities.

 

Sustainability is a rising theme in wealth management

In recent years, sustainability has become an increasingly important aspect of investment activi-ties. At United Bankers, this is reflected, inter alia, in the growing share of green investment prod-ucts, in the selection of investment targets, and in regular and comprehensive sustainability re-porting. “Four of our funds are classified as ‘dark green’ under the SFDR sustainability framework, making sustainable investments in forestry and renewable energy. Our other funds are classified as ‘light green,’ promoting sustainability factors alongside other characteristics. Climate change and the green transition have played a key role in the development of our fund offerings. Our products fit a variety of portfolios while also contributing to solving global environmental challenges,” Lehti emphasises.

 

"Customer orientation is one of our core values, and we strive to uphold it to the best of our ability."

While the wealth management market and various investment solutions have evolved significant-ly, Lehti points out that some things remain unchanged: “Our clients still aim for good returns with low or moderate risk. Meeting this expectation is essential, even in today’s rapidly changing and increasingly digital world. Alongside good performance, the importance of personalised service remains very high among our clients. Customer orientation is one of our core values, and we strive to uphold it to the best of our ability. Our clients have also come to expect high-quality reporting, now primarily delivered digitally through our OmaUB service.”

 

Lehti also highlights the extensive experience and high level of expertise of United Bankers’ team as a key competitive advantage: “One of our most significant strengths is undoubtedly our expe-rienced, dedicated, and professional staff. Our wealth managers have been active in the markets for decades. This level of experience cannot be replaced by any other quality.”

 

"Experience in different situations brings confidence and helps eliminate unnecessary mistakes."

 

In addition to his role as CEO of UB Asset Management, Lehti remains actively involved in client work and daily investment activities. “Understanding clients’ wishes and needs is essential for developing products and services. That’s why I value regular discussions with our clients. Keeping up with investment activity is best achieved by actively monitoring the economy and markets,” Lehti says of his multifaceted role. As an asset manager, he is clearly in his dream job. “Every day in the investment markets is different. When you wake up in the morning, you never know what the day will bring. Risks and opportunities continuously arise, and mastering them is never a fin-ished skill. For someone as competitive as I am, the markets always present new challenges. However, experience in different situations brings confidence and helps eliminate unnecessary mistakes. It improves investment performance. I don't think I can ever get bored of following the investment markets,” he concludes.

 

The information presented is based on UB’s own estimates and sources considered reliable by UB. The information on which the conclusions are based may change quickly and UB Group may revise its market view without prior notice. No information obtained through this presentation should be construed as a solicitation to invest. When making investment decisions, readers should base their decisions on their own assessment of the investment and the risks involved, and to consider their personal goals and financial situation.