In the spotlight: Ralph Thomas

Introducing Ralph Thomas, Head of Balanced Funds at Sanlam Investments Active Manager.

With a background in investment banking and a passion for pragmatic investment strategies, Ralph prioritises high-value assets and collaborative decision-making to enhance client wealth and well-being.

Role overview:

I oversee Balanced Funds for Sanlam Investments Active Manager, often referred to as the ‘shopfront window’ of the active manager business.

Career journey and expertise:

I began my career as an Investment Banker in Standard Bank’s Corporate and Investment Banking graduate programme. Over eight years, I progressed to Senior Sales and Structurer within the Global Markets division. I then joined Deutsche Bank as a Director in the Securities division, before pursuing my lifelong goal of completing an MBA. This early part of my career equipped me with a deep understanding of financial markets and derivatives, research, analytical and managerial skills.

I joined Sanlam Investments in June 2016 and was appointed Head of Balanced Funds in June 2023.

Investment philosophy:

In my journey, I’ve aimed to stay grounded and pragmatic in all areas of my life, whether it’s making a decision about buying a house, car or entering contracts – I’m always on the hunt for a good deal! This mindset extends to my investment philosophy, where I prioritise searching for high-quality assets that are attractively priced while maintaining a pragmatic approach.

Success factors in asset management:

Always maintain a hunger for knowledge and never stop learning! Given the evolving complexity of markets and the nature of our work, it is important to approach all matters with a sense of humility – a realisation that no matter how ‘expert’ we may be, we do not possess all the information. This drives collaboration as it encourages us to include others in the decision-making process, it also fosters continuous learning.

Additionally, never underestimate the significance of psychology – both in interactions with others and its impact on financial markets.

Industry demands and work-life balance:

Our roles often demand high, sometimes extreme, commitments. Work-life balance is critical. For me, balance is not a rigid line but requires flexibility. At times, work requires more attention, other times my personal life (family/relationships) demands more time. Fortunately, our company culture values work-life balance. Flexible work arrangements and work-from-home have dramatically increased our ability to balance and manage work and personal responsibilities.

Interpersonal and social factors in growth:

Networking and effective teamwork are crucial for development. Being surrounded by many experts provides valuable information and diverse perspectives that significantly aid personal growth.

Future trends and adaptation:

Knowledge workers will always have a place in the labour market. In our industry I expect AI to have a big impact, not in terms of replacing humans but rather providing the ability to compress and analyse large volumes of data.

I believe AI-powered investment analysis tools will empower the portfolio management industry to make more informed investment decisions, thereby generating more wealth for clients and subsequently improving their quality of life.