Mike Moore
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
I've spent my working life traversing the world of financial markets.
GENUINE RELATIONSHIPS.
I stumbled into this world as an advisor with stockbroker, Frankel Pollak. There I spent all day on the phone to, or meeting with, clients. I was available, had sound advice at my fingertips, anticipated requests, and ferried share certificates in the evenings. It was exhilarating, and I found that genuine service led to long standing relationships.
TRANSPARENCY.
After a few years the team I worked with were made an offer by a private bank, in return for setting up the stockbroking business. After four years of hard work, the bank went spectacularly insolvent. Believe me when I say I know that governance, transparency and integrity keeps a business alive and well.
BEING PARANOID ABOUT RISK.
The following year we left for the UK. In London I worked at Barclays, banking large fund managers. I worked on wonderful transactions and experienced the 2008 financial crisis at the core. Bank’s are paranoid about risk, and so I became too and as an advisor that has served me exceptionally well ever since.
DOING THE RESEARCH.
After a good nine years, with two kids and some stuff from Ikea, we returned to South Africa. An actuary friend proposed I consult on investments to retirement funds – sophisticated investment advice. I researched funds and evaluated their strategies and learnt more about the science and the art of investing. These days I can walk into most fund manager's offices to understand what is going on first hand. That’s valuable. I learnt why investing is so much more than simply picking a Coronation or an Allan Gray fund, and that genuine advice is built on research and a lot of thought.
WELL CONSIDERED FINANCIAL DECISIONS.
Then, a few years ago, I had a fortuitous lunch with a friend – he asked me to look at his investments. I suggested he makes some changes, and showed him why. That usually involves tables and charts. I love a chart. And I had an epiphany – I’d love to help people make well considered financial decisions.
DOING WHAT I WAS DESIGNED TO DO
I represent WellsFaber, a firm with a 28 year history and R2.6bn in assets under advisement. It has formidable shareholders and enables me to deliver a level of service and expertise that stands out, and I enjoy that.