James Goward: The ugly side of the DFM beauty parade

We live in an age where consumers, more than ever before, are able to make informed purchasing decisions. The algorithms that sit behind shopping websites enable us to filter our potential choices down from everything to those items best suited to our objectives. But hiring a discretionary fund manager (DFM) is clearly not the same as buying a toaster - or any other item for that matter. There are many complex aspects to consider and - as advisers well know - it takes more than a few reviews to pick the right service. Surely an adviser is best-placed to narrow a crowded field to the most...