Driven by the desire to make a difference, we apply our expertise and experience to develop and deliver unique compliance, risk management, practice management and business intelligence services that achieve results both now and in the future.
With our finger on the pulse of the industry, we are aware of the needs of independent financial advisors (IFAs) and larger financial institutions, and strive to support and keep them in business.
We aim to stay relevant and respond to the requirements of an ever-changing regulatory environment.
Masthead was launched timeously in 2004 – on the eve of the implementation of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) Act. Our main aim was, and still is, to support independent financial advisors (IFAs) and help them to retain their independence and thrive. Our membership quickly grew, as did our reputation in the industry as the advisor’s advisor. Today we are the largest compliance services provider to financial services providers (FSPs) in South Africa and we cherish our excellent relationships with all the major stakeholders in the financial services industry. Drawing on our wealth of experience, we extended our offering to corporate FSPs in 2012. We now count among our clients some of the leading FSPs in South Africa, as well as financial services businesses in Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai.
Masthead is skillfully led by highly qualified experts, all of whom have a solid background in the financial services industry. Masthead’s executive committee comprises:
We believe that as an IFA, your voice counts.
IFAs can shape and influence the financial services landscape by channelling their individual opinions and feedback on regulatory matters through us. We seek to provide the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), with whom we have a solid, collaborative working relationship, with commentary that is in the best interests of the IFA.
Furthermore, when regulatory changes are proposed, we host forums to unpack and discuss the proposed changes. We also gather the input and sentiment expressed at these forums and give collective feedback to the regulators.
Communicating in this way helps the regulators to form a balanced view and make informed decisions.
Contact us today and we'll be happy to assist you too.
Finance Director & Chief Operating Officer
Laurence joined Masthead as Head of Finance in 2007. Two years later he was appointed to his current position as Financial Director and has since served as a director on the Masthead board. During 2021 he was also appointed as COO.
Laurence has a BAcc and BCompt Honours degree and is a Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)). He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning through the University of Stellenbosch Business School and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and member of the Financial Planning Institute (FPI). He has also successfully completed the FSCA’s RE 1 and 5 Examinations.
Managing Director
Joleen is a seasoned professional with over 22 years of working experience across a range of industries. She started her career in Corporate Finance within the IT and engineering sector and moved into the financial services sector in 2005. As the Head of Marketing Finance at Discovery Holdings she was responsible for the finance function of the distribution channels and marketing.
Joleen’s move to Old Mutual in 2011 gained her experience in strategy as part of the Personal Finance: Broker Distribution and Franchise executives. This included the management of the Old Mutual Black Distributors Fund. Key to managing this function was a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory impacts on financial advisors and the operational aspects that affect FSPs and tied advisors.
Beyond general management, Joleen specialises in strategy development, business advisory, distribution management and economics and is well-versed in organisational development areas like diversity, team formation and performance management. Joleen has a BCom Accounting undergraduate degree from Witwatersrand University and an MBA from the UCT Graduate School of Business.
Head of Compliance
Anri has a wealth of experience having been involved in the financial services industry since 2012. From 2014 to 2017, she worked at Masthead as a Compliance Officer.
Anri then moved into the corporate space where she held various compliance roles such as Group Compliance Monitoring Manager, Group Compliance Specialist and most recently as a Senior Group Compliance Manager before returning to Masthead as the Head of Compliance.
Anri has an LLB degree and is completing her final dissertation towards her Master’s degree in Insurance Law. She also completed the Advanced Peak Performance Programme (APPP) through GIBS. She is an approved CAT I and CAT II Compliance Officer and has successfully passed all Regulatory Examination
Head of Finance
Maqbool joined Masthead as a Financial Accountant in 2008. Seven years later he was appointed as Finance Manager and then appointed to his current position as Head of Finance in 2022.
Maqbool has a BCom Accounting degree from the University of the Western Cape. From 2003 and 2005, he completed his articles at SizweNtsalubaVSP and in 2006 he went on to complete his BCom Honours degree from the University of Kwa Zulu-Natal.
Head of Operations
Sherlene has more than 25 years’ experience in Financial Services having worked in the Employee Benefits, Linked Product and Life Assurance environments prior to joining Masthead in 2006.
Sherlene has a wealth of experience having worked in many areas including, product marketing, traditional marketing, and operations. As Head of Operations at Masthead, she leads the IT, marketing, operations and learning centre teams.
Sherlene has a marketing qualification and a Certificate in Journalism.
A national supplier of risk management services to independent financial advisors and other licensed financial service providers (FSPs). Established in 2004, we help our clients overcome their risk management challenges so they can grow and thrive in an increasingly regulated industry. Providing professional guidance and practical support, our team of specialists is passionately committed to delivering tangible solutions.
Masthead is a level 1 B-BBEE contributor.