VERSO WEALTH

Overall

A strong entry from this newly formed firm, winning the People’s Choice award as Top Wealth Manager and ranking fourth in the Wealth Management Boutique category. Verso Wealth was formed through a 50:50 merger between the Verso Group and Galileo Capital Grow in 2015. The Verso Group specialises in providing retirement fund administration and advice on employee and medical aid benefits. It is the first time this firm is participating as Verso Wealth, though Galileo Capital participated previously. The new business offers independent financial planning and estate planning advisory services to medium to high-net-worth individuals and their families. Other group companies offer employee benefits and other services, along with specialised services including short-term money market brokering.

What we say

Winning the People’s Choice award shows that, through its transition, the firm has managed to maintain the high client satisfaction levels achieved by its predecessor, Galileo Capital, which won the People’s Choice last year. Clients were positive in their comments and gave exceptionally high rankings on satisfaction issues.

Eligibility

Investable assets of R1m or more. We encourage all the bigger companies involved in wealth management to complete a questionnaire to enable our judges to assess them. This year Investec and Citadel declined to do so. We discuss their offerings below, gleaned from our research.