The 2020 Top Stockbrokers survey, which combines client ratings of their brokers’ services with an Intellidex assessment of the brokers’ responses to a questionnaire, was conducted between 8 July and 17 August, when the initial panic had subsided but volumes remained elevated. Clients had experienced how their stockbrokers had responded to the pandemic both in terms of investments and in coping with the shift to working from home.
Standard Online Share Trading/Stockbroking (OST) is the Top Stockbroker of the Year. Its all-round strength in each category we assess makes it difficult to beat and it is a formidable presence in a highly competitive industry. It came second to Rand Swiss last year but has won the overall award in the previous three years.
What has particularly impressed us over the years of conducting this survey is that Standard OST never ceases to evolve, adapting to changing market conditions but also looking improve the customer experience. Despite its size it pays attention to detail, striving to be a market leader in every product category. The outcome is a stockbroker with an extremely powerful offering for every archetype, from the young saver at the one end to an extremely impressive family office offering for wealthy families.
Rand Swiss, last year’s overall winner, put in another strong performance this year to secure the Top Online Broker of the Year award. Client ratings are particularly strong for this firm across all categories. It’s still a young company, formed only in 2015, but has quickly entrenched itself as a leading player in the industry. Based on our survey results, the foundation for that success is its excellent client service levels. The firm also wins the special mention award for the top tax-free savings account.
Another young company that is keeping clients extremely satisfied is Unum Capital. It wins this year’s People’s Choice award, which is determined solely by client ratings. Unum, formed in 2015 through a breakaway from Vunani Capital, came third in the overall rankings.
Holding in check the strong drive from the young, up-and-coming brokerages is one of SA’s oldest traditional brokers, Sasfin Securities, which is the Top Advice Broker of the Year. Sasfin itself was established in 1951 (as a textile trading business that expanded into financial services) but its roots go back even further: in 2000 it acquired Frankel Pollak Securities which was founded in 1890 and was a pioneer of client portfolio management and stockbroking in South Africa.
Other awards go to IG South Africa (Top CFD Provider of the Year) and EasyEquities (Most Improved Broker). PSG Wealth’s Carlo Amorin retains his award as Top Relationship Manager of the Year.
Download the summary report here.
Read the FM Investors Monthly feature here.
Watch a recording of the event below.
