Meet the team behind Ascenta

Rory Brown
MCSI
Partner

Rory has successfully built a multi-national and diverse client base since moving to Singapore in 2015 and holds the CISI Level 7 Diploma in Advanced Financial Planning, which is the UK’s highest professional qualification in the financial advice and planning industry.

About Rory

Rory is fiercely passionate about Lifestyle Financial Planning and firmly believes that everyone should receive personalised and ongoing advice that is relevant to them and their families. He provides advice to UK nationals and individuals with UK assets, as well as any nationality who has a UK pension, and UK clients who are planning to spend their retirement abroad and in the UK.

Rory is a Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) and holds a number of industry recognised qualifications, alongside a specialist qualification in UK Pension Transfers and Planning Advice. This allows him to specialise in Defined Benefit and occupational pension transfers.

Not only is Rory a fully-qualified adviser in the UK, but he is also fully regulated and licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), so you know you’re in safe hands.

Rory has lived in Singapore since 2015 and is a passionate sports fan. When he’s not working, you’ll find him on the football pitch, squash court or golf course. He is also currently the President of Singapore’s largest expat amateur football club – Hibernians FC.

Qualifications

Level 7 Diploma in Advanced Financial Planning (the highest UK financial planning qualification)
Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)

Level 6 Certificate in Advanced Financial Planning
Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)

CISI Level 6 Certificate in Pension Transfers & Planning Advice
Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)

CISI Level 4 - Investment Advice Diploma
Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)

CMFAS 5, CMFAS 6A, CMFAS 6, CMFAS 8, CMFAS 8A, CMFAS9, CMDAS 9A, CMFAS H1
Institute of Banking and Finance

Licensed Financial Adviser Representative
Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)

Emma James
DipPFS
Client Services Manager

Emma holds the level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning from the UK’s Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), and has over 14 years in the financial advice industry. Her role as Client Services Manager allows her to draw on this experience and provide a high level of personalised client support. Outside the office, Emma is a busy mum, and being from Yorkshire enjoys a good cup of tea.

About Emma

Emma will likely be one of the first people you have the pleasure of meeting at Ascenta as she manages clients day to day needs, queries and onboards new clients, too. A big part of Emma’s role involves providing highly personalised support to the families that we work with so you’ll get to know Emma well.

Emma recently welcomed her second child so a lot of time is spent looking after her two children. Before they came along, Emma was a fitness fanatic and you’d often find her running, doing yoga or taking part in bootcamps – something she is keen to take up again. Emma is a big lover of British crime drama so she can give you plenty of recommendations...

Qualifications

Level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning
Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)

Certificate in Financial Planning
Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)

MAAT Qualified
Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)

CMFAS 5
Institute of Banking and Finance & Singapore College of Insurance

Daniel Purchon
APFS
Partner

Dan is one of the select few Singapore based advisers to hold the prestigious Chartered Financial Planner accreditation from the UK based Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). This distinguishes top advisers in the profession and is a symbol of client-centricity and commitment to professional standards at the heart of everything an adviser does.

About Dan

With a passion for helping others, Dan founded Ascenta Wealth alongside Rory and Paul to better serve his clients and help raise the bar in terms of lifestyle financial planning for expats. He has a wealth of international experience having advised in the UK, Japan, South Africa and Singapore since 2010.

Dedicated to providing best-advice, Dan helps simplify the financial complexities of multi-jurisdictional wealth management, ensuring his clients and their families financially maximise their time in Singapore and beyond. Dan’s clients cover a broad demographic in terms of profession, nationality and affluence, so he works with them on an individual basis, developing a trusted relationship, and personalised planning that continues no matter where they may relocate to in the world.  

As well as holding Chartered status with the CII, Dan is locally qualified and regulated by the MAS as well as holding the Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning (CII) and the Private Client Investment Advice & Management Level 6 qualification from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investments (CISI). He is also an active overseas member of the Personal Finance Society and holds the ‘European Financial Planner’ designation under the European Financial Planning Association.

Although both from North Yorkshire, Dan and his wife were married in 2015 at Lake Wanaka in New Zealand. In recent years he has enjoyed trekking, surfing and Ironman triathlon’s, however, since the arrival their two children, Dan’s time is now spent as a dedicated (somewhat exhausted) family man.

Qualifications

Chartered Financial Planner
Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)

Licensed Financial Adviser Representative
Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)

RQF Level 6 Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning
Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)

Level 6 Certificate in Private Client Investment Advice & Management
Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)

Level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning
Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)

Level 3 Certificate in Investment (Securities)
Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)

CMFAS 5, CMFAS 6A, CMFAS 8A, CMFAS 9, CMFAS 9A, CMFAS HI
Institute of Banking and Finance & Singapore College of Insurance

Jane Lee
Client Services Manager

Jane has over 15 years of administrative experience in the Singapore financial planning industry. Over this time, Jane has seen the industry change significantly and can call on her wealth of knowledge to navigate the ever-increasing and at times complex administrative requirements of financial services. During her free time, she enjoys baking and watching a range of Korean variety shows & dramas.

About Jane

Jane has more than 15 years of administrative experience in the Singapore financial planning sector, working for various leading expat firms. Over this time, Jane has seen the sector change significantly and can call on her wealth of knowledge to navigate the ever-increasing and, at times, complex administrative requirements of financial services. During her free time, Jane enjoys baking and watching a range of Korean variety shows and dramas.

Qualifications
Nakul Sharma
Financial Planner

After completing his MBA from Staffordshire University, Nakul spent time living and working in the UK. He relocated to Singapore in 2012 and joined the Financial Services Industry.

About Nakul

Upon completing his MBA degree from Staffordshire University, Nakul spent time living and working in the UK. It was in 2012 when he made the move and relocated to Singapore, joining the financial services sector.

As a trusted wealth manager, Nakul has extensive knowledge and experience in providing financial planning advice. He builds excellent long-term client relationships, founded on honesty and integrity. His focus is on helping non-resident Indian clients with their diverse and personal financial planning needs by implementing financial plans to help them attain their future financial goals.

Nakul is a people person and loves socialising. He’s always keen to meet and network with new people. He is also an avid nature lover and enjoys hiking, travelling and driving in mountainous terrains outside of Singapore.

Qualifications
Mas Mohammed
Paraplanner

Mas has worked for various financial advice firms in Singapore over the years, and forms part of the engine room at Ascenta Wealth. Preparing reports, checking transactions, helping troubleshoot and assisting the advisers with retirement models and ad-hoc tasks. Mas is a local Singaporean, a dedicated wife and mother with a secret passion for motorbikes.

About Mas

As one of our Paraplanners, Mas is brilliant at supporting our advisers and helping to manage client relationships. She is responsible for administrative processes and works with service providers to execute clients’ requests.

Mas is a local Singaporean, a cheerful wife, a busy mother and a very content individual – she truly is a ray of sunshine in the office! If you get the chance to chat with Mas, you’ll likely hear all about her love of motorbikes (her all-time favourite being the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird) and her adventures across Malaysia and Thailand.

Qualifications
Paul Charles
ChFC®️/S DipPFS
Partner

Paul began his career as an Independent Financial Advisor in the UK in 2005 after graduating from Sheffield Hallam University with a degree in Business Modelling & Management. He moved to Singapore in 2010, undertaking several senior financial planning and wealth management roles.

About Paul

Paul began his career as an Independent Financial Adviser in the UK in 2005 after graduating from Sheffield Hallam University with a degree in Business Modelling & Management. It was in 2010 when he made the move to Singapore, undertaking several senior financial planning and wealth management roles.

Paul is passionate about Lifestyle Financial Planning and how it enables his clients to achieve and enjoy the life that they want for themselves and their loved ones. He knows that each client is unique, and therefore he first helps them understand what is truly important to them. Once this has been established, he utilises his expert financial management to tailor a plan to meet their financial goals and objectives.

As part of his ongoing commitment to financial planning and wealth management, Paul holds the prestigious Chartered Financial Consultant designation from the American College of Financial Services. He holds a range of UK qualifications, including the Investment Advice Diploma from the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.

In his personal time, Paul enjoys travelling and playing a number of different sports. He is a keen footballer and a passionate Middlesbrough fan, which like the markets, has its ups and downs!

Qualifications

Chartered Financial Consultant
The American College of Financial Services

Level 4 Investment Advice Diploma
The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment

Certified Financial Planner Certificates
Chartered Insurance Institute

CMFAS 5, CMFAS 6, CMFAS 6A, CMFAS 8, CMFAS 8A, CMFAS 9, CMFAS 9A, CMFAS HI
Institute of Banking and Finance & Singapore College of Insurance

Radzeyah Saat
Paraplanner

About Radz

Having joined us in 2022, Radz has settled well into the team and her role is to liaise with clients and help Rory with any queries. She also deals with document submission, follow-ups and fund dealings. Radz has been working in the financial services sector since 2010, starting as a Junior Administrator.

On her off days, besides spending time with her husband, Radz enjoys reading and chilling to Netflix and documentaries, especially anything crime-related.

Qualifications

What We Do

Remove the anxiety you may feel about being financially disorganised
Get to know your hopes and fears
Function as trusted financial guides for your major life decisions
Provide clarity about the complex world of wealth creation
Help you avoid the 'expensive mistakes'
Provide optimism during times of major pessimism
Manage your money in the same way we manage our own and our friends and families

What We Don't Do

Manage your investment portfolio without a clear plan
Predict the short-term direction of the economy or the stock market
Provide high returns with low volatility (that’s impossible)
Allow you to do anything we wouldn't do ourselves
Sell into a temporary declining market
Change your asset allocation based on media sentiment