In our recent episode of The Allocation Agenda, Matthew Burrows, Director of Investment Relations and Marketing at Frostrow Capital, shared what it’s like to sit between institutional allocators and boutique fund managers. As the 'middleman' bridging both worlds, Burrows sees firsthand how mismatched time horizons, short-term performance pressure, and misaligned expectations can strain otherwise promising relationships.
He explains that many fund managers - especially those running concentrated strategies or operating in frontier markets - base their decisions on deep, fundamental analysis, with results often taking years to materialise. As one manager put it, "The performance you are getting today is from a decision I made three years ago." But for allocators working within quarterly or annual review cycles, this kind of timeline can feel out of sync, creating tension and, sometimes, premature exits.