The former Asian CEO of Union Bancaire Privee, Stephan Repkow, has delivered what he promised to do when he left the bank last year. With his new firm he joins the growing ranks of independent wealth managers in Asia. A business model of growing attractivity.
The new firm Wealth Management Alliance (WMA) has opened an office on Orchard Road, away from the central business district to the more glitzy end of Singapore. This is perhaps to be more convenient for the UHNW clients and representatives they hope to work with. Talking to finews.asia Repkow emphasizes that the WMA is privately owned and not related to or remunerated by any banks, brokers or asset-managers,
Repkow along with former UBP colleagues, Ron Lee, Nirmala Gopalakrishnan and Iriana Iqbal has established what he calls an independent wealth management specialist. It provides very wealthy persons and families with financial advice, consolidated asset reporting and consulting services on cost structure and business partner selection. The firm holds a Capital Market Services license with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
Trusted Adviser
Having lived and worked in Asia since 2000, between Hong Kong and Singapore, Repkow has built a substantial infrastructure of clients and intermediaries. He also knows that traditional wealth management models across Asia are being diluted with many clients preferring to work with a trusted adviser as opposed to a bank which could have vested interests in particular products or asset classes.
In recent years many seasoned private bankers – like Repkow – have successfully broken away from their secure careers to pioneer the independent asset management business.
