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Robert started his career in financial services in 1992 as a junior analyst for a boutique portfolio management company in Cape Town. From there, he moved to the corporate sector to further his studies and develop his skills and network in investment management and holistic financial planning for high net worth clients.
In 1997 he co-founded Alchemy Financial Solutions arising from his philosophy in building an Independent and Dynamic Private Wealth Management practice. Robert has systematically and organically developed the Alchemy practice over the past 25 years, which is now renowned in the industry for their innovative financial planning systems, absolute independence and unique business structure.
Robert continues to manage and develop Alchemy and is a director of the practice. He concurrently provides investment planning and management for a select number of high net worth private clients, locally and offshore.
Robert holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Science from the University of Cape Town and a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning from the University of Free State. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).
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Karen started her career in financial services in 1989, and for the next 16 years, held several senior strategic marketing positions with leading corporates, including Southern Life, Momentum Life and Metropolitan Health. In 2005, Karen left the corporate sector to embark on her career as an independent financial advisor.
In 2006, she joined Alchemy as an integral part of their advisor team. She is now a director of the Practice.
She specialises in the area of personal financial planning and has built a flourishing practice, mainly advising professionals and self-employed individuals on their personal financial planning needs.
Karen holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Stellenbosch and a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning from the University of Free State. Karen is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).
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Cilma started her career in financial services in 2007 as a Financial Advisor for Liberty Life. In 2009 she joined Sanlam’s Investment Platform (Glacier), and later progressed to their Asset Management company (SIM).
In March 2017, Cilma embarked on her career as an independent financial advisor. In December 2019, she joined Alchemy as an integral part of their advisor team and investment committee. This has also provided her with the ideal platform to grow her practice surrounded by a team of like-minded advisors. Cilma specialises in the areas of personal financial planning and investment management for high net worth individuals.
She is also a regular presenter on investment, economic and industry topics, and is known for her ability in being able to passionately present complex concepts in simple and understandable terms.
Cilma holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from the University of Stellenbosch as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning from the University of the Free State. She has also completed the Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning, specialising in Investment Management and Portfolio Construction (and was awarded Top Student in South Africa), and the Higher Diploma in Tax Law from Stellenbosch University. Cilma is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).
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Jenny started her career in financial services in 1979 with Commercial Union Life. She held several positions within the group over the next 18 years. In 1997 she left Commercial Union to start the Financial Planning business in Cape Town for Kessel Feinstein. This later became Grant Thornton. She was a shareholder of the business and held the position of Managing Director for 9 years.
In 2006 Jenny started Financial Insight and Guidance (FIG), as her own Independent Financial Planning Practice, focussing on holistic financial and investment planning. Over the following 15 years, she built FIG into a thriving independent practice. Key to the success of the practice has been the use of Discretionary Fund Managers from the outset, which built robust investment solutions for her clients.
After more than 15 years of practicing alone, in November 2021, Jenny took the bold step in her business growth by joining the Alchemy practice. Although this has re-enforced her independence as an advisor, this has very importantly allowed her to be a part of a team of like-minded professionals, that that provides her and her clients with a valued and supportive infrastructure.
Jenny qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute in 1990. She is a multiple qualifier of the international organisation, The Million Dollar Round Table, and holds numerous Top of the Table Awards.
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Dion’s career in financial services began in 1998, when he joined Accenture as a Management Consultant. While at Accenture he spent most of his time and focus within the Financial Services and Banking Sector, where he was a Manager on projects including ABSA, Standard Bank and Barclays Africa.
Prior to joining Accenture, Dion was recruited by the Anglo American & De Beers Group on their Management Development programme. He held a variety of Human Resource Management positions, which included employee benefits and medical insurance administration.
After more than 10 years in corporate, Dion decided to use his business management experience and skills to identify, purchase and develop various businesses. At the same time, he continued to consult back to SME business owners on operational and strategic solutions. It was here where he first identified a growing need amongst business owners to gain high-level independent advice for Employee Benefits suited to their business needs. It was a natural progression for Dion to develop his business and career further in the areas of Employee Benefits, Group Retirement Funds and Medical Schemes.
In 2020, Dion was approached by Alchemy to head up the Group Schemes within the practice. The Alchemy team of advisors have been advising their clients on their personal financial planning and portfolios for more than 20 years. Dion’s joining of the team, forms part of the practice’s long-term vision of providing a complementary service offering for their clients, in a changing financial services environment. Dion focusses on advising clients on Employee Benefits, Group Retirement Funds, Medical Schemes and Business Assurance and is currently registered as a representative under supervision.
Dion holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Sociology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Organisation Management, from the University of Cape Town. He is currently enrolled at the University of Free State for the Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning and is a CFP® in-training.