tony bell
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
SOPHISTICATED
LOCAL INVESTMENT SOLUTIONS
Locally, we have strengthened our investment committee by appointing Mi-Plan and Tony Bell of ThinkCell to advise on our fund-of-funds strategies. Leveraging Tony Bell’s award-winning track record and their expertise, along with access to hedge funds, structured products, and private equity, we are able to build diversified, risk-adjusted portfolios that deliver strong performance.
BRENTHURST STRENGTHENS TIES WITH
TONY BELL & MI-PLAN
Award-winning fund manager Tony Bell joined Brenthurst as a consulting investment advisor in 2022. With his extensive expertise, Tony Bell, Chief Investment Officer at ThinkCell, collaborates closely with our internal investment committee and the team at Mi-Plan. Together, they ensure optimal asset allocation and selection within the Brenthurst fund of funds range based on thorough research, benefiting the construction of client portfolios and delivering superior investment services and solutions to our valued clients.
This includes the Brenthurst BCI Balanced Fund of Funds, Brenthurst BCI Cautious Fund of Funds and Brenthurst BCI Worldwide Flexible Fund of Funds.
Another Perfect 10!
MI-PLAN IP Global Macro celebrates 10 years of top-quartile performance
Bell’s successful management of the GLOBAL IP OPPORTUNITY FUND for Brenthurst clients via Mi-Plan for more than 10 years showcases an exceptional track record and earned the prestigious Raging Bull Award in the Global Multi-Asset Flexible category. The fund, more than R1.5 billion in size, has been a top quartile performer for many years. Furthermore, their management of the MI-PLAN IP GLOBAL MACRO FUND has garnered 10 awards, including seven consecutive Raging Bull Awards from 2016 to 2022, setting an industry milestone.
Bell’s successful management of the Global IP Opportunity Fund for Brenthurst clients via Mi Plan spans seven years, showcasing an exceptional track record, earning the prestigious Raging Bull Award in the Global Multi-Asset Flexible category in 2021
Bell says consistent top-quartile performance cannot be achieved by only running valuation models. His differentiation in managing portfolios is seeing numbers as pictures, referred to as second-order thinking, as opposed to trying to forecast what a company’s share price should be. This involves a deeper understanding of the picture the market is painting of a company and how this picture changes over time.
The Mi-Plan Bell Team’s performance since inception places them solidly in the first quartile over all periods longer than four years to the end of January 2023 and in the second and third quartile for all other periods.
Testimonial
“Tony has exceptional insights, and we believe his analysis, coupled with the research and technical quants skills of Mi-Plan, will make a meaningful contribution to the deliberations and decision-making of the Brenthurst Investment Committee. The Global IP Opportunity Fund, now well in excess of R1bn, has been an anchor fund in portfolios providing offshore exposure via means of asset swaps. It is included in several client portfolios and has weathered market storms to the benefit of our clients. We look forward to the continued engagement with this formidable team of Mi-Plan and Tony,” says Magnus Heystek, Brenthurst Director and Investment Strategist.
Megan joined the Brenthurst Wealth team in March 2026 as an Administrative and Fiduciary Services Assistant at our Val de Vie Office in the Western Cape. Prior to joining Brenthurst, Megan gained three years of experience in the retail sector, where she developed management and client service skills.
I obtained my National Diploma in Financial Information Systems from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 1999 and have worked in the wealth management industry since January 2000. Over the years, I have gained extensive experience in various roles, including Portfolio Manager Assistant, Planner Assistant, and Paraplanner.
Esmarelda Isaacs-Andreas joined the Brenthurst Wealth Stellenbosch office in October 2025, taking on the dual role of Receptionist and Fiduciary Administrator.
I obtained my National Diploma in Financial Information Systems from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 1999 and have worked in the wealth management industry since January 2000. Over the years, I have gained extensive experience in various roles, including Portfolio Manager Assistant, Planner Assistant, and Paraplanner.
Ashley joined Brenthurst Wealth in January 2025 as Office Administrative Assistant and Receptionist for the Stellenbosch Office.
René Heystek joined Brenthurst Wealth in November 2023, as receptionist and administrative assistant in the newly established George/Garden Route office.
Michelle Heystek has built a career in the financial services over the last two decades, after obtaining her B.Com degree in Financial Management in 2005. Once she joined Brenthurst in 2006, she continued her academic journey, obtaining her Certificate in Wealth Management from INSETA in 2007, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning from the University of the Free State. In 2008, she earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation.
Anelle joined Brenthurst Wealth as a Receptionist and Administrative Assistant to Brian Butchart in the Cape Town office in December 2023. She has a wealth of knowledge from working as a liaison between Financial Advisers and clients at TMA and Absa Investment Management Services (Aims) since 1998. She obtained her B. com degree from the University of Port Elizabeth in 1997.
ADMITTED ATTORNEY | FINANCIAL PLANNER & HEAD OF BRENTHURST FOURWAYS
Sanet was appointed in April 2020, joining our Cape Town team as an Executive Administration Assistant to Renee Eagar. She has been in the financial services industry since 1990. Her previous experience includes positions at Sanlam, BJM and ABSA. She spent her last 12 years working at Alexander Forbes Private Client Wealth as a Senior Wealth Management Assistant. She has received numerous accolades over the years which include but not limited to, Alexander Forbes Client Service Excellence – Silver award in 2014,2015 and 2017. Sanet has also obtained her Certificate in Wealth Management (NQF 5) in 2012 and achieved “Best Student of the Year” from Moonstone.
Maria Smit is a Certified Financial Planner® with over 10 years of experience in the financial planning industry.
