Award-winning independent wealth management company Brenthurst Wealth has ranked in the top ten amongst some of the largest brands in financial services in SA in a survey by news website Daily Investor.
Daily investor researched the most recognised brands in financial services and ranked awareness of the Brenthurst Wealth brand in 6th place, alongside the much larger Momentum and Stanlib.
According to the report large asset managers – who spend far more on marketing – enjoyed significantly better brand awareness than smaller boutique firms like 36One and Counterpoint.
“However, there was one exception – Brenthurst. Its higher-than-expected brand awareness resulted from the strong media presence of director Magnus Heystek. Brenthurst also has a good online marketing strategy, including webinars and newsletters, bolstering awareness around the company.”
Brian Butchart, Brenthurst Wealth Managing Director, says it is encouraging that the company’s strategy of a strong focus on client communication, is supported by other marketing initiatives across different channels. “We have always communicated regularly with clients, but due to the market turmoil of this year did even more as markets declined across the board and in all territories, creating uncertainty. We have received great feedback around this from clients and also supported the communication with online events and insights by our team of advisors,” Butchart says.
Sue Heystek, Marketing Director, notes that the Brenthurst integrated marketing strategy – which includes direct communication with clients, online events, strong social media presence, sponsorships, editorials in leading media and radio interviews – has proved to be very successful.
Source: Daily Investor
Brenthurst Wealth was founded by Magnus Heystek, Brian Butchart and Sue Heystek in 2004 and from a small team of four and one office has now grown to 60 people, 8 offices in South Africa and one international office in Mauritius. The company manages R17 bn on behalf of its clients and has focused strongly on investing offshore – for a long time against the trend promoted by other wealth and asset managers – with significant success.
It now offers a comprehensive range of wealth management services – investing, tax and estate planning, risk management as well as property investment and relocation services to Mauritius.
Brenthurst was awarded the title Top Boutique Wealth Manager in SA in the highly regarded Intellidex annual survey of Private Banks and Wealth Managers in 2017 and 2020 and has ranked amongst the top five boutique wealth managers in SA for seven consecutive years. The top three individual wealth managers awarded in the Intellidex annual survey in 2022 were all Brenthurst advisors.
Sonia Du Plessis previously won the inaugural Top Relationship Manager Award in 2019, André Basson was the runner up in 2020 and Brian Butchart was in the top three consecutively in 2020, 2021 and the winner in 2022.
Butchart notes that the company has an excellent team of highly qualified financial advisors, attorneys, fiduciary experts, marketing executives and administrative support teams. “Many of our employees are continuing with studies to add to their already wide range of financial and wealth management qualifications. We actively support their efforts and have people in our team who started in junior positions and now head up branches and others who started in administrative roles now studying towards becoming wealth managers.
The research by Daily Investor revealed that Allan Gray has the strongest brand among South African investors, followed by Ninety One and Coronation.
On the other end of the scale, Futuregrowth, M&G Investments, Stanlib, Fairtree Capital, and Nedbank had the worst performance among large asset managers.
Daily Investor surveyed over 1,000 South African retail and institutional investors in October 2022 to gain insight into their investment choices.
The results revealed that Allan Gray has the strongest brand among South African investors, with 32% saying they would choose them if they had to invest money with an asset manager today.
Ninety One and Coronation ranked second and third, with Sanlam and Old Mutual completing the top five.
Contact Brenthurst Wealth via email invest@brenthurstwealth.co.za
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.
