2016 Wealth & Money Management Awards by AI Global Media

Wealth & Finance International - Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016

Pioneering Investments We interviewed Deputy Chairman and CEO of Emirates REIT Management Sylvain Vieujot to learn more about the firm and examine how it came to achieve itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enviable success.

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Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016

Welcome to the 2016 Wealth & Money Management Awards Finance management can be a daunting and complicated task, and therefore many individuals, business people and families look to advisors to support and guide them through the complex process of managing their money. From ensuring all relevant fees and taxes are paid to supporting clients through monumental life changes, those working in the wealth management industry often become much more than just advisors, developing strong relationships with clients and supporting them through thick and thin. The 2016 Wealth & Money Management Awards are dedicated to rewarding and recognising the hard work and dedication of everyone working in this vast industry, from including asset managers, financial planners, HNWI services and specialist banking providers. The awards do not take into account business size, location or reputation, instead looking for only those firms, departments or individuals whose dedication and commitment in all aspects of their role have seen them achieve stellar results for their clients, whether assisting with managing their wealth, planning for the future of their business or their family or providing more general â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but no less vital â&#x20AC;&#x201C; advice.

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4 Emirates REIT Award for Excellence in Dividend Performance 2016 - UAE & W&F Pioneer Award for Positive Growth in Real Estate - UAE 8 ACA Compliance (Europe) Best Financial Compliance Support Consultants 2016 - UK 12 Enterprise Engineering, Inc. Best Data Aggregation Firm - New York & Most Innovative Asset Aggregation Solution: Trusted Network Platformâ&#x201E;˘ 16 London International Corporation Ltd Best Bespoke Asset Management Service 2016 - South East 18 RIT Capital Partners plc Best International Investment Trust 2016 20 Dart Capital Limited Most Dynamic Discretionary Investment Manager - UK 22 Erste Private Banking Best for Private Banking - Austria 24 INAIA GmbH Best European Islamic Finance Provider 26 Keeler Financial Planning â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Manulife Securities Incorporated Best Retirement Planner 2016 - Ontario 28 Lemon Tree Financial Best Mortgage Broker 2016 - London 30 Liechtenstein Bankers Association (LBA) Best Banking NPO 2016 - Liechtenstein 32 Logic Wealth Planning Best Financial Planning Firm 2016 - North West 34 Bruderman Brothers Best Equity Sponsor Advisory Service - New York 35 Cim Global Business Best Trust & Fiduciary Services Company - Mauritius 36 Column Capital Advisors, LLC. Best Integrated Tax Investment Management Firm - USA 37 Goal Group Limited Best Tax Reclamation Services Firm 2016 38 Group IFA Best Bespoke Financial Planning Firm 2016 - UK 39 Hartey Wealth Management Limited Best for Investment Portfolio Management - Shropshire & Cheshire 40 King Financial Group Best Boutique Advisory Firm - Australia 41 Lex Associates LLP Best for Growth Strategies in Wealth Management - UK 42 London & Capital Best International Wealth Manager 2016 43 MCR Development LLC Best High-End Hotel Investment & Development Firm - New York 44 Metro Brokers, Key Realty Partners Best for Real Estate Sales - Denver, CO & Most Respected Realtor - Denver, CO 45 MFG Best for Technology Auditing 2016 - UK 46 Newbridge Financial Planning Award for Excellence in Retirement Planning - UK & Pension Specialist of the Year 2016 - Belfast 47 Parasoft Corporation Best for Development Testing Technology 2016 48 Personalized Investment Planning Inc. Best for Corporate & Individual Financial Planning - Canada 49 Prabhudas Lilladher Pvt Ltd Best Equity Research Firm 2016 - India 50 Pro Sport Wealth Management Ltd Award for Excellence in Sports Focused Wealth Management - UK 51 Saratoga Research & Investment Best Large Cap Investment Firm - California 52 Saunderson House Best HNWI Financial Planning Firm - UK 53 Sound Investment Management Inc. Best Retirement & Financial Planning - Portland 54 StatPro Best for Investment Portfolio Analytics Solutions & Most Innovative Portfolio Analytics Software: StatPro Revolution 55 Vistra ITCL (India) Limited Best Corporate Trustees - Asia 56 The William Douglas Group Best Financial Advisor 2016 - Canada & Award for Excellence in Retirement Planning - Canada

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016

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Company: Emirates REIT Management (Private) Limited Address: Index Tower, East entrance, Level 23, Dubai International Financial Centre, PO Box 482015, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Phone: +971 4 405 73 48 Email: ir@reit.ae Website: https://www.reit.ae

Award for Excellence in Dividend Performance 2016 - UAE & W&F Pioneer Award for Positive Growth in Real Estate - UAE

Emirates REIT is the UAE’s first regulated real estate investment trust. We interviewed Deputy Chairman and CEO of Emirates REIT Management Mr Sylvain Vieujot to learn more about the firm and examine how it came to achieve its enviable success.

Emirates REIT Management, subsidiary of Equitativa Real Estate, is the management firm for the Emirates REIT, a Sharia-compliant REIT designed to support clients seeking to invest in real estate in the UAE. Sylvain talks us through the firm and its pioneering history.

“Our REIT is the first of its kind in the market for a number of reasons. It is our aim with this and all of our REITs to make real estate investments safe, simple and accessible. Previously the market for real estate investment in many emerging markets has been dominated by family offices which did not offer their services to the wider market.

“Emirates REIT provides REITs for clients seeking to invest in property. Sylvain was the Chairman of Eiffel Holding, which was the holding company of Société de la Tour Eiffel, the first French listed REIT. Six years ago he launched the innovative Emirates REIT, which started trading on Nasdaq Dubai over two years ago.”

“As a REIT, this investment is now available to a wide variety of clients, from financial institutions to private investors. Usually those seeking to invest privately in real estate need to invest large amounts of money, and it requires a strong experience in the market in order to invest in this asset class. Through investing in our REIT, clients can invest as much money as they choose. They are also safer as the investment is more diversified and is managed by an experienced and dedicated team that ensures their investment is performing.”

Based in the Dubai International Financial Centre, Emirates REIT is governed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority and invests exclusively in high-quality, income-producing commercial and education properties. The REIT manager professionally manages the assets it owns in order to maximise revenue and increase the overall performance and value of the REIT. According to Sylvain, the Emirates REIT is unique not just because it is the first such REIT to be offered in the UAE, but because of its accessibility, professionalism and dedication to providing strong returns for its investors.

Mitigating risk is a key aspect to any investment firm, and one that Emirates REIT Management takes very seriously, as Sylvain was keen to highlight. “Real estate investments are long term commitments. We mitigate risk through diversification in both asset class and tenants. We also secure

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016

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long term cash flows by building a rental income with a long weighted average lease term portfolio of over eight years. This secures the dividend and prevents short term variations due to the market. Within the individual REIT, which is based around a specific asset class and location, we ensure risk averse returns for clients by ensuring that every investment we make is thoroughly researched. For every property we purchase, we check around eighty others, and have a department solely dedicated to researching potential investments, meeting with asset owners and developers and generally keeping ahead of the market.” “Another factor which is key to ensuring that our clients’ investments are secured is that we also take long term loans so that should there be a credit crunch in the market, we are protected against having to re-finance in a negative market.” This long term view is vital to the firm’s approach and Sylvain emphasises that every member of staff has to be fully committed to this approach. “Real estate investment is about providing a regular income and long term capital appreciation. Internally our firm operates as a close team with this shared goal. We take a long term view of every investment we make, we aim at providing a secure dividend and we support our clients, both tenants and investors alike.” “Having professional, dedicated and experienced staff is key to our success. This is because a major part of what sets our firm and its REITs apart from other, similar financial products, is our professionalism. Offering the very best assets is important, but being professional and gaining the trust of our clients is critical, as this helps us build a long term relationship and ensures that everyone who works with us has a positive experience.” One of the key challenges to working within the real estate investment market is the cyclical nature of the market, which brings with it many great opportunities for firms which have a long term view; are willing to be patient at times, and are ready to act when the opportunities present themselves, as Sylvain describes. “Currently, the real estate market is slowing down, and therefore we are taking advantage of this by buying property. We firmly believe that taking advantage of negative markets is crucial to the success of our REITs and we aim to purchase properties during such down cycles and reap the benefits when the market recovers. It is this disciplined strategy which has helped our firm achieve the success it enjoys today.” Moving forward, Sylvain believes that there are exciting times ahead for the company, the REIT and the overall real estate market. “Looking to the future, we are keen to capitalise on the opportunities we have found during the current market, and are set to launch several new REITs in new asset classes and regions over the next few months.” “Recently we launched a new REIT in Morocco and we are aiming to move into new markets as we notice the growing trend for professionalisation of real estate investment in the region. Both institutional and private investors take a great interest in real estate as an asset, as they rebalance their portfolio away from fixed income products and because firms such as ours are making real estate investment easier to access and safer.” “Although we have achieved phenomenal success in the past few years, Emirates REIT is still relatively young and we look forward to growing our portfolio and working with new clients.”

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016

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Company: ACA Compliance (Europe) Ltd Address: Panton House, 25 Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4EN Phone: +44 (0)20 7042 0500 E-mail: adam.palmer@acacomplianceeurope.com jonathan.wedgbury@acacomplianceeurope.com Website: http://www.acacomplianceeurope.com/

Best Financial Compliance Support Consultants 2016 - UK

ACA Compliance (Europe) Limited is the European division of ACA Compliance Group (“ACA”), the world’s leading provider of regulatory compliance products and solutions, cybersecurity and IT risk services, GIPS® and performance services, and technology solutions to regional, national, and global firms in the financial services industry. We interviewed Adam Palmer, Partner, and Jonathan Wedgbury, Principal Consultant, to gain a fascinating insight into the company and its bespoke service offering. Fundamental to the company’s work is helping clients prepare for ever more complex rules and regulations in a fast-changing, global regulatory environment. Adam believes that the key to staying ahead of developments in the industry, and therefore offering clients the very best support and advice, is the firm’s experienced and dedicated team of over 300 professionals.

Operating from locations across America and Europe, ACA is the world’s largest independent compliance consultancy. ACA’s success is based upon its reputation, cultivated since its establishment in 2002, for providing professional, highly-regarded client services combined with technical expertise. ACA supplies bespoke compliance and regulatory solutions, advice, support and consultancy services to clients across the regulated financial industry, working with a wide range of firms from investment advisers and managers, wealth managers, commodity trading advisors, investment companies and broker-dealers. In his opening comments, Adam is keen to emphasise ACA’s focus on providing tailored solutions to each client, an approach that ensures the firm exactly meets their individual needs.

“Our team is the key to providing clients with the very highest standards of service which are tailored to their needs. We recruit a wide variety of staff, with employees ranging from former regulators to previous inhouse compliance officers. By combining our experiences, we are able to help our clients in not just understanding the rules that the regulators enforce, but also how to implement them on a day-to-day basis. We have sat in their seat and dealt with the issues that come up in-house, therefore we can offer practical solutions to the problems they face.

“Here at ACA, we work with a wide variety of clients who operate in numerous sectors and geographies, supporting them with their compliance with UK, US and European regulations. Each client is unique, and as such has widely different requirements from their compliance consultants.”

“Overall, our team combines over 100 years’ experience as UK regulatory consultants and includes former FSA, FCA and SEC examiners, together with experienced industry practitioners and individuals previously approved by the FSA as Compliance Oversight Officers.”

He continues, “For start-up firms, we offer support in all aspects of compliance, from initial authorisation through to comprehensive day-to-day regulatory support and guidance. Larger firms may need different types of support, and we are able to provide these firms with a whole range of solutions, for instance providing a consultant to work ‘in-house’, offering periodic or focused compliance reviews, and conducting mock FCA / SEC examinations that replicate the experience of having a formal regulatory visit and assess the adequacy of a firm’s compliance programme and their ability to respond appropriately to a regulator’s requests.”

As the firm’s staff are such a vital resource, it is crucial that they are supported so that they are able to provide the very best service. Jonathan believes that the firm has a very supportive and inclusive culture. “Working in compliance can be a very challenging task, with consultants having to advise businesses and individuals often managing significant assets and wealth. Therefore, ACA works hard to make sure that our staff are appropriately supported. Client relationships are generally managed by a minimum of two experienced consultants so that

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016

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employees can feel they have the support of another colleague, while clients know they will always have an adviser available.” “Although staff may have a particular area of expertise, we enable them to work with a variety of clients so that they are constantly challenged and intellectually stimulated by their work. It also means they have to be technically astute across a wide range of regulatory requirements.” “Alongside this, personal development is important to our firm and is widely encouraged. Any member of staff who would like to undertake additional training or improve a skill is supported and individuals have the opportunity to conduct research and cultivate new technical knowledge because, ultimately, this means that they will be better placed to support our clients.” Adam, who has worked in the UK regulated financial services industry since 2001, has seen many changes in the industry throughout his career. Looking to the future, he believes that the market will continue to evolve and grow, providing exciting new opportunities for ACA. “When I started working in this industry, compliance was not a key focus, both in the media and the industry itself. Since then the financial market has evolved, and now you cannot open a financial publication without reading several compliance stories, and firms have come to view compliance as a vital aspect of their operations.” “This increased focus has led to clients, expecting much more from their advisors, and quite rightly our clients expect the highest possible service with deep technical understanding. We have to be able to articulate the impact of the relevant regulatory regimes to our clients in a straightforward and practical manner.” “Therefore, we are constantly innovating and exploring new opportunities to better support our clients. We analyse the market and aim to produce new solutions and services that will meet the needs of the businesses working within the regulated financial market, so that they are safe in the knowledge that ACA is able to support them no matter what the challenge.” These innovations include new technological solutions, which Adam was keen to emphasise are not designed to replace compliance officers, but rather to enhance their role and enable them to better support their clients. “Following on from the financial crisis of 2008, regulators have become more proactive, producing additional regulations and rules to cover new areas, with a key focus on areas such as transparency, governance, market conduct and risk. Additionally, new regulations often have a vast and far-reaching impact, and as such forward planning is also of increasing importance, both to our clients and our staff.” “In order to support clients through this ever-evolving and increasingly complex regulatory landscape we are working to develop new technological offerings, such as our ComplianceAlpha software. This technology is designed to ensure that our client’s compliance officers, whose role is vast and continually expanding, have a solution that will help them to monitor and control their firm’s compliance programme. The appropriate use of technology should not replace the compliance officer but it can free up their time and allow them to focus on the firm’s key regulatory risks — this can only be a positive development. This is one of the directions that our firm is expanding into as we look to offer a greater range of innovative technological solutions.”

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016

Best Data Aggregation Firm - New York & Most Innovative Asset Aggregation Solution: Trusted Network Platformâ&#x201E;˘

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Company: Enterprise Engineering, Inc. (EEI) Name: Jaimie Anzelone Email: Janzelone@joineei.com Web Address: www.joineei.com Address: 115 Broadway Suite 1705 New York, NY 10006 Telephone: 212-344-2000

Enterprise Engineering, Inc. (EEI) has been the trusted advisor on data to the Financial Industry for over 20 years. We invited Jaimie Anzelone, Head of Marketing, to talk us through the firm, its history and how it has come to achieve its current success.

Founded in 1995 by George Anderson, EEI has since established itself as a highly reliable and innovative FinTech company. Jaimie discusses the firm’s service offering and how it focuses on exceeding client expectations with creative solutions.

card providers, tax services firms and bill pay enablers to over 16,000 sources of financial data.” Working in such a competitive industry, differentiation is of vital importance. Jaimie highlights EEI’s client focus and innovative approach as key to setting it apart from the rest.

“EEI combines services and software to meet our clients’ objectives. Our dedicated services team works in partnership with clients to provide strategic and technical assessments; data management, architecture and analytics; engineering of high performance, high availability systems and key centers of excellence in DevOps and Program Management.

“Here at EEI, we are passionate about driving results through the use of proven processes and extensive industry expertise. We deliver optimal business outcomes by partnering with our clients on their most difficult challenges. We know that while it is easy to thrive in growing markets, it is critical to protect clients’ wealth in difficult markets. Therefore, we believe a consolidated view of all assets across institutions will empower clients, increase Financial Advisor productivity, drive the growth of assets under management and enhance portfolio value.

As a firm we provide our clients with innovative and intelligent solutions coupled with the credibility of a twenty-year-old business singularly focused on the Financial Industry. As a trusted advisor to the world’s largest and most respected Financial Institutions, our first priority is to support the goals of Financial Advisors and their clients. Our products and services are geared toward delivering real-time information on transactions, positions and holdings. This helps Financial Advisors and clients aggregate their data from across several different firms, enabling them to design the best investment strategy.

Alongside this, our philosophy has always been to stay ahead of industry trends. We are at the forefront of the market by continually learning and applying that knowledge to build leading-edge solutions that will offer competitive advantages to our customers. Traditional competitors have not been able to deliver the breadth of services, nor the reliability, that EEI can consistently provide, and as such we have set ourselves apart from the rest of the market this way.”

In software, EEI has the largest enterprise deployment of data access & aggregation platforms. Data is the basic building block for all financial activities. The effective capture of data is a foundational step for reporting and analytics. Intuitive front-ends and business analytics are ineffectual if the underlying data isn’t clean, accurate, reliable, consistent and timely. Through EEI’s Trusted Network Platform™, Financial Institutions can support real-time, on-demand access to business, consumer, and investor data, enabling a spectrum of front office and client facing platforms.

Since its inception in 1995, EEI’s primary location has been New York City, a main hub for financial technology. Being within walking distance from Wall Street has enabled the firm to remain connected to its clients. In the last twenty years, New York City has experienced some of the most volatile and challenging times, but EEI has remained a staple in financial data management, and today continues to serve clients and innovate, acting as a bastion for the industry and always remaining at the forefront of emerging industry developments.”

Our Trusted Network Product Suite™ facilitates data access, aggregation, cleansing, enrichment and provisioning for over seventy-five Financial Institutions. We continuously partner with leading edge software companies, enabling our software products to connect major banks, brokerage firms, banking / retirement services providers, credit

Jaimie discusses the recent changes in the Wealth Management market and how the firm is adapting.

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016

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“Wealth Management is at the center of significant changes in the market currently, and this has been both a challenge and an opportunity for EEI. We know that the democratization of technology has led investors to set a high bar around data availability and analytics. We also know the explosion of FinTech apps using data aggregation has led Financial Institutions to explore more secure and higher-quality data access methods for their account holders. Advisors and clients are demanding improved solutions. In response to these demands, we have built a platform that specifically addresses these needs. EEI provides integrated software and services solutions to enable Financial Advisors and their clients to holistically manage all of their financials including assets held away. Our Trusted Network Platform™ and FS-API™ enable improved security measures and eliminate the bad data acquired through screen scraping.” To effectively meet the needs of its clients, EEI prides itself in being collaborative, outcome-driven, client-focused and innovative with a reputation for quality and creativity. It is this approach which shapes the firm’s internal culture, as Jaimie explains. “At EEI, our focus is firmly on employee engagement because we understand this translates into better client service and improved results. Our experience in delivering solutions is based on industry knowledge and technical skills. These credentials allow us to attract, develop and retain high quality individuals within our company.

Overall the firm has had a strong year so far, as Jaimie outlines the company’s exceptional performance and how it is working to capitalise on this. “Over the last 12 months, EEI has focused its efforts on the consumerization and democratization of technology blended with the deep insights provided through data in order to deliver a richer, more customized and productive set of solutions for Wealth Management firms. Our long history of data expertise has enabled us to provide real value to the Wealth Management sector at a time when they are facing shifting client demographics and profitability challenges. This year we also expanded our Trusted Network Platform™ with the release of our proprietary Financial Services API or FS-API™. Unique to the industry and tailored to Financial Services, the FS-API™ is the first to provide transactional money movement and bill payment between the Financial Institution and their end clients. This advanced API enabled us to become the first company to support OFX 2.2 immediately after its release in April 2016. Utilizing multiple standards including OFX 2.2, we continue to provide enriched data through our leading edge API and Trusted Network Platform ™.” Looking to the future Jaimie expresses optimism as the firm aims to grow and expand in order to meet clients’ ever changing needs and stay one step ahead of the market. “Moving forward, we are executing on our five-year strategy, which articulates an aggressive plan of investment to expand our product offerings, our employee skill base and our client reach. We are also focusing on the power of emerging technologies (e.g augmented and virtual reality). As a thought leader in the industry, it is exciting to continually be at the forefront of financial technology needs. Overall we are excited for the future of our company.”

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016

www.wealthandfinance-intl.com WM16019 Company: London International Corporation Ltd Address: Barham Court, Kent, ME18 5BZ Website: http://www.lic.uk.com/

Best Bespoke Asset Management Service 2016 - South East

London International Corporation is an independent financial advisory firm dedicated to providing clients with the very best investment options. interviewed CEO Daniel Dabin to find out more about the firm and the services it provides. London International Corporation offer a wide range of services across the investment space, ranging from traditional portfolios, mortgages and pensions through to more complex financing, such as supporting startups with their initial funding tax planning and even research tools. Research is a key aspect of the firm’s service offering, as Daniel explains.

This personal approach would be impossible to achieve without a dedicated team of professionals. Daniel outlines the firm’s internal culture and how it works hard to ensure that every member of staff is motivated to provide the very best service to their clients. “Our culture here at London International Corporation is relaxed but professional, and we always aim to recruit staff who are ambitious and keen to build a career in finance. This ensures that everyone here is committed to supporting our clients, and ultimately our business.”

“In order to ensure our clients receive the very highest quality services we employ a range of research tools and techniques which make certain that we are always investing in the very best financial instruments the market has to offer.

Following the Brexit decision, some industries, including wealth management, have been in a state of flux, but as Daniel explains, this is not necessarily a negative.

“These tools are partially technological, and we maintain state of the art software which provides up to the minute information on the investment potential throughout the market. We also conduct regular meetings with Independent Investment Consultants who supply us with information, as well as utilising our own in house team who scour all available resources and publications for information.

“The financial industry is constantly changing and there are always new challenges to overcome. One recent change that is going to be phenomenal over the coming years is the recent move to leave the European Union, which has led many of my competitors in the wealth management industry to state their intention to move out of Britain.

“Independent observers in the form of external firms monitor our portfolios on a regular basis to ensure that we are not exposing our clients to unnecessary risk or volatility. This approach helps us to offer our clients only the best, most risk averse investment products.”

“However, to my mind every change brings new opportunities and there is always a positive to be found; whilst many might lament the economic challenges which the UK economy now faces, I welcome the chance to take on the clients that my former competitors leave behind when they move abroad.”

The firm’s clients, who are based around the world and range from high net worth individuals through to private investors from every sector, enjoy a highly personal service from London International. Daniel explains how approach is a vital component to the firm’s success.

As the company is young, having been in business for just two years, Daniel is keen to focus on growth in the future.

“At London International Corporation we offer a personal approach to investment, supporting clients through every stage of the investment process and ensuring that they are constantly consulted and regularly communicated with so that they always feel involved and are up to speed with exactly where their money is being invested. By offering such a personal service we ensure that our clients are always satisfied with the support and advice we provide, and the regular referrals we receive highlights the success of this approach.”

“The past two years have seen a high level of growth for London International Corporation, and going forward I would like to continue this, and have a growth strategy for the next five years which will see us expand through mergers and acquisitions. “We are keen to grow in both the UK and international markets, with an aim to open offices in Shanghai in the next two years. Our service offering will also grow as part of this strategy, and we want to move into discretionary fund management in order to offer clients more choice, whilst maintaining the high standards of service which we pride ourselves on.”

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016

Best International Investment Trust 2016

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Company: RIT Capital Partners plc Web Address: www.ritcap.com

RIT Capital Partners plc is an Investment Trust chaired by Lord Rothschild, which aims to protect and enhance shareholders’ wealth over the long term. We profile the firm and explore the secrets behind its success.

RIT was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1988 with assets of £280m. Today, total group assets are almost £3bn. Over that period, RIT has consistently outperformed market indices with its NAV compounding at almost 12% per annum. RIT today is regarded as one of the UK’s most distinguished and best performing Investment Companies.

protecting shareholders’ capital, whist also seeking opportunities for long term capital growth. To achieve this, RIT uses qualitative and quantitative measures to monitor risk within the portfolio. Furthermore, the widely diversified investment portfolio significantly reduces exposure to individual asset price risk and particular attention is paid to the management of currency exposure.

The firm has an exceptionally long standing and loyal shareholder base, with a register now of over 15,000 shareholders having successfully secured investor confidence across generations. This very much reflects the ethos of the Rothschild family, who maintain a 21% stake in the Company. Lord Rothschild himself remains Chairman of the Board, ever since its listing almost thirty years ago and more recently his daughter Hannah joined the Board.

RIT has a strong corporate culture, the firm focuses on a collaborative approach which is vital to both staying ahead of emerging industry developments and maintaining good shareholder relations. RIT’s global reach and network of worldwide contacts allows for timely and insightful information on market trends. The blend of an in-house investment team working closely with core external managers and a range of contacts built up over the decades has produced an exceptional level of global market intelligence.

The company’s mission is to deliver long term capital growth whilst preserving shareholder’s capital. Overall the Company aims to display healthy participation in upmarkets and reasonable protection in downmarkets. This is the approach that has allowed RIT to compound ahead of markets throughout cycles and the evidence is impressive – since the Company’s listing in 1988, RIT has participated in 76% of the market upside but only 39% of market declines.

The firm’s internal culture is based around many of the attributes associated with a family office. This produces close working relations, a strong sense of collegiality and a readiness to exchange ideas. With that in mind, RIT has been successful in attracting top talent who are drawn to the Company as a result of its distinguished reputation and its unparalleled investment record.

RIT invests across multiple assets, geographies, industries and currencies. It combines thematic investing with individual securities and private investments with public stocks. This distinctive blend of assets and a diversified approach has meant that RIT occupies a unique place in the sector.

The last twelve months has been a particularly strong period for the Company and Shareholders saw the share price increase by 22% in 2015. Furthermore, the net asset value exceeded its benchmarks over the same period returning 8.1%.

In order to reduce risk and ensure shareholders are not exposed to unnecessary volatility, the firm carries out a robust assessment of its risks and manages them accordingly. This includes detailed scrutiny to ensure that the overall risk appetite set by the Board is reflected in the portfolio and set within prescribed limits.

At the heart of this success is a long term approach and a desire over an extended period of time to outperform markets. This objective alongside a settled management team and the influence of the Rothschild family has meant that the Company’s share price and its net assets in the last twelve months have exceeded their all-time highs.

In his most recent statement, Lord Rothschild commented that the finance sector is confronting some of the most volatile markets of a lifetime and the unpredictability confronting investors is daunting. In his view, central bank’s policy makers seem to have exhausted all options and despite unprecedented monetary stimulus, growth remains elusive. RIT’s policy in the light of the uncertainties is to remain cautious when

In order to maintain this success in the future, the firm will approach the uncertain environment following the Brexit vote with suitable levels of caution and where appropriate, tactical agility. This means looking for investment opportunity where it presents itself whilst always being alert to the protection of shareholder capital.

Valdis Skudre / Shutterstock.com

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016

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Company: Dart Capital Limited Name: Richard Whitehead Email: richard.whitehead@dartcapital.com Web Address: www.dartcapital.com Address: 4 Eastcheap, London, EC3M 1AE Telephone: 0207 283 1117

Most Dynamic Discretionary Investment Manager - UK

Dart Capital is a privately owned, London based wealth management company managing portfolios ranging from £200,000 to £20 million. We invited Richard Whitehead to talk us through the company and its investment solutions.

Dart Capital provides a very focussed and personal service which has been refined over the years to suit the needs of its clients. Richard outlines the company’s service offering.

We then produce a written proposal which replays their current circumstances, objectives and previous experience along with our suggestions for a long-term investment strategy. This proposal also includes full details of Dart’s service and fee structure.

“The investment management part of our service consists of monthly portfolio reviews with dynamic ad-hoc trading. Ad-hoc trading may take place if, for example, a market correction presents a short term window of opportunity or if we are concerned about a particular fund or sector, for example a fund manager leaving or interest rates rising.

This is followed up with a second meeting to discuss the proposal to answer any questions the client may have as well as discussing and agreeing an investment strategy going forward. We produce substantial notes after every meeting which are sent to our client so that both parties have a record of the meeting and a clear understanding of the agreed actions.”

Every 3 months we issue comprehensive valuation packs which include portfolio value, performance, transaction summary, fees, asset allocation, attribution and income. We enjoy having an ongoing dialogue with our clients and encourage face to face meetings with them every six months.

Even the firm’s investment approach revolves around the client and producing the best returns for them, as Richard explains. “Our investment service is based solely on our belief of what is right for our client. We run no products of our own so our investment team is independent and free to choose the best investments available.

Our service also includes financial planning or portfolio structuring which is aimed at helping clients review and consolidate existing polices and portfolios and, when the time comes, drawing funds from their portfolios, in the most efficient manner that is suitable for their circumstances.

We produce risk adjusted returns by investing across all asset classes and by applying a disciplined asset allocation process. By investing in an actively managed portfolio of equities, bonds, and less correlated assets in the shape of alternatives and property, we believe that we can achieve competitive returns whilst keeping the inherent risk of a portfolio at sensible and agreed levels. Our analysts draw on comprehensive and sophisticated research from a wide range of sources.

Overall we value the expertise that other professionals bring and like to work in close partnership with our clients’ advisers, usually their solicitor and accountant, to ensure that they have the most suitable and joined up arrangements for their circumstances.” A personalised service is, as Richard emphasises the key to the company’s success and the factor which sets it apart from its competitors.

We choose active investments where the manager can demonstrate genuine expertise within a particular asset class and continually monitor and review the investments to ensure they remain true to their stated investment philosophy and appropriate for our client’s portfolio.”

“When we first start working with a client we arrange an initial face to face meeting to fully explore their needs and objectives and to provide them with a synopsis of the service that Dart offers. This includes a full review of their current circumstances and existing assets to ensure that we have a thorough understanding of their situation.

As his final comment Richard explains that the company’s focus is firmly on providing clients with the very highest quality service now and long into the future. “Looking ahead, we will continue to strive to deliver a high quality service to all of our clients.”

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016

www.wealthandfinance-intl.com WM16005

Company: Erste Bank Private Banking Name: Wolfgang Traindl (Head of Private Banking) Email: wolfgang.traindl@erstebank.at Web: www.ersteprivatebanking.at Address: Am Belvedere 1, A-1100 Vienna, Austria Telephone: +43 50 100 13066

Best for Private Banking - Austria

Erste Private Banking Erste Group is the leading retail and commercial bank in Central and Eastern Europe. We invited its Head of Private Banking Wolfgang Traindl to tell us more.

Erste Group is headquartered in Vienna and has major market shares in the banking markets in Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Croatia and Serbia. Wolfgang provides an overview of the firm’s services in the private banking sphere.

The wealth management industry is increasingly reliant on technology to support its clients. Wolfgang explains that as such, Erste Group is looking to digitalise many of its processes in the future in order to remain at the forefront of industry developments.

“The services we offer start with a thorough analysis of the client’s life and wealth situation, as well as their future cash flow needs. That analysis leads to an individual-specific portfolio suggestion involving either an advisory or a managed portfolio. We also focus on providing our clients with wealth management services. These are bundled in our local private banking units, which support the general account manager in all respects of wealth related issues: portfolio management, treasury business, custody, wealth planning, succession planning, gold, real estate, etc. We offer our private banking services as of a threshold of 300,000 euros in financial assets.”

“We see technology as a major tool of convenience for our clients in that it supports our personal approach. For example, we have an interactive online reporting tool in place which allows the client to take an interactive look at their portfolio and analyse it at any time.”

When working with a new client, Erste Group’s advisors have a checklist of questions that they ask the client before on-boarding, thus ensuring that the advisors understand the client’s needs, their risk appetite, and the goals for their investments. Wolfgang explains how this knowledge ensures that the client is fully aware of the risk they are taking and ensures that the bank manages each client’s portfolio appropriately.

As his final comment, Wolfgang adds that there are additional significant changes happening in the wealth management industry which will provide his firm with exciting opportunities moving forward.

“As such, the successful implementation of digitalization both within our organisation and in our client-facing offerings will be the big challenge for the next years. The first will improve our efficiency and productivity, while the latter will further improve the customer experience we can offer.”

“Our industry is in a phase of significant change. During the late 1990’s and until the dawn of the financial crisis in 2008, maximum performance was the key issue for clients and money managers. Nowadays, a much more holistic approach is needed to fully address clients’ needs. The current low interest rate environment is fostering the need for answers to a whole range of questions: How can I protect my wealth against inflation? How can I pass on my wealth to the next generation? How can I navigate my wealth through the high volatility of securities markets?”

“After a thorough risk/return analysis of the client, we formulate an investment policy that is strongly focussed on providing a broad diversification of the client’s portfolio. We use all categories of bonds, equities, real estate, hedge funds and precious metals to realize this broad diversification. We manage the clients’ portfolio actively to protect it against excessive volatility, especially in times of strong market corrections.”

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016

www.wealthandfinance-intl.com WM16047

Company: INAIA GmbH Name: Bilgehan AKBIYIK & Emre AKYEL – Board of Managing Directors Email: info@inaia.de Web Address: www.inaia.de Address: Seestr. 5, 72764 Reutlingen - Germany Telephone: +49 (0)7121 3640234

Best European Islamic Finance Provider INAIA Finance, previously known as iFIS Capital Gmbh, has a compelling deal of technical expertise with regard to the Islamic finance and supports with leading ideas the development of Islamic financial instruments and services. We spoke to the firm’s Board of Directors to learn more about its offering.

INAIA is strictly keeping within the scope of German and European rights to the rules of Islam. The core business is the provision of Sharia compliant financial products. At the same time, the firm offers a pronounced range from an Islamic compliant gold savings plan to the offer of solar wakala investment. Clients, who are looking for ethical and/ or Islamic investment will find INAIA, a company with almost 10-year experience, to be an excellent partner in their quest.

“The Islamic finance market in Europe can be seen as a niche sector with a high potential due to a low supply side and a high demand side. Considering that key competences and a specific Islamic finance expertise is needed to fulfil client expectations, INAIA can be seen as a company actively developing this sector using its experience and competences. Key challenges in our area are mainly the general economic environment that affects the willingness of doing investment and savings and the awareness of potential customers of such supply. As INAIA we make sure that even low-income clients are able to benefit from our products. We also focus on a supply of instruments that might be requested during weak economic times. To increase the awareness of Islamic finance and the sensitivity to these products we provide public information via different media.”

As an opening comment the board outlines how the main objective of INAIA is to deliver the highest possible quality and service. “Here at INAIA we strive to provide the highest possible quality of service, which is achieved in a number of ways, including offering especially a fast response time to any question or concern by our clients and accessibility via different tools such as direct login support, homepage live chat, email, phone, Facebook direct message, etc. As a high priority we follow an operational excellence from contract application, through confirmation until maturity. We also offer a user-friendly platform, an easy and secure access are part of our service assurance.

Following the financial crisis, the Islamic finance industry got the attention with its solid and sustainable functionality and with its performance. Currently the Islamic finance market is of great significance, and going forward the board believe this focus will continue, which is why the firm is committed to being at the forefront of industry developments and offering new and innovative products which meet client’s needs.

“This approach starts from the moment we start working with a new client. Our sales partners are strictly trained by our company members in specific subjects. Especially the demand and need oriented consultation is the most important field. Sustainable customer orientation and transparency are the main focus of our philosophy. A detailed minutes of consultation and a central post consultation feedback contact with the client are one of our ambitions to secure a client oriented consultation and to monitor results on a regular basis.”

“In our interpretation not only the general demand within the Islamic financial market will continuously increase, but also the demand for instruments that cover all life cycle and modern time product types has to be satisfied. At this stage our company’s main objective is to implement right products and to become a universal supplier of Islamic compliant financial instruments. “Therefore as we look towards the future, INAIA is creating an Islamic compliant real estate financing opportunity. This project is in its last stages and will be implemented after final proof of the financial authority and proof of the sharia advisory. Another main objective for our firm is to provide an Islamic compliant card payment and current account system that offers non-interest based payment and account-keeping possibilities and a very innovative IT platform. These new projects will enable us to provide a better selection for our clients and we look forward to the opportunities this will bring.”

Within the Islamic finance market the board states that Europe is leading the way in terms of growth, which is why the firm is working diligently to support this market. “The Islamic Finance sector and the characteristic of clients within this market is very special. Trust and sustainability are the most important factors of their decision. Due to a long term dedication and hard work, INAIA has become a well-known brand with more than 10,000 Facebook followers only in Germany, which explains the disproportional increase during the last years.

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016

www.wealthandfinance-intl.com WM16022 Company: Keeler Financial Planning – Manulife Securities Incorporated, Name: Tim Keeler Email: timothy.keeler@manulifesecurities.ca Web Address: www.theburleyformat.com Address:390 Brant St, Suite 400, Burlington, Ontario, L7R 4J4 Telephone: 289-245-1003x200

Best Retirement Planner 2016 - Ontario Keeler Financial Planning is a comprehensive Financial Planning business that offers investment products, advice and financial planning services. As a Senior Financial Advisor Tim Keeler provides stocks, bonds and mutual funds through Manulife Securities Incorporated and is one of the largest investment dealers in Canada. As a Life Insurance Advisor, Tim Keeler also provides life insurance products and services through Manulife Securities Insurance Inc. We spoke to Tim Keeler to find out more. Keeler Financial Planning provides its investment offering through Manulife Securities Incorporated which provides mutual funds, stocks, and bonds and is one of the largest investment dealers in Canada. The life, disability and critical illness business is contracted through a further separate business entity called Manulife Securities Insurance Inc. Tim, who operates across the brands, talks us through the services they provide, with a particular focus on his innovative retirement planning program, The BURLEY Format.

product approval team. The universe of investments is still overwhelming so I have developed a series of model portfolios that act as a primary core investment. These portfolios took months to fine tune into what we have today and it is regularly compared to alternatives and benchmarks to ensure that we continue to offer best in class. Even though the portfolio is comprised of several different investments, it is not simply the individual pieces that are scrutinized. More importantly is how the portfolio balances out market volatility to maintain positive momentum. Depending on the client, market circumstances and stage of investment cycle I also allocate from a list of more company or sector specific investments to augment the core portfolio. Each one of these investments is owned by a member of my family, so I am personally invested in making good recommendations.

“My specialties lie in retirement planning and I use a program exclusive to Keeler Financial Planning called the BURLEY format. The BURLEY Format was built upon the strategies and methodologies of the most successful investors around the globe. The process uses discipline and patience to achieve the goals that we are working towards. The main goal I help people reach is a finically secure retirement.

“Each investment is then monitored daily, weekly or monthly depending on its category and I hold regular update meetings with each one of the managed money providers in person. Reading an analyst report is very different than meeting a manager or vice president face to face and asking the tough questions. I only do business with people that I trust and that trust must be earned.

“The BURLEY Format acknowledges that different stages in life require different strategies and investments. By monitoring client progress, we ensure that we are prepared for each stage and that each stage is navigated appropriately and prepares us for the next. For example: clients that have been with me for 20 years or more have started as savers and accumulators, where we had investments that grew by capital gains. Their children and liabilities were insured against loss or income interruption.

“As a comprehensive financial planner it is my aim to be able to offer my clients everything they need.” In conclusion Tim talked us through the developments which have occurred in the industry over the past twelve months and how his firm has adapted around these.

“As we move to the preretirement stage, the temporary insurances give way to permanent needs, estate planning and long term care so they are well prepared in advance of retirement. In retirement, we like low volatility tax efficient portfolios that produce income for the family and at this stage we make sure they are prepared for the legacy stage. We like to bring in the next generation and make sure they are on track with their plans as well and prepare them for what is to come.”

“During 2016 the rules around investment fees and compensation become more transparent across the industry. We have always been fully transparent and find the lowest cost option for clients so we welcome this regulatory change and believe our clients will be well informed and others who may be disappointed with a previous high fee relationship will join our business family.”

Alongside BURLEY the format, the firm also offers a wide range of additional investment solutions which Tim is also keen to showcase.

“Ultimately, our clients are the most important part of my business and we are very hands on, providing them with the support and advice they need. Moving forward this will continue to be the focus of the business.”

“In addition, we offer a full suite of Investment and insurance products. Including individual securities of stock and bonds as well as mutual funds and ETFs and GIC`s. On the insurance side, I am contracted with almost all of the major insurance firms in Canada and provide life insurance, disability insurance as well as critical illness, long term care and travel insurance and annuities.

Manulife Securities and the block design are registered service marks and trade marks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it and its affiliates including Manulife Securities Incorporated.

“All of the investments I recommend are well researched. First of all, they need to be approved by the Manulife Securities compliance and

Manulife Securities Incorporated is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016

www.wealthandfinance-intl.com WM16008

Company: Lemon Tree Financial Name: Mitul Patel Email: financialclarity@lemontreefinancial.com Web Address: www.lemontreefinancial.com Address: 20 Elm Grove, North Harrow, Middlesex, HA2 7JE Telephone: 020 8723 7517

Best Mortgage Broker 2016 - London

Lemon Tree Financial are Mortgage Brokers based in Harrow, Middlesex providing expert Mortgage and Protection Advice to their clients. We spoke to advisor Mitul Patel to find out more.

Lemon Tree Financial offers clients a dedicated mortgage advisor and a support team with over 120 years of combined experience in the mortgage and protection market. Mitul explains how the firm supports clients across all aspects of their mortgage.

“When hiring staff, we look for a willingness to improve and to apply themselves to the very busy day they have ahead of them. As with every firm, we have to use our judgement but it will be clear in a short space of time whether a new person shares the same work ethic and displays the loyalty we require to support each other to produce the best outcome for the client.”

“As experienced property investors ourselves and responsible mortgage advisers, clients often seek our advice to assess a potential investment property purchase. We will always warn a client against a deal if we have concerns that it may be too risky or that it may not help achieve their property goals.

Looking ahead, the Financial Industry will undergo a massive upheaval as a result of Brexit and tax changes. The impact on interest rates and people’s confidence in the economy will dictate what happens in the property market and will dictate how the mortgage market progresses, but Mitul is optimistic for the outlook of both the economy and his business.

“As a result of our superior service and dedication our clients are loyal, and many have been with us since even before we started the company in 2000. We are now acquiring new clients daily for Buy to Let, Residential and Commercial lending, which is an invigorating new step.”

“Moving ahead we intend to be far more active in the commercial lending market, not least because our clients are maturing and coming of age in terms of their requirements. They have progressed from chasing a small yield in their first buy to let property to realising the profit is in leveraging their capital growth to bigger, more advanced and more lucrative projects. The clients learning curve differs greatly and our latest star client has progressed from her first property to her latest development project in the space of nine months, because she is prepared to listen, learn and go about her business in a very professional manner.

As Mitul emphasises, it is the firm’s experienced, dedicated and professional team which is the real reason behind its success. “Here at Lemon Tree Financial we are tenacious, keen to keep up to date with the market so we can be the best equipped advisor for our clients, both to advise and fight their corner. The loyalty of our team to the cause, has been built over 30 years together and it is our policy to put an arm around new members and welcome them to the Lemon Tree Club.

“Despite the Brexit uncertainty we are still seeing as many new enquiries today as we ever have. Our online presence is so positive that it would be difficult to improve on. Who knows, if the market becomes worse than we have ever known it, we may have to become more proactive to attract a fresh batch of new clients”

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016

www.wealthandfinance-intl.com WM16015

Company: Liechtenstein Bankers Association (LBA) Name: Simon Tribelhorn, CEO Email: info@bankenverband.li Web Address: www.bankenverband.li Address: Austrasse 46, FL-9490 Vaduz Telephone: +423 230 13 23 EU Transparency Register number 024432110419-97

Best Banking NPO 2016 - Liechtenstein

Established in 1969, the Liechtenstein Bankers Association is the voice of the banks operating in and out of Liechtenstein. We profile the association and explore the services it offers.

The Liechtenstein Bankers Association was founded over 40 years ago by the three Liechtenstein banks existing at that time.

The LBA is one of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most significant associations and plays a key role in the successful development of the financial centre. Member interests are pursued in accordance with the principles of sustainability and credibility. As a member of the European Banking Federation (EBF), the European Payments Council (EPC) and the European Parliamentary Financial Services Forum (EPFSF), the Liechtenstein Bankers Association is a member of key committees at the European level and plays an active role in the European legislation process.

Since its foundation, the association has been safeguarding the interests of its member banks towards the government, the authorities, the public, and national as well as international organisations and federations, and has coordinated the joint activities of its members. The Board is the governing body and consists of the Chairman and representatives of six member banks. The Association is managed by the secretariat leaded by the general manager. The LBA stands for market economy-based principles and for an efficient financial centre in Liechtenstein and in Europe with the highest standards. It understands itself as a service provider to its member banks. In its work the LBA is guided by openness, objectivity and reliability. By signing the ICMA Private Wealth Management Charter of Quality on a self-regulatory level and representing the whole Liechtenstein banking center, the LBA demonstrates the clear commitment to the highest common international standards of quality, compliance and good market practice which are as well the part of the guiding principles of the future strategy for the Liechtenstein banking centre set out in the Roadmap 2020.

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016

www.wealthandfinance-intl.com WM16032 Company: Logic Wealth Planning Name: Yianni Theodorou Email: info@logic-wp.com Web Address: www.logic-wp.com Address: Sigma House, 9 Southgate, Cross St, Off Green Lane, Heywood, Greater Manchester OL10 1ND Telephone: 0808 1234 321

Best Financial Planning Firm 2016 - North West

Logic Wealth Planning is a specialist financial planning firm offering a wide range of services. We spoke to Yianni Theodorou to find out more about the company and its focus on client service.

Logic Wealth Planning is a small firm consisting of five advisers, a client relationship manager and an admin team. The company’s whole focus is to provide a high quality, focused, repeatable service which meets the needs of business owners, their families, and individuals of all ages but with a leaning towards age 40 plus clients who are looking for a holistic approach to their needs. Yianni tells us more about the firm’s service offering.

Discussing the firm’s financial performance over the past twelve months, Yianni was exceptionally proud of his team and their performance, which is central to the firm’s overall success. “The financial performance of the company is a by-product of all the hard work and effort we put into our relationship with each and every client. For every time one of our clients’ smiles and for every moment our clients are satisfied, this brings along more success to the company.

“Within the wealth management space we offer to undertake ongoing reviews, lifetime journey planning and full cash-flow planning. In order to better support them we spend quality time with our clients, creating a non-transactional feel to meetings and promoting discussions around our clients’ life goals and aspirations.

“Fundamentally we take pride in having a very professional but caring outlook and objective with everything we do, and cascading this ethos across our online presence and processes. It requires a special kind of person to integrate within a close knit team and therefore the personality is the most important qualification we look for.”

“When working with a new client, we undertake fact finding, which supplements our life planning questioning as well as more importantly listening to our clients. We aim to reveal our clients’ real areas of concern and importance and only when we feel we have a true picture of their needs do we then design a financial plan to suit that particular client’s wants and needs.”

Going forward, Yianni is keen to outline the firm’s predictions for a bright and prosperous future within the ever evolving financial planning sector. “As regulation in the industry continues to thread itself throughout financial services and never appears to slow down, we envisage there will be further compliance developments and requirements thrust upon the firm. The business has to be robust enough to withstand this and more importantly flexible enough to accommodate everything that is required from it to sustain its development whilst the winds of change continue to conspire against it, and these are the areas the company will be focusing on.

There is a continued demand in the financial planning sector to supply repeatable and robust systems in both the advice and regulatory process and therefore this challenge is pivotal to the Logic Wealth Planning’s success, as Yianni explains. “By having an ongoing focus and developing systems to dovetail with all these aspects it will ensure that the firm has built its processes on solid foundations, and thereby increasing its potential for longevity and success in the marketplace.

“With this in mind, we are planning to offer a robo-advice service as it feels this is a vital aspect of financial planning for the type of individual who would prefer not to interact with a financial adviser face to face.

“As such, having delved deeply into their ‘Capacity for loss’ utilising the questioning created in John Makin’s (AXA Wealth) dissertation on the subject, we use both standardised risk profile questions from Dynamic Planner and additional questioning. This raises client’s awareness of the different types of risk enabling us to discuss and explain the results of their answers and the impact of investing in line with their resulting risk profile.”

“Furthermore, the firm is planning to expand its advisory personnel as it continues to build upon its success and grow into new sectors and markets.”

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016 WM16036

Company: Bruderman Brothers, LLC Name: Oliver Pursche Email: opursche@mjbc.com Web Address: www.bruderman.com Address: 10 East 53rd Street, PH Floor, NY NY 10022 Telephone: (212) 244-1460

Best Equity Sponsor Advisory Service - New York

Bruderman Brothers Bruderman Brothers supports entrepreneurial families looking to capitalize on the growth of their business and ensure that their familial objectives are being properly addressed. We invited Oliver Pursche to explain how the firm achieves this. Bruderman Brothers is a planning based firm which works through its financial planning department in conjunction with its investment management team and multi-family office, with the aim to provide a superior investment process that focuses equal attention on tax exposure, familial and charitable objectives, and investment results. By working collaboratively with both internal and external professional teams from the start of the process, the firm are able to ensure that everyone involved understands what is needed. Oliver explains how this process ensures that the client receives the overall outcome which they require.

“Here at Bruderman Brothers we rely on technology as a strong supporting mechanism for our highly skilled professionals. We leverage technology from SalesForce, E-Money, Factset, Bloomberg. S&P CapIQ, Orion, as well as several proprietary developed programs. In addition, we offer client portals and ongoing personal reviews to ensure clients and their other financial professionals understand and know what is occurring.” Looking ahead, Oliver outlines the firm’s growth strategy and focus on growing in a strategic manner in order to preserve the quality of service that it prides itself on.

“When we first work with any new client we become intricately involved in their life from day one. Our team of highly skilled planners have the experience and talent required to ask the right questions, dig deeper than most are comfortable with and work with outside resources, may they be the client’s attorney, accountant or other professional, to develop a thesis and roadmap that clearly spells out all of the client’s objectives.”

“Moving forward, Bruderman Brothers intends to grow carefully in order to continue to support our current clients as well as new ones. Adding new clients at a steady pace that ensures we are able to maintain our excellence in quality and depth of offerings to every client – current, new and prospective. Based on the needs of some of our Family Office clients, we are discussing the development of a public / private vehicle that would afford certain clients the ability to make Private Equity investments in a more efficient manner than they are accustomed to.”

The challenges of working within the fast paced financial industry remain the same as they have been – combining cutting edge technology with a personal approach to working with clients in an ever changing environment. Oliver talks us through the firm’s technological offering.

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016 WM16033

Company: Column Capital Advisors, LLC. Email: info@columncapital.com Web Address: www.ColumnCapital.com Address: 3815 River Crossing Parkway, Suite 340, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-7808 Telephone: (317) 663-6500

Best Integrated Tax Investment Management Firm - USA

Column Capital is an independent, objective, and fee-only wealth management firm that provides wealth management services to high net worth individuals and families. We invited Frank Tinsley to tell us more.

Column Capital provides investment management, financial planning and tax services for their clients. Through their expertise and ability to integrate investment management, financial planning, and tax services, the firm is able offer a more complete solution to address client’s wealth management needs, as Frank explains.

“Each client’s situation is unique and demands an approach specifically designed and implemented for them. We are well positioned to help our clients through this increasingly complex environment.” “Recently, there has been a great deal of discussion about the growth of the “robo” advisor platform. Even though we acknowledge that there are situations where a “robo” advisor platforms can be useful for some clients, we believe that the vast majority of clients would be better served by a personalized approach to their financial needs.”

“Here at Column Capital we provide investment management, financial planning and tax services for our clients. Our highly-credentialed professionals bring years of formal educational training and decades of proven experience.”

As a final comment Frank expresses his optimism for the future of his firm as it works to ensure that it provides the very highest quality services to its clients.

“By maintaining a select number of clients, we are able to better design and oversee our client’s overall financial situation and maximize their after-tax wealth. Our firm’s approach to wealth management gives us the power to keep our clients focused on where they want to go as we advise them on how to get there. We maintain a disciplined approach to assist our client’s in realizing their dreams, in the present and in the future.”

“The future is very bright for Column Capital. We continue to invest in people, technology and operating systems which allows us to grow while maintaining our close relationships with our clients. Through our collaborative efforts, our staff stays abreast of the latest planning ideas and industry trends which allows us to implement changes, when necessary, in our strategies and recommendations to our clients.”

Within the financial industry, the complexities of investment management, financial planning and tax planning are only increasing. Therefore, the need for professional and personalized advice, as provided by Column Capital, is growing larger every day, as Frank states.

www.wealthandfinance-intl.com WM16028

Company: Goal Group Limited Website: http://www.goalgroup.com/

Best Tax Reclamation Services Firm 2016

Goal Group Limited Goal Group is dedicated to helping the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest financial institutions maximise investor returns. We invited Vicky Dean, Director of Sales & Relationship Management, to give us an insight into the company and the secrets behind its success.

With our market-leading proprietary software and systems, Goal Group offers investors an efficient and cost-effective way to reclaim tax on cross-border dividend income and participate in securities class actions with the highest levels of data security and process automation. Our clients include global financial institutions and investment firms, including five of the top ten global custodians and six of the top ten global fund managers; asset managers, pension funds, hedge funds, investments banks, private banks, prime brokers and high net-worth individuals.

Ultimately Goal Group is the only class actions and tax reclaim company to have global processing capability to service our clients locally. We continually strive to develop and launch complementary products to be able to leverage to our global customer base and niche market position. At the same time, we enhance our products and services based on our own experience and knowledge in conjunction with feedback from existing and prospective clients around the globe.

Our two software solutions are Global Tax Reclamation Solution (GTRS) and Accelerator. GTRS is our licensed software for cross-border withholding tax reclaims. Launched in 1992 and continually enhanced and updated, it helps our clients obtain maximum returns as efficiently as possible. The application reclaims over-withheld tax on cross-border securities income by automating the calculation, batching reclaims and producing and populating the required forms and letters to create a complete reclaim package. Its tremendous success has underpinned the growth of the company by funding our entry into the class actions arena and the evolution of our tax reclaim outsourcing service. Our second software product Accelerator provides calculations on recognised losses in securities class actions globally where clients may have a claim. Goal is able to successfully monitor client portfolios and advise where they are eligible to make such a claim. Against the backdrop of an increasingly globalised and interconnected financial economy driven by rapid advancements in processing and analysing huge amounts of data, we see ourselves at the forefront of technological progress. As the global leader in securities class actions recoveries and withholding tax reclaims services we continue to provide highly integrated, powerful solutions to our clients. Our proprietary software is at the core of our business and we therefore go to great lengths to ensure that both our technology and ancillary services continue to be best-in class.

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016 WM16006

Company: Group IFA Website: http://groupifa.co.uk/

Best Bespoke Financial Planning Firm 2016 - UK

Group IFA Group IFA provides specialist wealth management advice to clients and employee benefits services to the businesses that they run.

The group operates through a number of brands that sit under the Group IFA umbrella and it targets high net worth clients and particularly entrepreneurs. It supports the changing needs of these individuals and their companies from start-up to exit sale.

Group IFA achieved chartered status in 2007, underlining the focus it puts on professionalism. Since 2010, Group IFA founder Phil Rose has held the ISO 22222 accreditation continuously, a standard that demands technical excellence, ethical behaviour, transparency and efficiency in financial planning.

The brand that provides the specialist wealth management advice is Rosebridge. A second trading brand, Sovereign, provides advice on setting up and running workplace employee benefits schemes.

The firm encourages all members of staff to take professional exams and pays the associated exam fees. It also offers staff days off to study and days off in lieu of those spent sitting exams.

The Pensions Partnership specialises in trustee and administration services for both Small Self-Administered Schemes (SSASs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs).

By the end of the year Group IFA expects to have 60 employees, up from 28 in 2013. Over the same time frame client numbers have risen from 2,000 to a forecast of 3,000 and the percentage of those that are active has risen from 82% to 90%.

Also within the Group is ProSport Wealth Management, providing specialist advice to professional sportspeople, mainly footballers. Since 2010 ProSport has been an official partner of the Professional Footballers Association.

Total income has jumped from £2.4m and will hit £5m by the end of the year, and funds under advice will have doubled from £419m to £800m. The percentage of recurring income has risen from 78% to a projected figure of 85% for 2016.

The specialist expertise housed in each of these brands means that Group IFA provides clients with in-depth retirement planning advice at every stage of both their accumulation and decumulation journey.

Group IFA has a can-do attitude and differentiates itself by finding solutions for clients. Clients want a way to overcome a problem, not a list of reasons why something can’t be done and finding those solutions is what drives Group IFA.

Cash flow forecasting sits at the centre of Group IFA’s approach to retirement planning for its clients. Cash flow forecasting demands that clients think about each general area of spending. It is then possible to drill down into these areas and consider all of the individual lines of their personal expenditure. This detailed approach creates an accurate picture of a client’s spending habits and makes it possible to then analyse how it will change in later years. In the future, for example, there may be no mortgage payments but higher travel expenses.

www.wealthandfinance-intl.com WM16037

Company: Hartey Wealth Management Limited Website: http://www.harteywm.co.uk/

Best for Investment Portfolio Management - Shropshire & Cheshire

Hartey Wealth Management Limited Hartey Wealth Management Limited is a financial services provider specialising in supporting high net worth clients. We spoke to Karl Hartey, Chairman, who provides us with an insight into the firm and its approach to client service.

Hartey Wealth Management offers a wide range of services, with a focus on retirement and estate planning. Additionally, the firm also supports commercial clients, providing investment portfolios tailored to meet their needs, as well as directorship and loan protection solutions. Karl explains what sets his firm apart and marks it out as the best possible option for his select clientele. “Our firm’s philosophy is that the client always comes first, and as such we aim to support them throughout every stage of the investment process. We want to wow them at every opportunity to showcase our talent and make them feel supported, but ultimately we want to reinforce the trust so that they can believe that we will invest their money wisely.” To ensure that investment portfolios are tailored to individual clients’ interests, the firm offers investment presentations which they can attend, which provide an insight into the firm’s investment options. Once clients have decided to work with Hartey Wealth Management, a pre-meeting workbook is provided so that clients can pass over their details and their views on their investments. By the time the client talks to the advisor they already understand a great deal about them, and this allows for clearer communication and greater support at the early stages of the process. Looking to the future, Karl was optimistic about the firm’s fortunes and excited about its growth plans. “Growth is a key focus for our firm going forward, although we are keen to conduct this organically so that we can maintain the level of service which we pride ourselves on. We believe that supporting a limited number of clients ensures that they receive the individual attention that they deserve, and as such we are looking to raise the minimum investment in our portfolios rather than increase our client base. This strategy will provide us with a number of opportunities which we look forward to taking advantage of.”

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016 WM16025

Company: King Financial Group Name: Barry King Email: wealth@kfgroup.com.au Web Address: www.kfgroup.com.au Address: Level 1, 104 Burwood Road, Hawthorn VIC 3122 Telephone: (03) 9999 2700

Best Boutique Advisory Firm - Australia

King Financial Group has been in the business of helping clients reach their goals for more than two decades. We caught up with Barry King to learn more.

King Financial Group work directly with clients to understand what is important to them, their dreams and aspirations and provide the expertise and support to help them reach their goals. Barry outlines this personal approach in more detail.

As a final comment Barry outlines the firm’s aspirations and expressed his optimism for a bright and opportunity laden future. “Over the last 12 months we have positioned ourselves with an advisory board to advise myself, the CEO. This is developing the business and projects into the future in a strong and confident way. We are very enthusiastic about the future and the continual modernisation of our offering to our clients.”

“Here at King Financial Group, we understand that no two people are the same which is why we work with you to help you realise your financial, business and personal goals at every stage of your life, from your first job, house, car, investment property and business through to retirement. “We start on your journey with you and stay with you every step of the way because we see our relationship with you as a lifelong partnership, not a one-off transaction. For us, financial advice is not just about choosing products and investments. Our focus is about asking the right questions, listening to your hopes and concerns and turning those into realistic goals both now and into the future.” Not only do the group have the right skills, training and experience on hand to provide clients with high quality holistic solutions, the firm are also independently owned which means that clients receive unbiased advice tailored to your unique financial journey. Barry explains how this approach starts right at the beginning. “Our plan, like our approach, is pretty simple. We start off with a conversation and a simple one pager that helps you to visually map and tick off what matters to you most now and into the future and how to get there. Our engagement process helps you work out what financial freedom you need to let you live the life you want, spend more time with your family and friends, educate yourself on how to get ahead and the kind of legacy you want to leave to protect your loved ones.”

www.wealthandfinance-intl.com WM16034

Company: Lex Associates LLP Name: Les Green Email: les@lexllp.com Web Address: www.lexllp.com Address: 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ Telephone: 020 3697 7766

Best for Growth Strategies in Wealth Management - UK

Lex Associates LLP Lex Associates is a specialist corporate finance house with the motto “Small Companies, Big Winners” and a particular focus on fast growing businesses. We invited Les Green to tell us more.

Lex Associates supports high net worth investors and family offices which are seeking private equity investments. Les provides us with more detail on the firm’s service offering and the clients it serves.

“As we take the lead with our client companies, we are able to ensure investors receive regular updates on progress from the businesses they have backed. We can also allow investors to be involved with the companies as much or little as suits their requirements.”

“Here at Lex Associates we are different to other providers in that we use our extensive business experience to work closely with management teams and understand what makes them tick. This allows us to become “advocates” of their businesses when raising funding on their behalf.

The financial market is a tough place in which to operate, but as Les outlines, his firm’s approach ensures it always stays ahead of the competition. “Our sector is particularly under pressure from crowd funding which can initially be attractive to certain fast growing companies looking to raise funds quickly. However, the personal attention we provide to our client companies, and our ability to assist far beyond just the funding exercise, allows us to remain competitive.”

“We raise funds from a select group of high net worth investors, family offices and a broader base of specialist investment funds. The individuals we introduce to our client companies are experienced enough to know that most private equity investments are not usually “one-time” and it may take a couple of rounds on the journey to exit.

As a concluding comment Les talks us through the industry at present and what the future has in store for his firm as a result.

“Our clients are generally fast growing businesses that have reached profitability and are looking to raise additional equity and/or debt finance.”

“Currently there is a strong trend towards the automation of the interaction between financial firms and their clients. Whilst we will partake in this where we believe it adds real benefit, our view is that only by keeping the personal interaction and by discussing issues face-to-face can we deliver the quality of service which will deliver the results our corporate clients are seeking.

Les adds that the firm is innovative thanks to its dedicated investors and unique approach to investing. “Many of our investors have built their own companies; hence, they know, first hand, the trials and tribulations involved. They can also act as a useful source of contacts and as mentors.

“The last year was tougher than previous years for our firm as we unusually had a couple of larger fund raising projects that were delayed for reasons outside of our control. However, the current financial year should see not only these projects come to fruition but another two substantial funding rounds completed, and as such we foresee some really interesting developments that will help us to grow our experience and knowledge.

“We are very selective about the companies we back. In particular, we only support those which we believe have the management team and business potential to reach a successful exit within a reasonable time horizon (ideally five years). “For funding, our “sweet spot” is £1m to £10m but we will take on much larger funding rounds, up to £20m, for more mature companies. Our preference it to support companies right through the process - from the writing of a suitable business plan to aiding with the financial models and meeting with potential investors.

“Overall the firm has a bright and exciting future ahead, as we work with our strategic partners to build upon our current service offering and expand our team so that we can widen the scope of the services we offer to client companies.”

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016 WM16002

Company: London & Capital Name: Carl Mackenzie Email: carl.mackenzie@londonandcapital.com Web Address: www.londonandcapital.com Address: 7 Triton Square, Regents Place, London, NW1 3HG Telephone: 0207 396 3200

Best International Wealth Manager 2016

London & Capital London & Capital is an independently-owned wealth management firm that provides discretionary wealth management for ultra-high net worth individuals and institutions. We spoke to Carl Mackenzie to learn more.

London & Capital offers discretionary wealth management services, which brings together investment management, financial planning and consolidated reporting to ensure that a client’s portfolio operates coherently. Carl talks us through the firm’s client focused approach and how it endeavours to ensure that everyone who works with the company receives the very highest quality of service and impressive returns.

“All members of the team are focused on the same long-term objectives and every activity undertaken is in the best interest of our clients. There are many ways in which we cultivate this team spirit, an example of this is our Development Committee. Made up of a cross-section of teams, functions and seniority, the committee is an open forum for suggestions and initiatives that will make any/every aspect of working at London & Capital and the service we provide our clients more effective.”

“In partnership with the client and aligned with their individual goals, we build a bespoke portfolio to suit their needs. This incorporates establishing an overarching investment strategy, structuring and the optimal asset allocation to achieve the desired investment outcome.

London & Capital’s success has come from identifying niches in the market and pin-pointing underserviced sectors. As his final comment Carl describes how the firm intends to continue to build upon this success and continue providing the very best service to clients.

“What really sets us apart is that we approach every client relationship as if it is a partnership rather than them simply being an investor. We usually become our clients trusted adviser, developing an intrinsic knowledge of their situation, enabling us to act decisively to ensure our client’s investment needs are met.”

“Our focus will continue to be on identifying markets which share similar characteristics. These tend to be markets that are complex and require technical expertise, where there is a need that is not being satisfied by our competitors and the clients meet our usual profile. After identifying the opportunity, we then build a specialist proposition to cater for that market.”

Alongside having a client focused wealth management approach, London & Capital also has a very entrepreneurial culture, which very much takes it lead from Managing Director and co-founder, Daniel Freedman and the steps he has taken over the last 30 years to grow the firm, as Carl explains.

www.wealthandfinance-intl.com WM16051

Company: MCR Development LLC Address: 152 West 57th Street 46th Floor, New York, New York 10019 Phone: (212) 277-5602 Email: info@mcrdevelopmentllc.com Website: http://www.mcrdevelopment.com/

Best High-End Hotel Investment & Development Firm - New York

MCR Development LLC MCR Development LLC is the 7th largest hotel owner-operator in the United States with a $2.0 billion portfolio of 82 premium-branded hotels with over 9,700 rooms across 21 states and 57 cities. We profile this dynamic and ever evolving company and explore the approach which has helped it to achieve its current, industry leading success.

Established in 2006, since inception the MCR Team have grown the firm’s portfolio through a series of development projects and acquisitions.

agement experience at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International, Highgate Hotels, Ernst & Young LLP, RFS Hotel Investors, and others. MCR’s operational expertise empowers the company to execute a “buy and fix” strategy that boasts significant top-line operational improvement (primarily through growth in RevPAR / RevPAR index) and increased flow-through to the bottom line.

The firm’s primary focus is to drive value throughout its real estate portfolio, generate superior returns for its investors, and provide a professional, integrity-driven, merit-based working environment for its team members. To achieve this the firm seeks opportunistic acquisitions and development

Currently the firm is undergoing a wave of renovations on its properties, including its Marriott Brownsville Hotel in South Texas, Hampton Inn by Hilton in Western Kentucky and TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Baltimore. The renovation of these establishments highlights the firm’s continued commitment to providing quality guest accommodation to clients across the U.S and safeguarding the investment of its clients for the long term, which will be MCR’s focus moving forward.

The management experience and high-performance of the team has led to industry leading relationships, both of which are also key factors in MCR’s success. Both the Executives and Co-Founders of the firm have decades of on-the-ground hospitality asset and property man-

Hilton Garden Inn, Midland, TX

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016 WM16017

Company: Metro Brokers, Key Realty Partners Name: Regina Moore, Broker Owner Email: ReginaMoore@Realtor.com Web Address: www.KeyRealtyPartners.com Address: 2000 S Colorado Blvd. #200 Denver, CO 80222 (Annex Building) Telephone: +1.720.220.1394

Best for Real Estate Sales - Denver, CO & Most Respected Realtor - Denver, CO Metro Brokers has been a leader in Colorado’s real estate and property management services, for more than 30 years. Regina Moore, Broker Owner, talks us through the firm and the secrets behind its success.

Metro Brokers, Inc. has been Colorado’s leader in real estate, technology and services for more than 40 years, offering independent real estate professionals a framework to succeed. Our network of over 1,000 highly experienced real estate professionals specialize in residential, commercial and investment properties. Our mission is to provide the framework, structure, brand and freedom for real estate brokers to work professionally, efficiently and profitably. Regina, one such Broker, describes the services she personally offers.

As a final comment Regina emphasises the strong growth her firm has seen over the past year and how she intends to capitalise on this going forward.

“Through my work with Metro Brokers I offer not only the purchase and sale of real estate but also property management services of single-family homes, condos and townhouses to select clients that are too busy or lack the expertise needed for day-to-day management of their residential real estate investments.

“Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue providing a quality service that meets the needs of my clients.”

“The firm has increased in total revenue by 38% in the last 12 months and I think this is due to a combination of our local population growth, low interest rates and our ability to capture those leads before the competition.

“Community financial literacy and awareness remain at the forefront of our charter. Our portfolio of clients regularly look to me for advice on when to buy, when to hold and when to buckle up and ride the instability of the market. I engage in regular communication with old and new clients and advise them on interest rates, ways to reduce their mortgage payment, how to pay off a 30-year mortgage in 20 without having to refinance and when the time is right what price they should sell their home for. Every year I send out comparables so every Owner can see the growth of their asset year over year.” The current CO real estate market has exploded into a fast paced and high energy business. Regina explains how her firm stays at the forefront of emerging developments in order to offer clients the very best support and advice. “With so many agents always on the road and in their car, we rely on technology and information sharing tools to stay ahead of industry changes. We really look forward to state conventions and local board meetings as they are the best opportunity to catch up and build relationships with Brokers we may work with in the future. A combination of technology and solid relationships helps me provide the best service possible to my clients.”

www.wealthandfinance-intl.com WM16027 Company: MFG Name: Mark Flinders Email: markflinders@mfg-uk.com Web Address: www.mfg-uk.com & www.managedencryption.co.uk Address: Unit 4a Theale Lakes Business Park, Moulden Way, Sulhamstead, Berkshire RG7 4GB Telephone: 0118 9148800

Best for Technology Auditing 2016 - UK

MFG are an IT company that offers flexible IT support, IT Security, project delivery and advice. We invited Mark Flinders to talk us through its service offering. MFG pride themselves on offering a friendly and professional service and have a wealth of experience supporting SME businesses throughout the UK. Whether clients are looking to fully outsource their IT services or want to build on their internal resources, MFG can provide businesses with a cost-effective solution.

“We invest in the best tools to provide our clients with the best service, from document management, CRM, Helpdesk System to proactive and patch management support.” Looking to the future, Mark outlines the MFG’s future focuses and exciting new upcoming projects.

Staff are vital to any firm, and Mark highlights how the firm aims to attract the very best talent in the industry.

MFG are proud to announce the launch of their new division; Managed Encryption. Managed Encryption helps businesses and organisations to increase their security measures on personal and sensitive data, whilst reducing business costs, minimising risk with handling data and authenticate users, as well as offering an unhindered user experience.

“Our employees are vital, we are lucky enough to have a great relationship with a local recruitment company and together we aim to acquire the best talent. Our process has been improved over the years and we follow best practices. To us it is about having the right attitude and being willing to go the extra mile for the client.

With regulations changing on how personal and sensitive data is being handled, processed and retained, we are happy to state that we are already helping organisations protect their data with a base level of protection through our managed encryption solutions.

“Our internal culture starts from the top management and works down to every employee. We are one team, we communicate honestly, we care, we can change and maintain flexibility for our clients, which is the overall aim.”

We have two companies in the top 100 financial companies in the UK, including Succession Group. With all the press, data hacks and security concerns occurring, this service has already become a commonly used solution worldwide. We look forward to working with our technological partner WinMagic and will continue to help them produce an innovative solution throughout future”

Client service is paramount to MFG, who always aim to listen to their clients and work with them to produce a solution that is right for them. Mark outlines other ways in which the firm aims to support clients.

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016 WM16001

Company: Newbridge Financial Planning Name: Gareth Elliott Web Address: www.newbridgefinancialplanning.co.uk Address: The Mount, 2 Woodstock Link, Belfast, BT6 8DD Telephone: 02890735852

Award for Excellence in Retirement Planning - UK & Pension Specialist of the Year 2016 - Belfast

Newbridge Financial Planning is an independent financial planning firm based in Belfast. We spoke to Gareth Elliott to learn more about the firm and its innovative service offering.

Newbridge Financial Planning offer advice in retirement planning, investments, mortgages and protection to both corporate and private clients. Gareth outlines how the firm ensures clients receive the very best service possible.

Moving forward, Gareth emphasises that the firm’s focus is firmly on better supporting its clients and continuing to provide the high level of service which has made the firm the success it is today. “Since 2013 our business has grown by 300% and this is down to proper business planning. We put in place strategies for growth including working with professional such as accountants and solicitors and also developing our online profile. This development takes time as it takes time to develop relationships but thankfully now our strategy is bearing fruit and we are enjoying great growth and are able to provide our clients with the quality services they deserve.

“Here at Newbridge have our own in house investment portfolios which are monthly reviewed risk rated portfolios. We believe in our clients having a diverse portfolio and regular reviews in order to reduce risk. We also offer a Lifestyle Financial Planning service which offers clients access to cashflow planning. This ensures that our clients having the knowledge of their financial position both present and future. We strive to deliver a first class customer service to ensure the best possible outcome for our clients.”

“Our plans moving forward are to keep growing and delivering a great service to our clients, and we have a number of projects currently in development which will help us to achieve this goal.”

www.wealthandfinance-intl.com WM16020

Company: Parasoft Email: info@parasoft.com Web Address: www.parasoft.com Address: 101 E. Huntington Drive, Monrovia, CA 91016 Telephone: 888-305-0041

Best for Development Testing Technology 2016

Parasoft Corporation Parasoft support client by helping them to ensure that the applications they deliver function to the best of their abilities. We invited Wayne Ariola, Chief Strategy Officer to tell us more.

Parasoft serve a wide variety of clients, with a focus on the finance industry. Wayne outlines what sets the firm apart and attracts clients from this dynamic market. “What sets Parasoft apart is that the Financial Services industry represents our customers, and as such we have a great deal of experience and expertise in this area. Parasoft closely partners with our financial services customers to continuously improve the software development lifecycle. This means staying ahead of changing regulatory standards as well as ensuring that the software applications we test provide an excellent end-user experience—achieving the highest level of trust and integrity required by our demanding industry. “Fundamentally our role is to play a unique role in measuring the risk associated with the software applications which interact with the clients of Financial Services firms. Parasoft’s Development Testing tools, in conjunction with our Development Testing Platform, provide advanced analytics which expose software defects very early in the process of developing software applications. Our tools allow developers of transaction-critical applications to deliver secure, reliable and compliant end-user experiences.” As a final comment, Wayne outlines how the firm has grown since inception and how it intends to build upon this success going forward. “Parasoft has been profitable and has grown every year since being founded in 1987. Focus on the unique challenges associated with both the science and creativity behind developing software is key to our success. We approach our tools and solutions from the perspective of our users and weigh their feedback and suggestions heavily in the prioritization of our R&D, and intend to continue this approach in the future.”

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016 WM16012

Company: Personalized Investment Planning Inc. Address: 1644 Highland Rd W. Unit 5, Kitchener ON N2N 3K7 Phone: 519.886.2707 Fax: 519.886.0080 Website: http://www.benefits-plus.ca/

Best for Corporate & Individual Financial Planning - Canada

Personalized Investment Planning Inc. Personalized Investment Planning have been providing exceptional management and advice for over a quarter century in the areas of Insurance, Guaranteed Investments and Financial Planning. We invited Michael Gentile, the firm’s President, to tell us more.

Personalized Investment Planning is in the financial planning and asset management market, with a key focus on serving high net worth individuals. Michael outlines the services the firm provides to its clients.

For his final comment Michael emphasises the firm’s mission, which embodies the company’s dedication to client service. “To conclude, we sincerely believe that it is our work ethic and corporate mission: ‘not to meet but to exceed our client’s expectations’ which have been instrumental in becoming an award winning financial services institution.”

“Here at Personalized Investment Planning we provide our clients with a wide variety of services including mutual funds, pensions and corporate/ individual insurance. “Our approach to ensuring our continued success involves communicating with clients in order to gain a clear picture of their requirements. We provide a detailed questionnaire for them to fill out which enables us to understand their needs. This is the first step to meeting these needs, and this client focused strategy has led the firm to its current position.”

www.wealthandfinance-intl.com WM16050

Company: Prabhudas Lilladher Pvt. Ltd. Name: Amisha Vora Email: AmishaVora@plindia.com Web Address: www.plindia.com Address: 3rd Floor, Sadhana House, 570, P. B. Marg, Behind Mahindra Tower, Worli, Mumbai - 400 018, INDIA Telephone: +91 22 6632 2222

Best Equity Research Firm 2016 - India

Prabhudas Lilladher (PL) is a leading India based financial service firm providing a wide range of services. We invited Amisha Vora to tell us more about the company and how it aims for excellence in every aspect of its work.

Established in 1944, PL has grown to become one of India’s leading financial services enterprises having built its growth on strong adherence to ethics, uncompromising dedication to quality and an attitude of excellence. Amisha talks us through the firm’s approach and how it works to support clients throughout the process.

targeting a quantum leap in the number of clients we deal with over the next 4 years and technology will play a key role in achieving this. We intend to use artificial intelligence and digital initiatives to reduce costs of servicing and reach clients more efficiently and effectively, enhancing client experience as well as profitability.

Here at PL, our 360-degree approach to providing financial services and products means we offer a wide variety of value adds to end clients including trading in Indian capital; currency and commodity markets; portfolio management services; investment banking and corporate advisory; third party and real estate brokerage services; loans against shares; life insurance; and home loan distribution.

The intent of these investments will be to present an irresistible value proposition to our end clients so that they can meet their financial goals, which will be our continued focus as we look towards the future.

“Overall, with a team of experienced and dedicated sales and product experts, a nationwide network of relationships via our branches, franchisees and associates with more than 340 offices in 140 key cities, we provide a comprehensive range of financial services.” Jt. MD Amisha Vora is immensely proud of the firm’s focus on supporting clients and helping them to grow and prosper, as she emphasizess. “Our motto is “Powering your financial growth”. As such we help our clients benefit by providing timely and accurate insights gleaned from painstaking and thorough research. These insights and tips are much sought after by our clients and the media alike.” With the increased focus on technology in the market, PL will continue to innovate in order to stay ahead of the latest developments and offer clients the very highest quality of service. Moving forward, we feel that instead of taking technology and challenges as a threat, we can use it to our advantage, and as such intend to use the increased digitalisation of our market to our advantage. PL is

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016 WM16029

Company: Pro Sport Wealth Management Ltd Website: http://prosportwealth.co.uk/

Award for Excellence in Sports Focused Wealth Management - UK

Pro Sport Wealth Management Ltd As a specialist division within Group IFA, Pro Sport Wealth Management provides Chartered Independent advice to professional sports people on the management of their wealth. Managing Director, Gareth Griffiths, is a former professional football player, who retrained as a financial adviser in 2006 and now applies his financial acumen to deliver financial advice that is based on a very clear understanding of the opportunities and challenges that his clients face. He talks us through his firm and the work they do.

Pro Sport Wealth Management, as a part of Group IFA, works together with the other firms in the group as a strong and powerful collective. Our commitment to achieving the highest standards of services runs through our organisation. As an independent company we pride ourselves on forming lasting client relationships built on trust and confidentiality. Whether our client is a current sporting professional, retired, manager or coach, or board director, we work to understand their situation. We work closely with a range of professional service businesses such as accountants, solicitors and agents and are very proud to have been named an Official Partner of the PFA since 2011.

As a firm we are always looking to add value and this includes our internal resources. We are presently looking to attract highly qualified advisers who have an interest and preferably existing relationships in the sporting world. We would welcome any advisers and support staff who are looking for a change to get in touch.

In order to achieve our high quality client service, it is imperative that our advisers possess specialist knowledge and understating of the culture in this niche area of advice. We have encountered many incidences of general practitioners being unfamiliar with the planning around a sports person’s life cycle which can lead to unfavourable outcomes. As a general rule paying down debt aggressively and preparing for decumulation from age 35 at best, as it determines different planning solutions than HNW with a much longer accumulation phase. Due to limitations on pension funding and access for high earners as well as the less attractive tax position of personally held property portfolios PSWM need to provide effective alternative investment solutions for clients. This can include the use of LLP’s, Ltd companies and tax wrappers such as EIS and VCT’s. Clearly one of the challenges is to ensure the tax tail doesn’t wag the dog in so much as a client’s attitude to risk is always a key driver to any recommendations.

www.wealthandfinance-intl.com WM16013

Company: Saratoga Research & Investment Management Name: Mark McClenahan Email: mark@saratogarim.com Web Address: www.saratogarim.com Address: 14471 Big Basin Way, Suite E, Saratoga, CA 95070 Telephone: 408-913-7187

Best Large Cap Investment Firm - California

Saratoga Research & Investment Management SaratogaRIM Research & Investment is a conservative long term focused equity manger. Mark McClenahan talks us through the firm’s investment offering.

Saratoga, founded in 1995, is a SEC Registered Investment Advisor specializing in constructing and managing equity portfolios comprised of high caliber businesses utilizing common sense investment principles for individual and institutional investors. Mark talks us through the firm’s investment process and how this is specifically aimed towards to supporting investors.

“Twenty years from now SaratogaRIM’s younger generation will be the same age as our more senior teammates are today. Our work environment, culture and chemistry foster continuity over time. As we learn and grow together through continuous execution of our investment process we expect to get better and better over time. We are confident that SaratogaRIM is well positioned to serve our clients and prosper long into the future.”

“We offer two versions of our core equity investment approach: SaratogaRIM Large Cap Quality and SaratogaRIM Large Cap Quality Focus. Quality was established on Feb. 29, 2000, and over its first 16 years has generated a gross cumulative return of 313.80 percent versus the S&P 500’s 110.68 percent, and has done so with significantly less volatility of returns. In other words, despite the dotcom bust and 2008 global market crash, SaratogaRIM’s Large Cap Quality Composite earned gross compound annual returns of 9.08 percent, with low downside capture during each of those crises. Large Cap Quality Focus was established September 1, 2014. Since that time, its gross performance has beaten the S&P 500 by 8.04 percent, and achieved 8.94 percent annualized gross performance. Like Quality, Focus’ outperformance also comes with much less volatility. And while past performance does not guarantee future returns, we do believe that over time relative performance is a reflection of the quality of the underlying investment process and of those responsible for executing it. “Ultimately, the goal of our investment process is simple: We seek to invest in businesses with healthy balance sheets and sustainable competitive advantages that are likely to experience significant earnings growth for many years into the future. Yet we only invest when share prices are far enough below what we believe to be conservative estimates of intrinsic value. Our process also allows us to recognize opportunities to take profits when prices are frothy relative to underlying value.” Overall Saratoga has been built with an eye firmly on the future, as Mark outlines in his concluding comments.

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016 WM16010

Company: Saunderson House Email: beverly.landais@saundersonhouse.co.uk Web Address: https://www.saundersonhouse.co.uk/ Telephone: 020 7315 6500

Best HNWI Financial Planning Firm - UK

Saunderson House is a leading firm of independent wealth managers based in the City of London. We invited Beverly Landais to talk us through the firm and its service offering.

Saunderson House provide award-winning financial planning and investment services to busy professionals. Beverly provides an overview of the firm’s clients and the services it provides to them.

As a concluding comment Beverly outlines of the firm’s financial performance for the past twelve months, adding her thoughts on how the firm came to achieve its enviable success.

“Our clients comprise high net worth individuals, trusts and other institutions. We provide clients with a complete wealth management service, helping them achieve their financial goals. Our primary focus is to help our clients preserve, grow and pass on their wealth.

“Saunderson House continues to serve its clients and deliver outstanding investment performance, growing clients, assets, revenues and profits. 2015 saw the launch of our new discretionary management offering, broadening our capability and expanding our client offering across the wealth spectrum. Our success, we believe, is attributed to our award winning value-based investment proposition, long-standing relationships and delivery of a superior client service experience.”

“Specifically with regards to wealth management, we offer our clients advisory and discretionary investment services. Our advisory service offers clients the opportunity to be involved in ongoing decisions made around their portfolio, whereas our discretionary service allows clients to hand over the detailed management of their portfolio to our investment specialists. Both are built upon the expert knowledge of our investment research team. “Our team of excellent Corporate Financial Planners ensure our firm delivers the highest possible quality of service. We take time to get to know each new client and their individual financial needs. Clients receive a tailor made portfolio after discussing their investment goals and risk possibilities with our skilled advisers. Fundamentally we are a client-centric firm. Not tied to any specific funds, products or providers, we prioritise delivering value to our clients.” The wealth management sector remains fiercely competitive, and the Brexit leave vote has presented challenges to many UK businesses. Beverly comments on the firm’s client-centric focus during this time of economic uncertainty. “Whilst advancing consequences of Brexit remain largely unknown, we continue to prioritise supporting our clients, helping them navigate personal finances in uncertain times. We ensure our clients remain informed on issues affecting their investments - making relevant recommendations and anticipating and reacting to market changes.”

www.wealthandfinance-intl.com WM16043

Company: Sound Investment Management Inc. Address: 8215 SW Tualatin Sherwood Rd, Suite 200, Tualatin, OR 97062 Phone: 503.691.7030 Fax: 503.691.7031 Website: www.simiusa.com

Best Retirement & Financial Planning - Portland

Sound Investment Management, Inc. (SIMI) is an independent Registered Investment Advisor.

Since 1993, SIMI has been providing Fee-Only investment management, retirement planning and financial planning services to clients nationwide. SIMI is an employee-owned firm with a West Coast office in Portland, Oregon and an East Coast office in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

within the investment advisory world. The company has been designed with the people and infrastructure to provide the service and expertise clients will require for generations to come. As a Registered Investment Advisor managing over $100 million in client assets, SIMI is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and regulated at a federal level, ensuring clients can feel secure in the knowledge that they are trusting their money to a reputable and committed company.

The firm is founded on the principles of service, trust and returns, and is also dedicated to providing the highest level of fiduciary responsibility to clients. The guiding notion behind SIMI is that “Our friends are our clients and our clients are our friends.” This principal affects every aspect of the firm’s work and ensures that is dedicated to providing the highest quality of service possible to its clients.

Ultimately, SIMI’s original mission to provide sound investment advice to its clients remains thoroughly intact. As the firm grows with its clients, it is committed to examining every decision it makes to ensure SIMI continues to offer clients the highest level of service, and that it invests clients’ money as if it were its own.

The company’s team are passionate about investing and completely dedicated to our clients. The SIMI investment practice is built around educating clients and offering them a uniquely rewarding experience

Wealth & Money Management Awards 2016 WM16039

Company: StatPro Name: Neil Smyth Email: neil.smyth@statpro.com Web Address: www.statpro.com Address: StatPro, Mansel Court, Mansel Road, Wimbledon, London. SW19 4AA

Best for Investment Portfolio Analytics Solutions & Most Innovative Portfolio Analytics Software: StatPro Revolution

StatPro is a global provider of award winning portfolio analytics solutions for the investment management community. We invited Neil Smyth to showcase the innovative service offering and client focused approach which has helped his firm to achieve its current success.

StatPro’s cloud-based platform provides vital analysis of portfolio performance, attribution, risk and compliance. This multi-asset class analytics platform helps the firm’s clients increase assets under management, improve client service, meet tough regulations and reduce costs.

Looking ahead, StatPro is launching a major new extension to the Revolution platform this year with the release of Revolution Performance, which Neil believes will be a major step forward for both the group and its clients.

The group’s integrated and global data coverage includes over 3.2 million securities such as equities, bonds, mutual funds, FX rates, futures, options, OTCs, sector classifications and much else besides. StatPro also covers most families of benchmarks including MSCI, FTSE, Russell, NASDAQ and the open source Freedom Index.

“Our latest innovation is a new performance measurement system built from the ground up and designed specifically for the cloud and the scalability challenges facing our clients today and in the years to come. We are excited about the opportunities this new solution will bring and look forward to a bright and prosperous future.”

StatPro provides a cloud-based portfolio analytics platform called StatPro Revolution. This platform helps wealth managers track the performance, attribution and risk of any portfolio using industry leading analytical models and market data. Neil talks us through the firm’s approach which ensures that clients get the very best out of this innovative technology. “The most important aspect of our work is listening to our clients. Understanding the entire process of portfolio and wealth management allows us to create functionality and solutions that work as part of a larger process. Ensuring our solutions can respond to new challenges helps us deliver value to our clients. “We implement our client focused strategy right from the start of the process. We take the time to understand the client’s requirements, as this is a fundamental step in the sales process. Once we move to implementation we have dedicated subject matter experts who work with client teams to ensure the delivery is smooth and the client is in production within agreed time scales. StatPro Revolution is a cloud-based platform so we do not need to spend valuable time on IT configurations or software installations. We can move straight to the client data, analytics and reporting output, which saves time for the client and ensures that their solution is up and running as soon as possible for maximum efficiency.”

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Company: Vistra ITCL (India) Limited (formally known as IL&FS Trust Company Ltd) Name: Ms Navita Yadav, Managing Director and CEO Address: The IL&FS Financial Center, Plot No. C–22, G Block, BandraKurla Complex Bandra(E), Mumbai 400051 Telephone: +91 22 2659 3535

Best Corporate Trustees - Asia

Vistra ITCL (India) Limited Vistra ITCL , formerly IL&FS Trust Company, are the largest independent Corporate Trustee in India, offering fiduciary and monitoring services. We invited Navita Yadav, Managing Director and CEO, to talk us through the techniques the firm employs to ensure excellence in this area.

As a leading Trust company in India with two decades of strong presence in the Indian market, the firm, which is in the process of rebranding as “Vistra ITCL”, understands the varied needs of its clients, Navita explains.

As a concluding comment Navita adds that the firm is dedicated to adapting to the changing market needs in order to ensure clients continue to receive the high standard of service which they have become accustomed to.

“At Vistra ITCL our clients include banks, financial institutions, asset managers, corporates, governments, insurance companies, non- profit organisations and high net worth individuals. We successfully administer assets over USD90 billion under various fiduciary structures and preserve significant market share in all our businesses.

“In today’s dynamic environment there is great demand for Transparency and Institutional independence. In such economic and regulatory landscape, there are ever- increasing challenges of complex and cumbersome restructuring, rising defaults, rising complexity of transactions, need for legal and financial expertise, succession planning, corporate governance, greater level of information exchange with the stake holders, increasing volume of compliances and need for enforcement capabilities.

“Our company also continues to play a pivotal role in innovating structures for the Indian Industry. Whether it concerns the framework for Business Trusts or Employee Benefit Schemes, Vistra ITCL has been actively involved in the development of new investment vehicles in India.”

“Overall Vistra ITCL is well poised to address all the challenges in the interest of our clients and shall continue to expand in India & globally to manage such needs of issuers and investors.”

Currently the Indian Bond market is growing at CAGR of 18% in last 8 years. Corporate Bond outstanding as % to GDP was ~15% in FY 2015 which signifies high growth potential for deepening of bond market in India. India’s Alternative Investment Fund Market is also expanding as more and more investors and fund managers are participating in the economic growth of India.Navita outlines how her firm is well placed to support clients through this ever evolving market. “Vistra ITCL has been ahead of the curve in the constantly changing regulatory and compliance landscape. The firm is well placed to deliver innovative solutions and handhold clients through all ends of the economic cycle ”

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William D McElroy BA, CFP, CIM, FCSI Senior Financial Advisor Company: The William Douglas Group Manulife Securities Incorporated Website: http://www.wdg.ca/

Best Financial Advisor 2016 - Canada & Award for Excellence in Retirement Planning - Canada

The William Douglas Group The William Douglas Group is a boutique firm located in Burlington, Ontario led by Bill, a senior financial advisor with Manulife Securities Incorporated. We invited Bill McElroy to provide us with more information on the businesses and the services offered.

Bill McElroy is a multi-faceted advisor with a very holistic approach to wealth management; utilising dynamic planning to capture clients’ risk tolerance as they move through various stages of their life cycle. Bill explains how the firm works to achieve this by working closely with clients.

alongside the Manulife Securities Incorporated model, we have the ability to offer our clients access to the entire spectrum of investment and insurance options without bias – we work for our clients.” Ultimately, Bill is keen to emphasize that they have a great responsibility for investors’ money and this is taken very seriously.

“The deep relationships I form with my clients are truly the greatest reward I experience. I tend to develop long-term client relationships and they in turn refer a large percentage of my new business. I guess the practice that brings the most prestige is the referral business, which indicates that I am doing a good job with my existing clients and they feel secure in referring me to close friends that are in need of my services.”

“Our responsibility in the wealth management business is to be aware of all the various products and services that may potentially fit our clients’ needs. The industry is dynamic and new products and services are constantly being introduced into the market. The truth of the matter is that the relationship and the time spent upfront really understanding my client’s needs and risk tolerance is the most important aspect of my process. The products all fall out of that process so I am always refining my upfront process to ensure I have understood my client’s objectives clearly.”

“We spend a lot of time upfront customizing a client’s wealth strategies by understanding their individual risk profiles and their financial goals. We design investment strategies to contain and mitigate risk using insurance products and reach clients’ stated financial goals by using a customized risk-adjusted investment portfolio. The ability to offer a combination of insurance and securities allows us to design and adjust our clients risk profile and investment returns to better satisfy their financial goals.”

Stocks, bonds and mutual funds are offered through Manulife Securities Incorporated. Insurance products and services are offered through The William Douglas Group Inc. o/a The William Douglas Group.

Operating in many provinces across Canada, Bill highlights the variety of clients he works with and how he aims to support them. “Our primary focus is Ontario, however, over the last few years, we have had clients refer clients to us from many provinces across Canada. When I look at my client base, we have customers in almost every province in Canada. I think that this is largely a reflection of the referral business. The fact is, some families have created large amount’s of wealth in small communities but do not want their business known for personal reasons, so they choose an out-of-town wealth manager to conduct their business with privacy being one of their main criteria. “Our value proposition is simple; we provide comprehensive wealth management and brokerage services, complemented by a uniquely personalized client experience. As an independent firm, working

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