Top Ten UHNW Wealth Managers

2019 was an excellent year for Coutts. With Camilla Stowell at the helm of investment management, it achieved a 15 per cent-plus return on equity, grew its AuM and administration by 15 per cent and delivered strong investment performance relative to rivals.

For Stowell, however, it’s about ‘being more than just a bank’. ‘Our approach is to really be that indispensable partner,’ she tells Spear’s. ‘We are able to address our clients’ needs in terms of financial planning and protection, but also around philanthropy and making sure that they can have some positive impacts beyond their own immediate circumstances for others.’

The firm’s desire to see clients invest responsibly doesn’t stop there. Coutts is a signatory of the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment and is focused on reducing carbon emissions across all portfolios by 50 per cent by 2030. ‘ESG is embedded across everything that we do,’ says Stowell.

Many of her clients are worried about sustaining their family wealth during the crisis – but it’s not just about wealth preservation. ‘It’s also about attending to the opportunities. We’ve been quite active in supporting our clients in their business interests,’ says Stowell.