MoneyAM Fund Centre

Quick Stats

Fund Objective

Aims to achieve a total return (i.e. a combination of capital growth and income) exceeding that of the FTSE All-Share Index, over the medium to long term (meaning 3-5 years). Capital in the Fund is at risk and there is no guarantee that the objective will be achieved over that, or any, time period.

Fund Managers

Ben Russon

Ben Russon is a vice president and portfolio manager based in Leeds as part of Franklin Templeton Fund Management. He is the lead manager on the Franklin UK Opportunities Fund and co-manager on the Franklin UK Managers' Focus Fund. Mr. Russon joined the Franklin Templeton UK Equity team during 2013. Prior to this he spent 13 years as a fund manager with Newton Investment Management, specialising in UK Equities. He was the lead manager on the Newton UK Opportunities Fund from 2005, alongside associated institutional mandates. Previously he worked at Newton in the research function, specialising in the global food retail sector. Wider responsibilities also included global equity investment with the Newton Osprey Fund. Mr. Russon graduated from the University of Edinburgh with an M.A. (joint honours) in geography and economics. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.

Colin Morton

Colin Morton is a vice president, lead manager of the Franklin UK Equity Income Fund and Franklin UK Rising Dividends Fund, specialising in large cap UK equity analysis and investment. Mr. Morton joined Franklin Templeton Investments when it acquired Rensburg Fund Management (now Franklin Templeton Fund Management) in January 2011. Mr. Morton began his career in 1983 as a trainee stockbroker with Wise Speke & Co. He joined Rensburg in 1988 as a private client executive, becoming an investment manager in 1991. He became the manager of Rensburg UK Equity Income Trust in January 1995, manager of the Rensburg UK Blue Chip Growth Trust in September 2000 and has been a joint manager of the Rensburg UK Managers Focus Trust since its launch in September 2006. On the 15 October 2011, all three trusts were merged into newly created sub funds the Franklin Templeton Funds OEIC range and renamed to reflect the Franklin Templeton brand. Mr. Morton holds an Investment Management Certificate (IMC) and is a Fellow of the Securities Institute (FSI).

Mark Hall

Mark Hall is a member of the highly-regarded Franklin UK Equity Team. He specialises in multi-cap UK equity analysis. Mark joined Franklin Templeton Investments when it acquired Rensburg Fund Management in January 2011. After training as an accountant, Mr. Hall joined BWD Rensburg in 1988 as a Smaller Companies investment analyst, subsequently managing private client discretionary portfolios. Mark became fund manager of the BWD Equity Growth Trust in 1997, investing in the UK All Companies Sector. In 2001 he became the lead manager of BWD Aggressive Growth Trust, (which was subsequently renamed Rensburg UK Select Growth Trust). In April 2013 Mark relinquished his portfolio management responsibilities in order to focus on providing research and analysis. Mr. Hall holds a B.A. (Hons) geography with additional economics from Exeter University. He also holds an Investment Management Certificate (IMC).

Paul Spencer

Paul Spencer is lead manager of the Franklin UK Mid Cap Fund and joint manager of the Franklin UK Managers' Focus Fund and Franklin UK Smaller Companies Fund. A member of the Franklin UK Equity Team, he specialises in UK mid-cap equity analysis and investment. Mr. Spencer joined Franklin Templeton Investments when it acquired Rensburg Fund Management (now Franklin Templeton Fund Management) in January 2011. Mr. Spencer started his investment career in 1987 when he joined BWD Rensburg. In 8 years Paul progressed through the ranks becoming head of research. In 1991, he assumed responsibility for the BWD UK Smaller Companies Trust, leaving in 1995 to join Granville Davies Limited as a director and Small and Mid Cap analyst. In 1999, Paul joined TD Waterhouse, where he was head of research, specialising in small and mid cap investment analysis. He returned to Rensburg in 2006 to manage the Rensburg UK Mid Cap Growth Trust (now Franklin UK Mid Cap Fund). Mr. Spencer holds a B.A., with honors, in economics from Nottingham University. He is a Fellow of the Securities Institute (FSI). Paul has received a number of awards for investment excellence, including the Moneywise Best UK All Companies Fund in 2008, 2009 and 2010, Money Observer Best UK Small/Mid Cap Fund 2009 and Best UK All Companies Fund over three years from Lipper in 2009.

Richard Bullas

Richard Bullas is a vice president and portfolio manager at Franklin Templeton Fund Management. He is co-manager on the Franklin UK Smaller Companies Fund and manages the Smaller Companies portion of the Franklin UK Manager's Focus Fund. Richard has worked with the fund management team for over 13 years, joining Franklin Templeton Fund Management via the acquisition of Rensburg Fund Management in 2011. Mr. Bullas joined the team in 2000 as a Trainee Fund Manager, supporting the fund managers on a range of equity unit trusts while studying for his professional investment qualifications (IMC and Chartered MCSI). After 3 years he was appointed Assistant Fund Manager, assisting and reporting to the investment director, specifically on the management of the Franklin UK Smaller Companies Trust and the Franklin UK Manager's Focus Fund. From 2006 he was made Fund Manager and Associate Director while at Rensburg, co-managing 2 UK Equity Mandates as well deputy fund manager on the Franklin UK Select Growth Trust and Franklin UK Manager's Focus Fund. Richard has covered the UK smaller companies sector for 13 years and has considerable experience researching and analysing smaller companies. Prior to joining Rensburg Fund Management (now Franklin Templeton Fund Management) Mr. Bullas worked at AVIVA Plc as a Market Analyst in the life and pensions department. Prior to that he spent a short time working at a Chartered Accountants, for the Audit Team. Mr. Bullas holds a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in business and management studies from Bradford University School of Management. He holds the IMC (Investment Management Certificate) and is a Chartered MCSI (Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment).