A 20-year overnight success

Just over 20 years ago, the Gateway Centre/Mall was the closest thing to a mall in Hermanus. There was no Woolworths or Checkers.

Visitors from Cape Town would encounter a few houses on the outskirts where Chanteclair was established and an open piece of land where the Hemel & Aarde Estate is today. A golf estate wasn’t even on the cards. So were no private schools like Curro and Generation either.

With limited specialist medical skills and facilities available, residents were forced to travel “over the mountain” for these, and for any serious shopping.

It was in those times that Dr Chris van Wyk saw an opportunity – camouflaged as a gap – in Hermanus.  There was no business in town that offered top-class investment management and/or a brokerage.

In the large centres investors, and especially retirees or those close to retirement, readily had access to private wealth management via well-known names such as RMB, Investec and the then BOE (Board of Executors).  There was also a newcomer, PSG, which started to make its mark. None of these players had a presence in our region.

Chris managed to convince his colleagues at BOE and in 1998, he and Francois Nöthling opened a branch for BOE Portfolio Management and Brokerage in a small space next to the offices of Guthrie & Theron.

At the end of 2000, signs were beginning to emerge that this business had potential, and I was asked to assist in expanding the business.

Coming from a BOE branch in Pretoria, I met with Chris for a discussion in their new, still humble offices in High Street, where IEC’s offices are today.

I can remember how excited and passionate Chris was about the practice they have established. He was also very clear on our goals and how we would achieve them:

1. Building a professional team that is capable of offering a service to the residents of Hermanus and surrounds that in all respects matches what the ‘big’ branches in the cities could offer. In short, we had to be a true flagship branch with all the capabilities and skills it required.
2. That also required a constant focus on excellence. We simply needed to gain the confidence of the investors in the area by offering an unequalled service experience, turning clients into ambassadors for the business.
3. The above can only be achieved by the right people – i.e. a well-qualified and knowledgeable investment team, but with an equally strong emphasis on top-class administrative capabilities.
4. We had to make a positive contribution to the community.

The result was that our practice, in its current form, started its journey 20 years ago on 1 April 2001, when I took over from Chris as the principal of the Hermanus branch.

There were no short cuts. We have resolutely grown our practice and slowly but surely started to build a loyal client base.

In the meantime, gaining ground countrywide, PSG Konsult established its head office in Hermanus. In 2007, our team accepted the invitation to join them.

PSG’s culture and business model, which focuses a lot on ownership and entrepreneurship, suited us perfectly. Shortly afterwards, we could move into our own building on the corner of Dirkie Uys Street and Magnolia Street. By that time, our team’s skills and experience had been reinforced by Antoinette Naude and Pierre Brink joining us.

Over time, we have forged close ties with the Hermanus Times, and this led to the birth of FinMonitor on 9 November 2007.  The goal was to give readers access to our insights on all aspects of their money matters. Since then, we have made more than 200 contributions.

We also got involved in various fields, providing financial aid and sponsorships to numerous local institutions and initiatives such as SOFCA, Hospice, NSRI, O.A.K, Hermanus FynArts and Huis Lettie Theron, as well as various churches and schools.

Our goals and modus operandi have not changed over the past 20 years. Over the years, we have managed to attract professional talent with top qualifications and experience, including Jaanre Muller, Theo Cloete, Danie Olivier and Werner Gerber. Collectively, our current investment team has more than 100 years of professional experience.

From the outset, we have also focused on very capable and committed administration. This forms one of the cornerstones of clients’ confidence in the commitment with which their interests are taken care of.

We trust and believe that we will continue to make a positive and meaningful contribution in our region for many years to come.

NOTE: The information in this article does not constitute financial, tax, legal or investment advice and the companies in the PSG Konsult Group do not guarantee its appropriateness or potential value. Since individual needs and risk profiles differ, we suggest that you consult your qualified financial adviser if necessary. PSG Wealth Financial Planning (Pty) Ltd is an authorised financial services provider (FSP 728). FDV 728.

Hannes Smuts is a wealth manager with PSG, Hermanus.