Stockbroker clients are becoming increasingly concerned with political issues in the face of a shrinking economy. Trading volumes are falling, putting pressure on stockbroker revenues and the firms in turn are adapting, adding products and services to improve their value to clients. Franette Bloom, Sharenet’s head of wealth, says political uncertainty, the state of the economy and the sideways movements of markets over the past 40 months have reduced risk appetite and trading volumes. Clients are increasingly seeking global access and are wanting more value for money from brokers. "Lower than desired investment returns, which inevitably results in pressure on fees charged by the vendor, has become a recurring topic of discussion," she says. "The local markets have underperformed against global markets and political issues are clearly fuelling the movement to ‘safer havens’. Clients are making decisive moves to take their money out of the country, investing into global markets at com...

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