NFB FINANCIAL SERVICES: Steadfast in Quest to Turn Knowledge Into Wealth

NFB’s financial advisors are, to a man and woman, industry-leading experts placed to offer independent financial advice, products and services to high worth individuals, trusts, businesses, and institutions. “We have a history of bringing shared wealth opportunities to fruition,” it asserts, of its mission to help grow and nurture assets. “We use hard won experience along with new age due diligence to achieve exceptional results for our clients.

“We partner with you to achieve financial fulfilment, and have an instinct for growth.”

Since 1985 it has been using this combination of expertise and intuition to establish and affirm its position as one of the country’s leading broad-spectrum financial services businesses, with its wisdom employed by all major registered South African, and a select number of preferred international, financial institutions in the banking, insurance, listed equity, government and quasi-government sectors.

“Planning is the most important step in achieving,” NFB states, adding that such an ethos has arguably been more critical than ever before in its nearly four-decade lifetime. “When times are tough, a consistent, structured approach to financial management is necessary. Tough economic climates call for preparation and resilience to achieve results.”

UNWAVERING DEDICATION

Now with more than 130 employees nationwide, with some R30 billion of assets under management and boasting an incredible 98% client retention rate, NFB occupies a dominant position in SA private wealth management. Enterprise Africa asked NFB’s sole remaining founder and Chairman Mike Estment to talked us through the company’s astounding development under his leadership, right from its establishment in offices in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

“There were five of us in the beginning,” he recounts. “The rationale behind the creation was to have something we owned as opposed to something we worked for. We were all into wealth management and we all came from banking backgrounds, so we wanted to establish something that had a long-term legacy and wealth creation opportunity both for ourselves and others, and it’s worked out rather well.

“It certainly hasn’t happened without headwinds,” Estment qualified. “I like to climb mountains and remember the party at the top rather than the very tough bit between base camp and the summit, but it has been challenging.”

The NFB approach is centred around an unwavering dedication to its craft. “Financial expertise starts with a relationship,” it outlines. “We take great care in understanding our clients, getting to know their story and their specific financial objectives; so that we can guide their journey with care and insight.” The truly tailored client experience is one of the main reasons cited for such impressive customer loyalty over NFB’s long lifespan.

“Each financial journey is unique,” it acknowledges, “and requires a bespoke service offering aligned to the client’s distinctive lifestyle and future ambitions. We are also proudly independent which allows us to be unbiased in the crafting of a solution-based financial management strategy for clients, matching the top product offerings on the open market to their needs, without compromise or institutional lock-in.

“Our highly-qualified specialists advise and arm clients with the knowledge and insight they need to make informed decisions.”

The devotion of its customers speaks loudly of the quality and expertise on offer at NFB, and while this is easily affirmation enough of the strength of its service it has nonetheless been endorsed countless times over the years by the most prestigious awards in the industry. Taking home a trio of gongs at the 2019 Intellidex Top Private Banks & Wealth Managers Awards was matched by similar acclaim for NFB Asset Management, as it again outperformed its peers to win the Raging Bull Certificate for Top Performance for its Ci Stable Fund.

“These awards are testament to the uniquely personal relationships our advisors have with their clients,” Estment assessed. “We focus on simplifying the complexity of wealth and portfolio management for our clients while delivering exceptional value. This recognition and exceptional achievement would not be possible without the extraordinary team at NFB.

“NFB has built an enviable reputation in the industry, one in which we and our customers take great pride in. Intellidex is an influential barometer of the wealth management market in South Africa. Being able to win three awards, including the main category award, illustrates our effectiveness and understanding of how best to provide holistic financial services.”

MAINTAINING FOCUS

NFB’s longevity, unbending commitment and obvious success has been driven by a fiercely entrepreneurial spirit, and one that never omits to acknowledge the value of teamwork. “We are exceptionally proud of our long-serving people who collaborate effectively across business skill sets, to ensure that every decision made for you is the best possible one,” enthused Estment.

“My experiences and personal beliefs have had me lead NFB in a certain direction, very ably and strongly supported by a crop of leadership that has been remarkable. This has left me with a deep belief in the value of teams,” he elaborates. “The kaleidoscope of people each with their skills and backgrounds, are enabled to have a voice and make a difference, this is a massive strength to NFB. Every NFB employee, from our directors to our drivers and ops teams, has combined to grow, make safe and maintain our various businesses.”

NFB will be able to draw on this wealth of knowledge and ingrained spirit of teamwork in leading the fightback in months to come. In trying times, a consistent, structured approach to financial management becomes crucial, and such circumstances are but further opportunity for NFB to prove its worth, drawing on every ounce of its history and know-how to help steer clients through this significant turbulence.

“Tough economic climates call for preparation and resilience to achieve results,” NFB elucidates. “When markets are volatile and confidence is low, searching for reassurance is human instinct. Your path to future certainty lies in a financial plan crafted by a team of professional wealth managers and financial planners with the skills, knowledge and independence to empower you with the security you seek and the financial rewards you’ve earned.

“Everything we do is focused on making our clients happy and keeping them with us for the long term,” Estment wraps up. “The last nearly 40 years are peppered with experiences and remarkable business and personal growth, and I stand proudly as chairman and active wealth managers as we now feel able to look forward to supporting our new leadership and all our customers.

“We are so lucky to have built a business capable of sustaining itself in the situation we find ourselves in at present. NFB is used as benchmark in the financial markets of South Africa, and we will move forward now by always going the extra yard to protect our clients and exceed our responsibilities through service, excellence and avoiding pitfalls.”