About AIAM
WHO WE ARE
In May 2015, the Association of Independent Asset Managers of Hong Kong (AIAM) was officially founded by six passionate practitioners who had been amongst those pioneering the concept of independence within the Wealth Management industry in Hong Kong.
We are a non-profit organization uniting a team of practitioners working as independent asset managers in HongKong. The time is right to create a structured voice and a community for all those who share the goal of offering high quality and unbiased financial advice to their clients.
INDEPENDENT ASSET MANAGERS
Independent Asset Managers (IAMs) are senior finance professionals who operate outside of the traditional private banking space. Concentrating on private investors, IAMs play an important role in the strategic function of Wealth Management. Holding key client relationships, IAMs are relationship-focused, advisory-driven and solutions-based practitioners.
IAMs are
relationship-focused,
advisory-driven
and solutions-based practitioners.
ABOUT AIAM HK
The AIAM aims to be a representative body that would be able to assist the public and all interested parties to foster a better understanding of the Independent Asset Manager business model. It also champions the CFA Code of Ethics as an industry standard for the benefits of its members, industry practitioners, clients and regulatory authorities.
AIAM aims to:
- Assist the public and the various stake holders to have a clear understanding of the unique business model of Independent Asset Managers;;
- Establish, preserve and increase the reputation and professionalism of the IAMs in the region;
- Strive to make an effective contribution to the protection of investors and the combating of unscrupulous business practices in the Wealth Management industry;;
- Exchange best practices as well as share industry trends among the AIAM Members;
- Network with other practitioners and service providers of the eco system locally and around the world;
- Assist in consultation and advisory of potential parties who wish to set up an IAM business in Hong Kong;
- Facilitate, pursue and cultivate the interests of the profession and to define the Code of Ethics & Best Practices which are considered to be exemplary and authoritative beyond the membership;
- Act as a forum for open dialogue with the Securities and Futures Commission and other regulators in Hong Kong to represent the interests of the industry group.
AIAM was established to:
- To be the unified voice to dialog with regulatory authorities and advocate for the needs of IAMs
- To be the center of excellence allowing all people to learn and understand the Independent Asset Managers business model and how they can benefit from their services
- To inform, educate and partner investors in their quest for suitable and high quality investment advice
- To maintain and uphold Integrity, Ethics and the highest level of professional conduct are the cornerstones of the investment services offered and followed by its members
- To represent the interests of the Independent Asset Managers and cultivate an effective communication with all other stake holders in the community including investors, financial institutions, service providers and the regulator
Access…
to the market with the support of an organized and recognized entity. All members have sufficient qualification in the field, a good reputation and have extensive expertise.
Insight…
to the best IAM market practices and industry direction. Professional development opportunities are offered to AIAM members throughout the year.
Ability…
to share, exchange and transfer knowledge, connections and skills amongst industry practitioners and external service providers.
Maintain…
and enhance the IAMs professional conduct and delivery to clients and the community. We are the unified voice to dialogue with regulatory authorities and advocate for the needs of IAMs.
Join us
AIAM strives to champion best industry practices, professionalism and integrity of IAMs in Hong Kong. Supported by active members, AIAM equips IAM practitioners with business support, training development and networking to operate competently and thrive in today’s fast changing wealth management landscape.
The COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Charles Cheng
Charles Cheng
COMMITTEE
CIO | Clarity Investment Partners
Charles is a Founding Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Clarity Investment Partners. Clarity is an independent asset manager based in Hong Kong, dedicated to providing risk efficient multi-asset class investment strategies for private clients.
Previously, Charles was in the institutional investment and fund management industry, specializing in quantitative analysis, investment research, and hedge funds. Charles was a quantitative and equity strategist at Yuanta Securities and BNP Paribas. He also worked at CITIC Capital Asset Management as a key member of both the long / short equity and fund of funds teams.
Charles holds dual Bachelor’s Degrees in Economics and Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a Certificate of Financial Engineering from Stanford University. He is a CFA Charterholder since 2006 and an active member in the Hong Kong Society of Financial Analysts (HKSFA). Charles can be reached at charles.cheng@aiam.com.hk
Cyrill Arzner
Cyrill Arzner
COMMITTEE
CEO | SWISS INTERNATIONAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMTIED
Cyrill Arzner is the founder and acting Chief Executive Officer of Swiss International Asset Management Limited. The company’s mission relays on our long existing and traditional Swiss wealth management heritage bridging eastern and western tailor-made financial services. Our ambition is to align and represent traditional Swiss financial etiquette, values, transparency and service quality along with a unique financial technology infrastructure embedded in the highly regulated asset management environment of Hong Kong.
Cyrill has been working in the Swiss private banking, wealth and asset management industry for over 20 years. Prior to his entrepreneurial activities as co-founder of two asset management companies based in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Cyrill worked as an executive director of a small boutique private bank in Zurich.
In addition to his vast experience in private banking and asset management, he has completed private banking, executive management and wealth planning education, whilst accomplishing a successful military career in Switzerland.
Apart from his professional activities, Cyrill devotes his spare time to various sports activities as well as the promotion of intercultural exchange among Asia, Europe and South Africa.
David Benskin
David Benskin
COMMITTEE
DIRECTOR | CAPITAL COMPANY LIMITED
David is a Partner of the Capital Company and is a Chartered Financial Planner, having previously worked for HSBC advising both corporate clients in London and private clients in Asia.
David moved to Hong Kong in 2011 with HSBC to work with HNW international clients, based in Asia. David has specialised in advising wealthy international families on a wide range of Strategic Financial Planning issues often working alongside other industry practitioners.
In his spare time, David enjoys rugby, Crossfit, snowboarding and travel.
Harmen Overdijk
Harmen Overdijk
COMMITTEE
FOUNDING PARTNER | CAPITAL COMPANY LIMITED
Harmen Overdijk is a founding partner of The Capital Company, a Hong Kong based asset management firm focused on fee-based asset management. The Capital Company was created from the strategic merger of two experienced independent asset managers, where the partners have decades of Asian and International experience.
The firm’s philosophy is based on Evidence Based Investing. A disciplined approach that gains its insights about the markets and returns from academic research, structures portfolios along the dimensions of expected returns and adds value by integrating research, portfolio structure, and implementation. This investment approach makes extensive use of low cost passive investment instruments. Harmen is an expert portfolio manager with 20 years of investment management experience. Prior to The Capital Company he held senior management and CIO roles for several successful asset management practices at EFG Asset Management, Fortis Bank and MeesPierson. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) holder and has an MSc in economics from Tilburg University, The Netherlands.
Harmen Overdijk is a founding partner of The Capital Company, a Hong Kong based asset management firm focused on fee-based asset management. The Capital Company was created from the strategic merger of two experienced independent asset managers, where the partners have decades of Asian and International experience. The firm’s philosophy is based on Evidence Based Investing. A disciplined approach that gains its insights about the markets and returns from academic research, structures portfolios along the dimensions of expected returns and adds value by integrating research, portfolio structure, and implementation. This investment approach makes extensive use of low cost passive investment instruments. Harmen is an expert portfolio manager with 20 years of investment management experience. Prior to The Capital Company he held senior management and CIO roles for several successful asset management practices at EFG Asset Management, Fortis Bank and MeesPierson.
He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) holder and has an MSc in economics from Tilburg University, The Netherlands.
Jessica Cutrera-Papadopoulos
Alexander Florsheim
COMMITTEE
PARTNER | CARRET PRIVATE LIMITED
Alexander Floersheim is Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Carret Private Capital. Prior to that, Alexander was Chief Investment Officer at StoBene Partners (Hong Kong) Limited, after heading Investment Advisory Services at Bank Julius Baer Hong Kong. Alexander holds a Bachelor degree in Law and Economics from the University of St. Gallen and Master of Science in Global Finance from HKUST and NYU Stern.
Tariq Dennison
Tariq Dennison
COMMITTEE
WEALTH MANAGER | GFM GROUP LIMITED
Tariq Dennison CFPCM is a Hong Kong based investment adviser at GFM Asset Management. Prior to GFM, he served in the wealth management divisions of Societe Generale in Hong Kong, CIBC in Toronto and London, Bear Stearns and JP Morgan in New York. Tariq holds a Masters in Financial Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and a Bachelors in Mathematics and the History of Philosophy from Marquette University, and teaches Fixed Income and Alternative Investments at ESSEC Business School in Singapore. Mr. Dennison is an IFPHK CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERCM professional, a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Planners (STEP) and the author of the book “Invest Outside the Box”. He is a frequent speaker on RTHK Radio 3’s “Money Talk”, HKIBC Cable News’s “All About Money” and multiple public conferences on ETFs, fixed income, investor education, and retirement plans.
Tariq is one of the few Hong Kong based specialists in US-tax deferred savings and investment accounts, including IRA, 401(k), 529, and HSA accounts.
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Alexander Florsheim
COMMITTEE
PARTNER | CARRET PRIVATE LIMITED
Alexander Floersheim is Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Carret Private Capital. Prior to that, Alexander was Chief Investment Officer at StoBene Partners (Hong Kong) Limited, after heading Investment Advisory Services at Bank Julius Baer Hong Kong. Alexander holds a Bachelor degree in Law and Economics from the University of St. Gallen and Master of Science in Global Finance from HKUST and NYU Stern.
Alexander Florsheim
Jessica Cutrera-Papadopoulos
COMMITTEE
FOUNDING PARTNER | CAPITAL COMPANY LIMITED
Jessica is a Founding Partner, Responsible Officer and Compliance Officer of ‘The Capital Company Hong Kong Limited’, a new independent asset manager formed in the beginning of 2017. Prior to her time at The Capital Company, Jessica helped to found EXS Capital Asia Limited in 2008, and served as a Responsible Officer and head of Operations and Compliance for the firm until the end of 2016. She and her team built a substantial asset management practice during their time at EXS which is part of the core of their new joint venture The Capital Company.
She is an expert in many areas including tax and estate planning but her unique niche is catering to Americans living in Asia. Jessica separately manages an American-oriented wealth management practice in Asia. She and her team specialize in providing fee-based comprehensive wealth management and planning services to U.S. citizens expatriated in Asia and to persons with U.S. related planning needs. Over the last fourteen years, Jessica has built a comprehensive wealth management service from the ground up and established an active presence across Asia-Pacific.
Before she moved to Asia, Jessica worked as a Registered Representative for Charles Schwab. While at Schwab, she obtained her Series 7, 63, and 66 NASD Securities Licenses. She continues to be licensed in the U.S. today as a Registered Investment Advisor and serves clients in the U.S. and across Asia Pacific.
While in Tokyo she completed her MBA at Temple University Japan. She also spent a year in AmeriCorps, the domestic Peace Corp, working with individuals with severe disabilities. Jessica is active in the American Chambers of Commerce in Hong Kong and Japan, and in the Foreign Executive Women’s Association and the Association of Women in Finance. Jessica is currently active in the Girl Scouts as an adult volunteer.