Considering recent developments related to the COVID-19 in New Zealand, we would like to make you aware of the business continuity measures we are taking. Our focus is on protecting the health and well-being of our employees, clients, and guests, ensuring we are prepared to effectively manage and deliver the high level of client service in a range of possible scenarios.
Stewart Group has long had business continuity plans in place that we regularly review, test, and evolve through time to ensure our clients continue to receive our guidance during the current times. Given the trust you’ve placed in us, we want to offer transparency into the key steps we’re taking for preparedness and continuity of service.
Investment Strategies
While the spread of the COVID-19 is unsettling on a human level and has had an impact on recent market volatility, it has not led to any specific adjustments in our investment process. Stewart Group believes that markets are designed to handle uncertainty, processing information in real-time as it becomes available. Our approach is to maintain diversified exposure, and we adhere to that approach in all market environments.
Additionally, when there is higher market volatility, we monitor conditions that could affect our investment process or strategies, such as liquidity, how trading markets are functioning, and overall market volumes.
Travel and Client Meetings
As technological advancements over the past decade have expanded the ways we interact with clients, Stewart Group has made extensive investments in virtual meeting capabilities. Given the current situation, staff are limiting their domestic business travel, when possible, by shifting meetings from in-person to meetings via phone or video. We have encouraged our team to exercise caution regarding any plans for personal travel to areas considered higher risk.
Additionally, we are advising our team who have travelled to higher-risk areas or may have been otherwise exposed to the virus to stay home for at least 14 days before returning to the office.
Stewart Group Offices
Stewart Group maintains a comprehensive preparedness and response plan for its offices. This plan includes elevated cleanliness standards and targeted resources available to increase awareness and promote hygiene.
With offices now in three locations across the country, we’ve become accustomed to working remotely and have adopted various technologies that enable our team members to stay connected with each other and with clients. We have set up remote work arrangements for our staff if needed which include remote access to all PC/Laptops, managed IT support with laptops and phones outside the office, and continuous threat detection systems. We are prepared to expand these arrangements if necessary, and we will proactively test remote work capabilities across our functions.
Resources for Clients
To help aid our clients in their communications, we recently published an article that explains our approach to investing amid the recent market declines.
As a team, the staff at Stewart Group remain focused on our work, and we are conducting business as usual. If you have an upcoming meeting scheduled in our offices and feel more comfortable using our video conference or conference call capabilities, we are more than happy to accommodate all such requests. We would also appreciate if you have recently travelled to any of the countries with a travel advisory that you inform your adviser and we can arrange for an electronic meeting.
We take our responsibility to you seriously and are committed to building on the trust we have established with our clients over nearly four decades. We appreciate your continued confidence in us, and we look forward to talking to you soon.
