This petite dynamo represents the epitome of endearing faith and hard work. Mrs. Cordiglia is one of the Foord’ longest standing clients.  She has a warm and welcoming home, with a pretty, well-tended garden, which she shares with her little dog and a nephew. Her firm Catholic faith is in evidence everywhere.  She is very active in the Church and is the designated driver to Sunday sermons and other Church events because her friends are too old to drive.

She was so excited about the Foord’s 20th birthday celebration in 2001. She said, since she was one of Foord's longest standing clients, she had prepared a speech because she knew she would be called upon to say something.  Well, she was unable to attend that function at the Bay Hotel, but she still has the speech somewhere and promises to send it to Foord to add to her testimonial on the website. 

Hazel has high praise for Foord Asset Management. Her investment with Foord has been a life saver many times over when she has needed to fund home maintenance and medical expenses. The careful and caring manner in which Foord has managed her initial investment has resulted in substantially increased wealth.  “My investment has allowed me to retire comfortably from work and take up duties in the church and community.”

SA born Italian, Giovanni Bisogno, is an ex-hotelier who has not lost his appetite or flair for Italian cooking.  Known as “Johnny” rather than Giovanni, he happily shares his mama’s recipes for Italian biscuits. He has also taught his house-keeper to cook Italian-style. He lives in Umhlanga, KZN, with his partner and their dogs.  Johnny is a man of many and varied talents.  His garden is populated with cement heads which he sculpted in perfect photographic replication of his subjects, and he paints.  He most enjoys playing golf with his Italian buddies.

Johnny says his investment with Foord has afforded him a comfortable retirement for which he is immensely grateful.  He is full of praise for Foord with regard to the return on his investment.  He says his experience with Foord has been marvelous; his investment manager, Brian Davey is always ready and willing to discuss any concerns Johnny may have; the admin staff are always helpful, friendly and courteous and he loves speaking with Loretta in reception when he phones the Foord offices.

Mr. Perrow is a retired executive who says he does not know how he managed his life when he was working as he is so busy now.  His week days are taken up with a neighbourhood battle to save the sensitive ecological land surrounding his forest-like property from becoming commercially overdeveloped.  Weekends are spent with his daughter and wife, Winnie, who is still very active in real estate.  Their beautiful garden is home to many squirrels which apparently become so tame they enter the house!

He says: “Elana in Foord’s administration department is my ally.  Whenever I need funds, I call her and she delivers.  Just like that.  No hassle, no fuss, and very friendly and helpful every time.”  He says his portfolio manager, Mark Hodges, is helpfulness itself, and always available to discuss matters whenever something needed to be clarified.  Mr. Perrow is really happy with the return on his investments.  This has enabled him to take his family, including his wheelchair bound daughter, on overseas trips, as well as meet other extraordinary expenses.

Mrs. Ros Mouton is a dynamic business woman who was peremptorily plunged into the male dominated world of cabling upon the sudden death of her husband. Although known in the cabling industry, since she had always worked with her husband. Ros found the going very tough when she took over the reigns. Determined not to lose what they had worked on so hard and long together, Ros dug in her heels. She drew on experience, inner strength and resourcefulness and came up smiling.

“It was tough”, she says, “The suppliers were not so keen to work with a woman.  However, when they realised I was going to stay and run the business; that I was capable and was following a good business plan, they eventually came round and now business is flourishing.” Her business is fully BEE compliant and she runs a tight ship.  She loves the water and taught her three forty-something sons to ski on the Breede River when they were quite young. In her precious free time Ros plays golf and is an avid reader across a broad spectrum of topics. 

Ros has been a loyal client of Foord Asset Management for 23 years. She was introduced by her close friend, Cyril Ginsburg. “It was the best thing that could have happened to me financially,” she says. When her husband’s estate was wound up, she needed a safe harbour for her funds, where they could be nurtured and grown. She found that place with Foord Asset Management. Ros is very happy with her portfolio performance. She says the client service she receives is excellent and would unreservedly recommend Foord Asset Management to family and friends.

Mrs. Finkelstein has been a client since May 1985.  She says her investment with Foord Asset Management is the best thing that could have happened to her financially.  She has no money worries.  She trusts Foord to make the right investment decisions on her behalf.  She also says that she knows the market will sometimes be up and sometimes be down, but her manager, Brian Davey, takes great take of her investment so she doesn’t fret.  She says, “Brian is so friendly and helpful, I never feel as though I am bothering him when I phone.  He has been fantastic over the years, when, despite his hectic schedule, he has taken the time to visit me.”  All in all, she says her experience with the Foord Team has been pleasant and always very rewarding.

Mrs Finkelstein, an octogenarian, grew up in Paarl and lived in a mixed community with no problems.  She is full of stories of family and friends. She shared a beautiful home in Knysna with her husband of forty years and moved to Cape Town when he died.  She plays bridge two-three times a week and drives the other players to their various venues.  She maintains her elegant and well-appointed flat, cooks, cleans and shops for her needs herself.  Her favourite soapy is 7de Laan!  She believes in ”early to bed and early to rise” and lives by that credo.

This energetic mother of five runs a charming and well appointed B&B in the heart of Pietermaritzburg, KZN. She and her husband live on a farm 12 kilometres outside the city, where they keep horses, sheep and parrots.  The indoor parrot is quite a character, continually shouting “give me some coffee – give me some coffee!”

Gill was introduced to Foord Asset Management by her husband, Ant Withey, a long time friend of Dave Foord.  Gill says that although Ant attends to all her finances, she does not know what she would have done without Foord.  She says introducing her to Foord was the best thing her husband could have done for her.  Managing the money from her late former husband’s estate would have been a big problem for her.  Now Foord takes care of that and she is very happy with the results they have achieved.  This enables her to get on with what she does best, managing her B&B.

Although retired, Carol Chapman still practices as an accountant on a reduced scale.  He lives in a beautiful home with his wife who has created an Eden in large grounds which surround their home.  Mr Chapman, introduced by Mr. Jack Ginsberg, has been with Foord Asset Management since 1982 and is very proud to be one of Foord’s longest clients.  He attended both the 10th and 20th Foord anniversary celebrations.  He was still very involved in sport as a regulator of referees for men’s’ hockey and cricket up to two years ago when he deiced to call it a day.

Carol watches the markets avidly and says fluctuations always worry him.  However, he says, a quick chat with his portfolio manager soon puts things into perspective.  “Foord’s performance figures are amazing,” he says.  He had once decided to invest against Foord’s advice - and that endeavour didn’t perform too well.  ”The sooner I passed our equity shares to Foord Asset Management, kept my nose out of things and let them get on with their magic, the sooner my portfolio began to improve.  Despite drawings, my portfolio is very strong and I am more than pleased,” he says.  These drawings have allowed the couple to enjoy overseas holidays and visits to family without having to worry about how to fund these trips.

“I heard of Foord through Brian's late father Prof Arthur Davey, who about five or six years ago recommended Foord to me.  After contacting Brian, I decided to invest part of my modest retirement funds with Foord.  Today I am very grateful that I took this decision, because the money which I invested has since tripled in value, despite annual withdrawals of at least 8%.  Without this investment, my financial situation would have been quite uncomfortable because the assets that I invested in 1998 in a life annuity, as well as overseas, have not done half as well.

I am also chairman of the Van Ewijck Foundation, aimed at enhancing cultural relations between South Africa and the Netherlands.  After two decades of relative underperformance achieved by a local bank, in 2001, on my recommendation, the Council of the VES switched to Foord.  The Foundation’s capital has subsequently almost doubled in value, although we annually withdraw a considerable percentage to carry out our functions.

Apart from being very happy with Foord's investment performance, I am also most impressed with Foord's staff.  Brian is very nice person to work with, is always available and I like the calm and knowledgeable way he handles his work.  I have had similar experiences with other staff members.

I am well aware that past achievements are no guarantee for future performance.  However, due to my own experience and Foord’s excellent track record over decades, I have had no hesitation in recommending Foord to my friends and acquaintances.  Those who accepted my advice and invested in Foord’s unit trusts are just as satisfied as I am.”

Philip Coutts-Trotter holds both the B Comm and MBA qualifications.  He is the Executive Chairman of SA Bias Industries.  The company manufactures a wide array of accessories mainly for textile applications and has factories and sales offices all over the globe with Cape Town being its biggest operation.

Philip was introduced to Foord Asset Management 24 years ago by Cyril Ginsberg.  Foord has managed Philip’s private portfolio since 1986 and more recently, a portion of SA Bias Industries’ Pension Fund.   After 21 years as a client, Philip has complete faith in the Foord team, and simply says of his portfolio manager, Dave Foord, “I trust Dave.  I have every confidence in his style, philosophy and approach to investing”.

Philip represents just one of the many long-term private clients of Foord Asset Management who have confidence in Foord philosophy – not for delivering returns over 1, 2 or 3 years, but sustained returns over many decades.