Financial services investment leaders celebrated

The 32^nd annual Marketing, Advertising and Sales Excellence (MAX) and Investment Leadership Awards hosted by Rainmaker Group and its publication Financial Standard were presented in Sydney last night.

Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) and MLC Asset Management were the big winners last night taking out three awards each.

MAM won for its Macquarie Australian Enhanced Plus Equities Fund, Macquarie Income Opportunities Fund, and took out the top gong for Investment Manager of the Year.

MLC won for its MLC Wholesale Horizon 1 Bond Portfolio, MLC MultiActive Balanced and MLC MultiActive Growth funds.

MLC's Antares also won the Equity Income Strategy of the Year for its Dividend Builder Strategy.

Dimensional Fund Advisors was honoured for the Dimensional Australian Sustainability Trust and the Dimensional Global Sustainability Trust (Unhedged Class Units).

First Sentier took home two awards for the RQI Emerging Markets Value - Class A, and RQI Global Value - Class A.

MA Financial Group took home an award for the MA Secured Loan Series - Class B.

For infrastructure investing, ClearBridge Investments was recognised for its ClearBridge Global Infrastructure Value Fund.

MFS International Australia was recognised for its MFS Blended Research Global Equity Trust.

BlackRock Investment Management took home an award for its iShares International Equity Index Fund.

In the international small cap space, Cromwell Funds Management was recognised for the Cromwell Phoenix Global Opportunities Fund.

For international listed property, SG Hiscock & Company was recognised for the SGH LaSalle Concentrated Global Property Fund.

Lastly, Schroders took home an award for the Schroder Real Return Fund.

"With trillions of dollars pouring into retail investments and superannuation, investors and retirees need investment managers of the highest calibre to safeguard and grow their wealth. Our research shows these awards bring together an outstanding lineup of funds that investors can back with confidence."