About Aristo
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The story of Aristo Capital
Aristo Capital’s story began in 2010, when Pieter Burger and Stuart Hutton left Edward Jones UK to join forces and evolve their new approach to investing for clients.
In a period of considerable change, they discovered a shared ambition: to build portfolios around the real financial objectives of clients, many of whom were approaching retirement, selling a business or beginning to draw an income from their accumulated wealth. Their early approach was deliberately straightforward — invest with discipline, favour durable businesses and diversified funds, focus on dividends and natural income where appropriate, and review portfolios thoughtfully rather than trade for the sake of activity.
As their advice businesses in East Devon and Cotswolds developed under Raymond James, more advisers joined the team. This growth highlighted a practical challenge: experienced financial planners needed a clearer, more consistent way to select and manage investments from an extensive range of funds, shares and corporate bonds. The answer was to turn years of portfolio-building experience into a structured range of model portfolios.
In November 2023, the first Aristo models were introduced on the Fundment platform. What began as an internal solution evolved into a fully supported model portfolio service, shaped by Consumer Duty, operational efficiency and the aim of delivering consistent client outcomes. Improved research and portfolio-analysis tools subsequently gave the team greater insight into how the strategies performed and compared, reinforcing the value of an objective-led approach — particularly for investors seeking capital growth, natural income or a balance of both. Aristo Capital was then established as a distinct investment brand, separate from the financial planning business, so that advisers could use the portfolios while keeping their own brand and client relationships firmly at the centre.
Why we created Aristo Capital for advisors
We created Aristo Capital to give advisers a practical bridge between financial planning and investment implementation.
Clients rarely invest simply to match a benchmark or occupy a position on a risk scale; they invest to build wealth, generate income, fund retirement, preserve capital or pass assets to the next generation. Our portfolios are therefore structured around defined objectives and intended uses, while remaining capable of being aligned with established risk-profiling frameworks where appropriate.
For advisers, this means access to clearly differentiated portfolios supported by disciplined construction, active oversight and a transparent governance process. Centralised management enables clients in the same model to be transacted consistently, while reducing the operational burden of maintaining individual portfolios at scale. It also supports advisers’ own research, due diligence, suitability and ongoing review processes — without displacing their responsibility for advice or their central role in the client relationship.
Aristo Capital exists as a separate brand because we understand the value advisers place on their independence. Our role is to manage the investment strategies and provide clear information about their objectives, composition and expected behaviour. The adviser remains at the heart of the relationship, free to present an investment solution under their own proposition and in the context of each client’s wider financial plan.
Who’s behind Aristo Capital
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Pieter Burger
Principal and Chartered Wealth Manager
Pieter Burger is a Chartered Financial Planner and Chartered Fellow of the CISI, with 28 years’ experience across financial planning, stockbroking and investment management. Throughout his career, he has focused on helping clients turn their wealth into practical outcomes, particularly as they approach retirement or begin drawing an income.
Pieter was central to the creation of Aristo Capital. After many years constructing bespoke portfolios, he recognised that advisers needed a more consistent and efficient way to connect a client’s financial plan with an appropriate investment strategy. He helped develop Aristo’s original model range, translating the principles used in individual client portfolios into objective-led solutions for capital growth, natural income and retirement planning. Today, as a member of the Investment Committee, Pieter remains closely involved in portfolio design and oversight. His approach is grounded in long-term thinking, thoughtful diversification and investments that advisers can understand and explain clearly to their clients.
Stuart Hutton B.Sc.(Hons), FCSI, EFA
Principal and Chartered Wealth Manager
With a career spanning financial planning and discretionary investment management, Stuart Hutton brings 22 years of financial-services experience to Aristo Capital. A Chartered Fellow of the CISI and qualified Financial Planner, he has developed particular insight into the investment needs of people approaching retirement and those seeking a dependable, long-term strategy for their wealth.
Stuart has been part of Aristo’s investment thinking from the outset. Working alongside Pieter Burger, he helped turn their shared experience of bespoke portfolio management into the original objective-led model range and has served on the Investment Committee since its inception. His expertise in responsible stewardship and ethical focus brings an important perspective to the committee’s work, complementing his belief that every portfolio should have a clearly defined purpose, be intelligently diversified and remain understandable to the adviser recommending it. Stuart continues to play an active role in portfolio construction and governance, helping ensure that investment decisions remain purposeful, considered and focused on the outcomes advisers seek for their clients.
Ryan Grant
Investment Research Executive
Ryan Grant is Aristo Capital’s Investment Research Executive and a member of the Investment Committee. He holds the CISI Investment Advice Diploma and has seven years’ financial-services experience, including a background in financial planning and paraplanning.
Ryan is the main point of contact for financial institutions, fund groups and investment partners in relation to Aristo’s portfolios and underlying investments. He meets with investment managers, considers new ideas and monitors existing holdings, bringing relevant information and recommendations to the Investment Committee. His understanding of both investment research and financial planning helps ensure that Aristo’s portfolios remain purposeful, well considered and aligned with the outcomes advisers seek for their clients.
