INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
The objective of the Investment Committee is to oversee the investment management strategies and key investment policies used by Stewart Financial Group in managing its investment portfolios.
The desired outcome is to ensure that client assets are well managed within appropriate risk boundaries and portfolios meet the long-term performance objectives of the company.
RORY O’NEILL | Investment Committee Chair
Rory O'Neill is a Director, General Manager, and Financial Adviser at Stewart Financial Group, with over 25 years of experience in financial services. He chairs the firm's Investment Committee, providing governance oversight of investment management strategies, risk boundaries, and long-term portfolio performance in alignment with the committee's mandate.
Rory's technical grounding originates from senior fund accounting roles held in London and Dublin, where he specialised in hedge funds and complex financial derivatives. This foundation underpins a structured, risk-aware approach to investment decision-making that he brings to both client advisory and committee governance today.
His advisory practice focuses on retirement planning and wealth strategy for individuals, families, business owners, and trusts, with particular expertise in complex, multi-faceted financial situations. He works collaboratively across the Stewart Financial Group team to ensure advice reflects sound strategy, appropriate risk management, and long-term sustainability.
NICK STEWART
Nick began his career in financial services in 1999. He is a financial adviser (FSP21383) and accredited investment fiduciary (AIF®). As Executive Director and CEO of Stewart Group for over 25 years, he also holds multiple directorships and trusteeships.
A proud Ngāi Tahu (Ngāti Huirapa, Ngāti Māmoe, Ngāti Waitaha), Nick descends from Te Rehe—a South Island rangatira and missionary guide—whose legacy inspires the Stewart Group’s Simply Sustainable™ solar initiative.
Since 2016, Nick has authored over 400 financial columns for Hawke’s Bay Today and co-hosts The Adviser Talk podcast.
Outside work, he enjoys wine, beekeeping, duck hunting, conservation, skiing and restoring his Series 1 Land Rover. A history enthusiast, he’s especially interested in the Scots, the Crusades, and his childhood hero, the Red Baron.
DR ALISTAIR MARSDEN
Alastair joined Stewart Group’s Investment Committee in 2016 as an independent investment committee member.
Alastair was formerly an Associate Professor in Finance at University of Auckland Business School and ensures an independent perspective to the investment committee.
