Welcome to the 13th CONKERS’ CORNER. In this interview I have the pleasure of speaking with Annabel Brodie-Smith @annabelbrodies on Twitter . Annabel is the Communications Director of the Association of Investment Companies (AIC) http://www.theaic.co.uk/representing Investment Trusts and Venture Capital Trusts. These Trusts are currently valued at nearly £165 Billion, most of which are listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Annabel’s journey and interest in the Investment Industry began whilst studying for her Geography Degree at Kings College, London where she found herself in a joint department with the London School of Economics. She then did a Economic Geography MA at Syracuse University in New York, where she focused on developments in China and Hong Kong. After returning to the UK and doing some jobs that she did not enjoy, Annabel completed a Public Relations course. In 1996 this led to her gaining a job with the Public Relations and Communications company Hill & Knowlton (H&K) (which is part of WPP – one of the biggest PR agencies in the world). At H&K Annabel worked on some notable projects and events including the Athens Olympic bid.

In November 1997 Annabel successfully gained a PR & Communications role with the AIC. Her role focuses on communicating the uses, features and benefits of investment companies to the media, opinion formers, financial advisers, wealth managers and private investors. Now nearly 19 years into the job, Annabel has led the AIC’s public relations and managed the reputation of the industry through great growth and challenges. These challenges have included transforming the profile of the AIC, its advertising campaign and the splits crisis as well as a number of regulatory threats. Most recently she has led the AIC’s response to the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) included in which, she has overseen the training of over 5,000 Financial Advisers and Wealth Managers.

Annabel has been a long-term investor for over 18 years and has refined her investing strategy over those years taking into consideration asset allocation, diversification and a broad global approach.