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Fund of Funds.”
The Brenthurst BCI Balanced Fund of Funds, which has a balanced investment exposure across multiple asset classes, aims to offer investors a moderate to high longterm total return.
The Cautious Fund of Funds is a cautious risk profile portfolio whose objective is to provide investors with a high level of income and capital stability.
The Worldwide Flexible Fund of Funds is a worldwide flexible portfolio with the objective of providing investors with a high long-term total return.
Switches within these funds do not attract capital gains tax and they also offer a solution for clients with a lower level of investable assets. Magnus Heystek, cofounder, director and lead investment strategist for Brenthurst, says the company thinks differently because it does not have historical ties.
“For example, while offshore investing has become somewhat of a topic du jour given the tight spot in which the country finds itself, Brenthurst has for years advocated a healthy exposure to offshore assets. SA is a small pond,” says Heystek. “You’ve got to get into the bigger pond.”
The success of this strategy has Brenthurst considering the possibility of opening an office in Mauritius, which could service existing SA investors and grow its market share beyond SA.
Unsurprisingly, Brenthurst Wealth prides itself on its independence. The fact that it can tailor solutions to meet the needs of individual clients and is not tied to particular product providers is something that it values, says Brenthurst Wealth MD Brian Butchart.
“I really do like the fact that we are independent. If I could only provide advice on a limited range of investment options, I don’t think I would enjoy that,” says Johan Burger, director and head of financial planning at the company’s Pretoria branch.
Brenthurst does not demand that its financial planners meet certain targets each month, which has historically driven some of the poor selling practices that have given advisors a bad name. Rather, it focuses only on what is best for the client.
The company is also a fierce critic of outright scams. “It’s not only the investments you make that are important, it’s also the investments that you don’t make,” says Heystek. He refers to the likes of Sharemax, Leaderguard and even Bernie Madoff salesmen, who were eager for Brenthurst to market their products to its clients.
Needless to say, they — and many others who over the years have regaled Brenthurst with promises of sky-high commission — were shown the door. Clients were strongly discouraged from investing in any of these products.
While Brenthurst has historically attracted high net-worth individuals who demand face-to-face interaction with a financial advisor,