From Complexity to Clarity
Asymmetry reveals true investment strength
We uncover the signals that show where real skill lies
Our quant‑driven observations - powered by our proprietary in‑house fund and portfolio screening systems - provide clients with a unique vantage point, helping them see their funds and portfolios in a different light.
This enables our Investment Manager and Sales & Marketing clients to gain powerful intelligence on key fund and portfolio dynamics, guiding them toward strengths and opportunities and away from potential risk-skews that may otherwise go undetected.
Built by an independent portfolio manager and fund researcher, Valencia Asymmetric is the result of many years of investment evolution. We combine rigorous analytics with plain‑spoken, independent judgement to turn quantitative complexity into clarity.
Valencia Asymmetric is the trading name of Tim Stubbs Investment Strategies, S.L. (Spain).
For our Asset Management clients, we work closely with Sales, Marketing and Investment Managers to present an independent view of how and why a fund demonstrates long‑term winning characteristics - or where the evidence suggests otherwise. By helping teams “step into the fund selector’s shoes”, we bridge the gap between investor perception, fund manager intent and distribution team messaging.
Having worked with many high quality funds, we are often able to surface the “golden nugget” insights that sharpen pitches and highlight strengths the investor base may not yet fully appreciate. When we find a hidden gem - or one hiding in plain sight - we make sure the right people know about it.
For DFM and Wealth Management clients, our goal is to help Investment Managers understand their portfolios inside‑out at all times. Portfolios contain many moving parts, each characterised by its own return-driving factors; without a clear analytical forensics tool, the picture can quickly become overwhelming. We simplify this complexity by screening every building block of a portfolio against every relevant parameter and briefing clients in real-time on what matters and why.
We help Investment Managers form evidence-led views on each fund, identify unintended risks, and spot where true underperformance may be disguised as outperformance.
We work exclusively with professional investment firms and do not provide advice to retail investors.
Valencia Asymmetric is an investment consultancy based in Spain. It is not authorised or regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Spanish National Securities Market Commission (CNMV), or any other regulatory body to provide investment advice.
- Independent expert second opinions - evidence-led reviews of funds and portfolio structures to validate positioning or expose hidden risks.
- Near real‑time portfolio monitoring - concise forensic answers: what shapes returns, why a fund or portfolio is outperforming or lagging, and where the gaps lie.
- Fund‑selector perspective for Asset Managers - a candid view of positives and negatives, why investors would (or wouldn’t) allocate, and the messaging that strengthens distribution opportunities.
- Bridge between Asset Managers, DFMs and Wealth Managers - sharpen product positioning and translate strengths so investment propositions resonate with the investor community.
These capabilities are best shown in practice. The following case studies demonstrate how our analysis converts insight into stronger positioning, better governance and measurable outcomes.
Asset Management Case Studies
Fund launch - optimising positioning and narrative
A global Asset Manager asked us to shape the UK launch story for a global equity income fund. Our screens flagged a clear quality income profile, also with high upside capture, low downside participation and defensive characteristics. We mapped the market environments where the fund should outperform and where it might lag, then translated those findings into a pitch the Sales & Marketing team could use - and into the risk angles they needed to consider. Outcomes: 1. Clear, evidence-led launch narrative and counterarguments for due diligence 2. Sales team armed with new pitch angles - successful AUM growth followed
Bespoke intel to sharpen the pitch
A boutique Asset Manager invited us to assist after our screening showed their long term outperformance was driven disproportionately by resilience in falling markets. We formalised that asymmetry - showing the fund kept pace in market rallies but materially protected gains in downturns - and transformed our findings into a concise investor message. The team updated presentation slides and used the output to reassure institutional and retail audiences during a testing period for the strategy. Outcomes: 1. A clear, investor-facing differentiator added to marketing materials 2. Reinforced manager confidence in process during a challenging market phase
Identifying USPs - turning perceived risk into a market advantage
An existing client asked us to review one of their Corporate Bond funds. Our screens showed strong long-term performance, but we also flagged thin credit spreads across the market. The fund managers had already hedged roughly half the credit exposure via futures, replacing it with government bond duration. Our analysis showed this positioning created a genuine asymmetric opportunity: above-average return potential with reduced credit risk versus peers and passive indices. Outcomes: 1. A compelling “golden nugget” pitch: an expectation for continued outperformance in the Corporate Bond space, but critically with an expected reduction in downside risk. 2. Broader insight revealed across the manager’s fixed income suite; findings used at the firm’s annual Fixed Income conference to enhance market awareness
Discretionary Fund Manager (DFM) Case Studies
Independent portfolio monitoring & risk controls
A DFM firm faced shifting market dynamics and struggling portfolios. Using our Portfolio Monitors service we analysed every building block, identified hidden risk skews and modelled likely scenarios. We then recommended addressing the risk skews and implemented real-time controls so the Investment Manager could confidently move on from firefighting to more risk-aware management of their portfolios. Outcomes: 1. Restored control: Investment Managed regained clarity and confidence over portfolio construction 2. Improved performance: targeted adjustments materially improved returns 3. Ongoing framework: live monitoring and scenario briefs keep risks visible and manageable
Independent Investment Committee member
Another DFM run by ex multi-asset portfolio managers engaged us as an external sparring partner and Investment Committee member. Our deep quantitative screens complemented their team's own qualitative process, improving fund selection, aligning model portfolios and measuring consistency gaps across their house view. We also introduced multi-perspective risk management systems that allowed the client to review effectiveness of their hedging decisions. Outcomes: 1. Stronger governance: clearer alignment between fund universe and house view 2. Better selection: quantitative filter improved long term fund retention and performance 3. Proactive risk management: alerts enabled considered hedging and portfolio protection strategies
Tim founded Valencia Asymmetric so he could continue operating within City of London and UK Wealth Management circles from his home in Spain. The proprietary screening tools that form the backbone of Valencia Asymmetric are Tim's response to what he felt were meaningful blind spots within the portfolio management industry.
Background and credentials
Education: BSc (Hons) in Banking & International Finance, Cass Business School, First-Class Honours.
Professional: A CFA charterholder with over 20 years' industry experience, he was previously Investment Manager for Fiducia Wealth Management, an award-winning DFM Wealth Manager in the South East of England. Earlier in his career, he also held roles at the Bank of England, a family office, as well as in the European Equities team of a leading Sovereign Wealth fund.
Entrepreneurship: Launched his investment consultancy firm in 2017 and built Valencia Asymmetric to deliver independent, evidence-led insight to UK-based Wealth Managers, DFMs and Asset Managers.
Approach and reputation
Tim combines rigorous quantitative screening with sharp, experience‑based judgement. He is known for a friendly, straight‑talking style and for distilling complex analysis into clear, actionable guidance. Clients value him as an independent partner who helps them see funds and portfolios more clearly.
Personal
Tim is a relentless problem‑solver who enjoys deep analysis and the clarity it brings clients. He lives in Spain with his family and three children, who never fail to keep him busy outside of work. He also enjoys running, health and fitness and watching every Spurs game he can. Valencia Asymmetric is Tim’s way of uniting the rewards of a fulfilling career - rich client relationships and purposeful work - with a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.
Our long‑term partners
No one is truly self‑made. We benefit from a strong external team and the wisdom of trusted specialists - partners who add capability, perspective and delivery to everything we do.
Andrew Fuller - Business Development
www.agfconsulting.co.uk
Tracy & Mark Bain - Marketing
www.whitepuffinconsulting.co.uk
Ben Keating - Software Engineer
These collaborators provide commercial insight, creative marketing and technical delivery that extend our in‑house strengths and help us move from analysis to action faster. With their support we can scale bespoke projects while keeping the work rigorous and client‑focused.
Testimonials
James Clunie
Director - Long-Short Consultancy LtdWorking with Tim on an investment committee (where Tim has a fund focus and I have an economics & strategy focus) has been a super experience. I've found Tim to be highly engaged; generating new ideas and asking good questions of the wider team. He has a learning mindset and a constant desire to improve processes and performance. All this, and with good humour!
Geoff Cooper
Head of Investment Management - MM WealthTim has become a valuable extension of our investment team. His analysis is consistently high quality and has improved our understanding of underlying exposures, allowing us to challenge assumptions and make better-informed decisions. He is diligent, responsive and presents in a clear, well-structured manner, making him a trusted and well-regarded partner across both the team and Investment Committee.
Business Development Manager
I have worked with Valencia Asymmetric for 6 years and find their approach to fund analysis genuinely differentiated from others in the market. Working with them as a client they have proved able to get under the bonnet of how a fund is run and the subsequent expected performance. In the last 18 months we have engaged them to carry out analysis on our funds and they have discovered sales and marketing points that we hadn't previously considered that have proven effective with our clients in winning and retaining assets.
Alwyn Evans
Financial Planning DirectorTim has played an important part in helping strengthen our investment operation over the years, providing real clarity around the behaviour and moving parts across our portfolios and investment strategies, and helping us stay well informed through initiatives such as the monitor videos. His mentoring, contribution at Investment Committee meetings and trusted external perspective have been hugely valuable, and he is an honest, decent and genuinely enjoyable person to work with.
Business Development Manager
As a Business Development Manager working within the Asset Management industry, I have worked with Tim Stubbs and Valencia Asymmetric for many years now. This has been in the capacity of them as a client as well as commissioning work on a range of funds and deeper analytical research on a particular fund. In this time Valencia Asymmetry have been a pleasure to work with and provided invaluable insights into how investors may look at our funds differently to how they are being promoted. The deeper analysis certainly complemented our own marketing of the funds that we have subsequently managed to grow in AUM. Further, they have worked with our fund management, marketing and sales teams to explain their findings in detail which have all been very well received. I find their analytical approach to be different to many others in the industry and this approach has helped us stand out from the crowd in many ways (something I imagine their Wealth and DFM clients find invaluable).
Andrew Fuller
DirectorI have known Tim for over five years. He came highly recommended from an ex colleague of mine. Tim has since been working with two of my top clients who were looking for support with their Investment Boards/Investment Committee. He brings a well of external knowledge and support to Investment Managers and DFM alike He is very client centric and professional in everything he does I would highly recommend Tim.
Contact
- Calle Colon 40, 1º, 1a, 46004, Valencia
Valencia Asymmetric is the trading name of Tim Stubbs Investment Strategies, S.L. (Spain)