Eklavya Asset Managers has taken control of its story by addressing the ambiguity head-on and delivering its ambitious advancement in wealth strategy to date
Image: Supplied
Reputations are fragile currency in finance, especially in a market where speculation often moves faster than facts. For Eklavya Asset Managers, the past year has tested that truth. What began as a standard regulatory review ended with no findings, violations, or sanctions. But the public record never caught up with the facts.
And that's a problem.
In late 2024, South Africa's Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) reviewed Eklavya and its trading platform, SolisMarkets. The review concluded with no adverse outcomes. However, while the FSCA quietly removed its initial notice from its website, it never issued a statement affirming the clean result. A third-party article republishing the original notice remains online as an outdated reference that continues to misinform.
"We've been fully cleared, yet the absence of an official update left room for speculation," says Dustan Cornelissen, Managing Director at Eklavya. "We believe in accountability, including our own but also from those who publish. When silence replaces clarity, reputations suffer."
Rather than wait for others to correct the record, Eklavya has taken control of its story by addressing the ambiguity head-on and delivering its most ambitious advancement in wealth strategy to date.
A system designed for resilience, not just returns
Behind the reputational turbulence is a company that has quietly changed how it serves South African investors. In 2025, Eklavya Asset Managers will roll out three new portfolio models, including its flagship Resilience Portfolio, built to outperform inflation by 2 to 3 percent in real terms while offering lower volatility than the JSE All Share Index.
Cornelissen notes that the strategy was born out of necessity, not optics. "We saw the macroeconomic conditions—low growth, inflation creeping, currency instability, and realised legacy models wouldn't protect our clients. They needed tools designed for now, not yesterday."
Eklavya's upcoming models incorporate hedged strategies, inflation-linked bonds, and real asset exposure. However, more than product development, they represent a fundamental shift in how financial advice is delivered based on personal context, future planning, and fluid market responsiveness.
Where tech, trust and timing intersect
The firm's new method is not just about portfolios. It's about building an agile infrastructure. Eklavya's proprietary Market Pulse tool processes more than 200 economic indicators daily, helping advisors forecast volatility and rebalance faster. Meanwhile, clients receive curated briefings and access to scenario-based simulations through partnerships with TipRanks and Traders Education.
Over 1,000 clients have already participated in Eklavya's upgraded education tracks this year, which include tools to make investors more self-aware and future-focused. The message is clear: Smart money is not merely allocated. It's understood.
"Our job is no longer just asset allocation," says Cornelissen. "It's helping clients ask sharper questions, think longer-term and react less emotionally. That's where the real edge lies."
Tackling ambiguity head-on
What sets Eklavya apart is its service model and willingness to face uncomfortable truths. The FSCA investigation could have quietly faded from public memory. However, the company acknowledged it publicly, clarified its resolution and demanded closure.
"There's power in saying, 'Here's what happened, here's what didn't, and here's where we're going,'" Cornelissen says. "It's not damage control. It's leadership."
And while many companies would have used such moments to shift attention, Eklavya deepened its commitment to regulation and trust instead. The firm continues to operate under full FSCA compliance (license FSP 45583) and has expanded its disclosure protocols and reporting frameworks to reassure clients and stakeholders.
Scaling with intention not noise
With South Africa's economy forecast to grow by just 1.5 percent in 2025 and inflation at around 4.3 percent, the appetite for transparent, low-noise financial stewardship is growing. Eklavya is answering that call not through aggressive scaling but through precision.
Its Horizon 2030 strategy prioritises emerging sectors, such as green infrastructure, digital connectivity, and cross-border asset planning, with up to 25 percent allocation in thematic portfolios. The company also plans to launch a Namibia office by year-end and expand into the broader SADC region, with two more regional branches expected by 2027.
"We're not in a race for AUM. We're in a race to stay relevant," Cornelissen notes. "That means knowing where capital should go but also when to listen before you lead."
The takeaway: A firm that owns its story
The FSCA investigation may not have resulted in sanctions. Still, the lack of public resolution served as a reminder that in finance, perception can lag behind fact, and correcting that requires action.
Cornelissen and his team are not waiting for someone else to rewrite the narrative. They have already moved forward on their terms. In a trust-driven industry, the most powerful asset is not capital; it is credibility.