Grupo Santoyo Lara

In Latin American financial markets, where professional wealth management service providers are scarce, investors often rely on banks to meet their wealth management needs. This dependence gives rise to conflicts of interest, as banks tend to promote their in-house products to investors, potentially disregarding their specific financial requirements.

Grupo Santoyo Lara recognizes this gap and accordingly transforms wealth management with its commitment to fiduciary responsibility. The financial advisory firm designs investment strategies from scratch to meet clients’ needs, in stark contrast to banks that prioritize sales quotas over the suitability of the suggested investment strategies.

The firm operates as an 'Asesor de Inversiones'—akin to registered investment advisors (RIAs) in the U.S.—under a new model created by the Mexican government. Focused on wealth management, investment portfolios and insurance, it leverages over 50 years of expertise to protect and grow clients’ wealth with customized strategies that minimize risks and maximize returns. Its collaborations with a diverse range of companies ensure access to the best investment products and services tailored to each client's requirements.

“Our sophisticated investment products and specialized wealth management strategies work well to build clients’ personalized portfolios,” says Roberto Vazquez, chief investment officer.

Offering bespoke financial guidance and practical advice to high-net-worth individuals and family offices, Grupo Santoyo Lara is the first accessible resource for clients seeking clarity on their investment journey. Many of its clients, including seniors and those who have inherited significant wealth, have faced losses due to previous wealth management providers. The firm comes to their rescue by helping manage their financial situation. It explains to clients their existing investments and corresponding results while recommending urgent changes like liquidating risky positions and reallocating funds for potential recovery.

“The group’s business model is simple; we aim to build a long-term trust relationship with each one of our investors,” says Samuel Santoyo, managing partner.

Employing an innovative approach, Grupo Santoyo Lara pairs each new client with one of its advisors for an initial interview to understand their objectives, experiences and needs. This information is then passed on to the technical department, which identifies suitable financial instruments and often combines multiple model portfolios to design a personalized proposal.

The proposal is developed in collaboration with the advisory department and subsequently presented during a tripartite meeting attended by the client and the advisory and technical departments. This setup ensures that the client gains comprehensive insights into the risk profiles of each investment.

After receiving clients’ feedback, the group conducts a thorough review and incorporates their input to make necessary adjustments to the proposal. The team then designs a revised proposal, which is taken up by Grupo Santoyo Lara's back-office team. It develops the required documentation, contracts and account openings, registering the client as a limited partner (LP).

For regulatory reasons, the firm doesn't take custody of client funds. Instead, it manages accounts as advisors in client’s brokerage accounts for public market investments and serves as a liaison between clients and the general partners of private credit or equity funds for private investments. Clients can wire the funds to their desired destination directly.

Through its roster of wealth management services, Grupo Santoyo Lara guides investors during periods of market volatility, steering them away from dubious investment schemes. Its advice and counsel empower clients to establish a strong base from which they can build an investment portfolio that aligns with their needs.

A deep-rooted client-centric approach forms the bedrock of Grupo Santoyo Lara's advisory services, which ensures that its investment recommendations are financially sound and aligned with the client's broader aspirations. This leads to increased referrals, which account for 90 percent of its new clients. Its network of professionals includes accountants and lawyers, who bring in the highest referrals, boosting the firm’s credibility and reach in the industry.

Providing transparency, personalized service and strategic guidance, Grupo Santoyo Lara stands as a pillar of support for clients, empowering them to build robust investment portfolios for assured financial protection and growth.