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104: Simon Evan-Cook, Downing Fox – The Role of Luck and Skill in Successful Fund Management and Business Building

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Manage episode 492066727 series 3444076
Content provided by Stacy Havener. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Stacy Havener or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

What if luck plays a bigger role in fund success than anyone wants to admit?

Simon Evan-Cook isn’t just throwing that idea out there. He’s lived it.

He spent years on the allocator side, vetting fund managers and learning what really sticks (hint: it’s not just your track record).

Now that he’s a fund manager himself, he’s pulling back the curtain on the truth no one wants to say out loud…

Yes, being good at what you do matters, but so does luck, timing, and learning how to stack the odds in your favor.

In this Episode, Simon and Stacy dig into:

  • Why some of the most skilled fund managers don’t always win
  • 13 ways emerging managers can make their own luck
  • What allocators actually remember after your pitch
  • And why being honest, even when it’s uncomfortable—is the real differentiator

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Influence by Robert Cialdin

About Simon Evan-Cook
Simon Evan-Cook is an award-winning multi-asset fund manager. In 2022 he joined Downing to set up and manage the Downing Fox range of funds. Before that he built his reputation at Premier Asset Management from 2006, where he was a senior member of their highly successful multi-asset team. He began his career with Fidelity in the late 90s, before joining Rothschild Asset Management and then Gartmore.

Simon also writes on investment (and beyond), including a monthly column for Citywire Magazine and his investment blog on Medium.com. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and dog, devouring movies and books, and superficially damaging European golf courses.

Want More Help With Storytelling?

+ Subscribe to my newsletter to get a weekly email that helps you use your words to power your growth:https://www.stacyhavener.com/subscribe

- - -
Make The Boutique Investment Collective part of your Billion Dollar Backstory. Gain access to invaluable resources, expert coaches, and a supportive community of other boutique founders, fund managers, and investment pros.Join Havener Capital’s exclusive membership


- - -
Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

- - -
Make The Boutique Investment Collective part of your Billion Dollar Backstory. Gain access to invaluable resources, expert coaches, and a supportive community of other boutique founders, fund managers, and investment pros. Join Havener Capital’s exclusive membership

  continue reading

105 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 492066727 series 3444076
Content provided by Stacy Havener. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Stacy Havener or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

What if luck plays a bigger role in fund success than anyone wants to admit?

Simon Evan-Cook isn’t just throwing that idea out there. He’s lived it.

He spent years on the allocator side, vetting fund managers and learning what really sticks (hint: it’s not just your track record).

Now that he’s a fund manager himself, he’s pulling back the curtain on the truth no one wants to say out loud…

Yes, being good at what you do matters, but so does luck, timing, and learning how to stack the odds in your favor.

In this Episode, Simon and Stacy dig into:

  • Why some of the most skilled fund managers don’t always win
  • 13 ways emerging managers can make their own luck
  • What allocators actually remember after your pitch
  • And why being honest, even when it’s uncomfortable—is the real differentiator

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Influence by Robert Cialdin

About Simon Evan-Cook
Simon Evan-Cook is an award-winning multi-asset fund manager. In 2022 he joined Downing to set up and manage the Downing Fox range of funds. Before that he built his reputation at Premier Asset Management from 2006, where he was a senior member of their highly successful multi-asset team. He began his career with Fidelity in the late 90s, before joining Rothschild Asset Management and then Gartmore.

Simon also writes on investment (and beyond), including a monthly column for Citywire Magazine and his investment blog on Medium.com. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and dog, devouring movies and books, and superficially damaging European golf courses.

Want More Help With Storytelling?

+ Subscribe to my newsletter to get a weekly email that helps you use your words to power your growth:https://www.stacyhavener.com/subscribe

- - -
Make The Boutique Investment Collective part of your Billion Dollar Backstory. Gain access to invaluable resources, expert coaches, and a supportive community of other boutique founders, fund managers, and investment pros.Join Havener Capital’s exclusive membership


- - -
Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

- - -
Make The Boutique Investment Collective part of your Billion Dollar Backstory. Gain access to invaluable resources, expert coaches, and a supportive community of other boutique founders, fund managers, and investment pros. Join Havener Capital’s exclusive membership

  continue reading

105 episodes

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