We are very proud to acknowledge the efforts and achievement of our fixed income team — Portfolio Manager David McLeish, Senior Analyst Matt Logan, Senior Analyst Quin Casey, and Investment Analyst Lyle McNee — in winning the Bonds gong at the 2016 INFINZ Awards.

Fisher Funds was named INFINZ Fund Manager of the Year, Bonds at last month's awards, the second win of its kind for the fixed interest team in three years.

In today's low interest rate environment, fixed interest investing seldom grabs the headlines but it plays an integral role in providing a layer of protection for your portfolios. As David suggested at last year's roadshow, "bonds are your financial umbrella; you never know when you are going to need cover from economic storm clouds".

The INFINZ awards acknowledge the quality of our investing process, people and performance, and are testament to the hard work put in by the team in what has been a challenging investing environment. Our international bond fund returns to 31 December 2015 had us in first place over one year and three years, relative to competing funds.

The results of this performance have been enjoyed by clients across our range of managed funds and KiwiSaver ... long may it continue! Congratulations to the team.