For Helen Watson, chief executive of Rothschild & Co’s UK Wealth Management business, the one thing never to do in a current crisis such as that triggered by the coronavirus pandemic is to “put your tin helmet on and hide under the desk”.

Clients might be worried for no one likes values to be down. But they like surprises even less, “so we aim to be very much on the front foot with clients, especially when markets are volatile”.

Rothschild & Co started its contingency planning early, enabling everyone to work from home.

“Our systems are fully operational, and we continue to be very much ope...