In an increasingly competitive investment landscape, standing out from the crowd is key. For boutique investment advisory Stewards Investment Capital, that comes in a number of forms – from encouraging its investor clients to back alternative assets like private credit, to providing in-depth market analysis on niche new opportunities. The firm is also aware of its responsibility; by investing in telecoms infrastructure in Africa and other projects designed to create positive social impact, the company is putting sustainability front and centre, while helping to expand financial inclusion in countries across the world. World Finance spoke to Glen Steward, Founder and Chairman, to find out more about the firm’s innovative, award-winning approach, and how it is leveraging its power to combine social impact with long-term growth for its investors.

Can you tell us a bit about Stewards Investment Capital, including your key services and areas of expertise?
We are a boutique investment advisory firm and have been operating for more than 25 years under the Stewards Group of Financial Companies. We craft niche investment solutions tailored to emerging market trends, catering specifically to high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and institutional investors. Our expertise lies in private equity, alternative investments and sustainable investing, and we focus on helping clients navigate complex financial landscapes to achieve their objectives.

What is your fundamental mission?
Our purpose is to empower investors to achieve their financial goals through informed and responsible investment decisions. Led by a team of investment experts, our aim is to grow and nurture their wealth, helping them to forge a lasting legacy. But we believe our investment strategy should not only maximise profits, but also create real value for society and its stakeholders. Whether we are supporting growth through infrastructure or enhancing opportunities through financial inclusion, our goal is to do good while generating returns.

Which regions do you operate in?
We operate at an international level, but have an especially strong physical presence in Mauritius, South Africa and the US through our affiliate financial companies and investee companies. In Mauritius, we are managing an in-house PCC fund and multi-strategy fund, and in the US, we run a private credit operation from our offices in New York and Florida.

How do you help investors identify emerging market trends and new investment opportunities?
We provide valuable insights through our market intelligence desk, offering regular analysis reports and direct consultations; investors also get access to our research. Our expertise enables clients to make informed decisions in a rapidly changing investment landscape. We also focus on uncovering niche sectors with high growth potential, giving investors a competitive edge in identifying early stage opportunities.

We are helping to build a future where returns are not just measured in dollars

How do you maximise returns for clients while managing risk and preserving future wealth?
This is primarily done through a disciplined investment approach that emphasises diversification, thorough research and a firm understanding of market dynamics. By using advanced risk management techniques and continuously monitoring portfolio performance, we proactively adjust our strategies to mitigate risks, while ensuring long-term wealth preservation and growth. Our approach balances potential returns with a strategic awareness of risk, ensuring sustainable growth that aligns with our investors’ long-term objectives.

How can you help with digital asset investments?
We offer two solutions for investors interested in digital assets: the Spectrum Fund and the Zenith Fund. The Spectrum Fund aims to outperform passive investments in Bitcoin, while the Zenith Fund uses market-neutral strategies like arbitrage to generate returns from market inefficiencies.

What innovative or unconventional investment strategies do you use?
We put the emphasis on diversification through the use of alternative asset products. While traditional advisors often diversify fixed-income portfolios by selecting bonds across different sectors and jurisdictions, we encourage our investors to explore emerging asset classes. Our deal origination desk has a strong pipeline of private investments in the alternative space that we offer exclusively to our clients.

These alternative assets not only offer higher risk-adjusted returns, but also have lower correlations with global markets, creating more resilient portfolios and helping investors better withstand market volatility while maximising returns.

Which particular alternative assets do you cover?
We have a strong preference for asset-backed bridge financing, including collateral in the form of prime real estate in developed countries. Through our investment in the publicly listed US FAVO Capital – which provides funding to SMEs – we also encourage investors to explore private credit, with business loans yielding returns well above prime rates and offering a quick payback period. We have also recently been developing our infrastructure financing arm, which we believe holds significant potential in Africa.

While private credit provides robust financial returns, an increasing number of investors are looking to Africa for opportunities that also generate social and environmental benefits. Impact investing, particularly in infrastructure and telecommunications, allows financial returns and positive social impact to come together.

How are these investments helping to address issues around financial inclusion?
Private credit continues to play an important role in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are often underserved by traditional banks. By providing much-needed capital to these businesses, private credit promotes economic growth and job creation. This in turn helps to reduce poverty and promote financial inclusion across the continent. By investing in telecom towers in South Africa, we are helping to bridge the digital divide by enabling greater access to the internet and bringing connectivity to both urban and rural areas. We are helping to build a future where returns are not just measured in dollars, but in the positive impact they have on society, and our goal is to empower communities with the tools they need to succeed in the modern economy.

How else do you promote responsible investment?
We integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into every part of our investment decision-making process. Our sustainability initiatives include community impact investing, partnerships with organisations that drive social change, and efforts to reduce our operational environmental footprint. We are committed to transparency in our CSR goals and regularly assess our impact on stakeholders and the environment.

I believe our greatest achievement is the trust our investors place in us

How do you support the personal growth and development of your employees?
We focus on providing on-the-job training programmes and mentorship opportunities, with access to industry certifications. We also provide opportunities for employees to attend international investment events and summits. We encourage a culture of continuous improvement and support our team members’ career aspirations through tailored development plans. Travelling across our various offices also enables our team members to learn about different markets. This investment in our talent not only enhances their skills and knowledge, but also strengthens our overall team performance.

What are you most proud of as a company?
We are proud to have consistently outperformed market benchmarks and earnt global accolades for our innovative investment strategies, including the Best Fixed Income Investment Innovation award from Global Finance and the Structured Deal of the Year award from Global Private Banker. Above all, I believe our greatest achievement is the trust our investors place in us.

What are your future goals?
Our vision is to expand our footprint in emerging markets, and we want to continue to innovate. We aim to deepen our commitment to sustainability and responsible investing, while maintaining our high standards for client service and performance. Our core mission is to be a trusted partner for our investors, empowering them to build and preserve their wealth with confidence and integrity.

We are dedicated to building strong, lasting relationships with our investors based on trust, transparency and a shared vision for success. We believe our holistic approach to investment management not only benefits our investors, but also contributes positively to broader society, helping to create long-lasting impact in countries across the world.