OUR STORY

Serala is an ancient Sepedi word meaning a stone wall or protective barrier around a settlement. It is the highest point in the Wolkberg range of mountains in North Eastern Limpopo, the cliffs of which form a rampart, guarding a high altitude valley of immense beauty.

When you are on a mountain, you don’t just ‘pay attention’ to your hold or grip.

Attention wavers. It wanes.

If attention can be attracted, it can be distracted too.

Attention can be divided.

When you are on a mountain, what is in your hand, deserves your everything.

So when others may claim that they pay close attention to detail, we don’t. We scrutinise. We inspect, study, investigate, research, and explore every avenue of our business, because, like mountain climbing, we know what is at stake. It is why we have taken the unique approach of ensuring that we have two wealth managers on every one of our accounts. Not only are they accountable to each other, but they’re able to give support where needed. It is their different strengths and teamwork that ensures that you, our client, will summit.

And when you realise the extent of our support, knowing that someone is always familiar with your account, with your financial goals, you’ll be able to take on greater challenges and ‘climb’ even higher.

From retirement to estate planning, we can set a course for you.

Serala.

Your financial summit.

An Affinity Capital Group partner

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OUR OFFERINGS

Retirement Planning

Including the management of pre- and post-retirement savings

Retirement Annuity

Estate and Tax Planning

Including testamentary (drafting of Wills) and inter-vivos trust planning (both local and offshore)

TFSA

Investment Planning

The management of local and offshore discretionary investments

Investment Account

Risk Management

The analysis and optimisation of life assurance portfolios; and the analysis and structuring of business assurance solutions for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

INSIGHTS

MEET OUR TEAM

WEALTH MANAGERS

Somerset Morkel, CFP®

Director & Wealth Manager

Somerset attended Wits University and obtained a BSc degree in 1978 and a H.Dip Education in 1979. After a short stint as a Maths teacher, he joined the financial services industry in 1982 and shortly thereafter set up an independent financial planning business, SWM Financial Services cc. He shortly discovered that his passion was holistic planning for private individuals, which included estate planning, retirement planning and general financial planning. In 1986 he studied for and passed the exams required to qualify as a Fellow of the Institute of Life and Pension Advisers. This institute amalgamated with the Financial Planning Institute and Somerset was awarded the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) mark in 1996.

In 2004, Somerset sold his business and operated outside the financial services arena until April 2009, when he joined Alexander Forbes FPC as a wealth manager. Three and a half years later, in October 2012, he incorporated an independent financial planning company which became Serala Wealth Managers (Pty) Ltd. This new step has given him the ability to realise his dream – guiding a team that specialises in holistic financial planning for private individuals and assisting them to attain their goals and ambitions.

He is married to Lynn and has two daughters, Donna and Penny. His passions are rock-climbing and mountaineering, folk guitar, holistic financial planning and life in general.

Lynette Hall

Director & Wealth Manager

Lynette has been in the financial services industry since 1991 and was employed in various administrative and sales roles.

In 2010 she decided to embark on a career as an Independent Financial Adviser. She then joined Momentum Consult in 2013 as a franchisee, where she met Somerset Morkel and Luciano Orlando and collaborated with them frequently.

In 2015 she joined Serala as a Wealth Manager and was appointed a Director in 2019. Her focus is on holistic financial planning and has a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning from the University of the Free State.

Lynette has a keen interest in exotic animals and has a collection of Macaw parrots.

Craig Rode, CFP®

Wealth Manager

Craig is currently a Wealth Manager at Serala Wealth Managers. He completed his BCom Marketing Management degree (UP) as well as his Honours in Business Management (UNISA) and graduated as a Certified Financial Planner in 2012 from the University of the Free State. Craig has recently completed his Higher Certificate in Blockchain Technology & Digital Currency at the University of Cape Town.

He has been involved in the Financial Services Industry since 2011 and has extensive experience in all areas of the business. Craig’s background knowledge of the financial services industry has positioned him well to assist Serala Wealth Managers going forward and in implementing its expansion plans not only locally, but globally as well.

Katleho Khatlisi, CFP®

Wealth Manager

Katleho completed her BCom Finance and BCom (Hons) in Financial Planning at the University of Johannesburg in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Katleho’s career in financial planning began in 2020 when she joined Serala Wealth Managers as an ASISA IFA intern and graduated top of her class. She subsequently passed her RE5 exam and is now a Junior Wealth Manager.

In 2021 she successfully passed the FPI Professional Competency Exam for CFP® professionals. The CFP® designation is considered the pinnacle of professionalism in the industry.

In her free time, Katleho enjoys listening to choral music and hiking with friends.

Deanu Murray, CFP®

Wealth Manager

Deanu Murray is a Junior Wealth Manager with successful experience in holistic planning. Deanu obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree in Economic and International Trade, Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning and Regulatory Examination: Representatives (RE5).

Developing strong relationships both professionally and personally, Deanu provides clients with quality and honest advise.

Deanu enjoys cooking and adventurous activities such as golf and spear fishing.