Our Story There had to be a better way

i-Cthru was founded in 2013 and today works with a select number of like-minded clients around the world.

The idea was born in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. At the time, Vincent was working for a top-tier bank in New York City and saw first-hand how fragile traditional wealth management could be when markets turned. After leaving banking and asset management, he began speaking with friends, family, and their wider networks. Many shared a similar experience: at some point, they had trusted a wealth adviser who had failed to do proper due diligence, exposed them to unsuitable risks, or invested their savings in products they did not fully understand. In many cases, they were also unclear about the fees they were paying.

Throughout Vincent’s banking and asset management career, he had often felt that clients’ interests came second to those of financial institutions. This was increasingly at odds with his values. He believed there had to be a better, more transparent way to help individuals protect and grow their hard-earned wealth.

From the outset, capital preservation became a cornerstone of i-Cthru’s investment philosophy. Losing 50% of one’s capital requires a 100% gain simply to return to the starting point. For many investors, capital destruction can become permanent. Avoiding that outcome is central to how i-Cthru thinks about wealth management.

Another key principle was the need to reduce the impact of emotional decision-making. Investors are often more likely to sell during moments of fear and more tempted to buy when prices are already rising. These behavioural and cognitive biases can have a significant and lasting impact on investment outcomes.

To address this, Vincent set out to build a disciplined, data-driven investment approach designed to reduce emotional bias. He joined forces with Gerwin, a highly accomplished programmer who shared the same vision. Together, as equal partners, they developed i-Cthru’s quantitative investment model, grounded in fundamental data analysis and inspired by the thinking of investors and thinkers such as Benjamin Graham, Daniel Kahneman, Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, Nassim Taleb, and George Soros.

Transparency was equally important. i-Cthru was built without hidden fees and with a clear separation between advice, execution, and custody. Clients retain full access to their own funds and hold their own accounts directly with Interactive Brokers, one of the world’s leading online brokers. i-Cthru is granted trading rights only, allowing clients to remain in control of their assets at all times.

Since its launch, i-Cthru has grown through trust, long-term relationships, and client referrals. Many clients act as ambassadors, introducing the firm to friends and family. The philosophy remains simple: to do right by clients, stay grounded in evidence-based investing, and remain true to the values on which the firm was built.

That is what i-Cthru believes wealth management should be.