Tag: Assets Under Management (AUM)

Africa presents a compelling – albeit complex – investment landscape. While challenges such as political instability, currency volatility, and limited liquidity persist, significant opportunities counterbalance them. These growth options stem from powerful demographic shifts, digital transformation, and burgeoning intra-continental trade.

When we think about the impact that private credit and other forms of financing have on African companies, we tend to think about things like business growth and success. But the impact that private capital in particular has goes far beyond that.

There are tens of thousands of financial advisors in South Africa, but there is considerable variability in the quality of advice they offer. Many will focus on investments and other financial products you may need, but a good advisor’s role is a more demanding one.

Our financial decisions are consequential, it makes sense to have a trusted expert in our corner. However, it’s important to understand how your financial advisor earns their money and ensure their incentives are aligned with yours. Having a discussion around fees can ensure they are actually working for you, and not just selling financial products.

For most South Africans, talking to a financial adviser is something they do when they get married, or reach retirement age and need advice on what to do with their pension. But the fact is that financial advice can help at any stage of your life, and building a long-term relationship with an adviser can help you reach your financial goals faster.

The concept of investing in environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-centric products is not new. Institutional investors have long modelled their investment strategies around socially responsible themes such as clean air and water, diversity, human rights, and workplace fair practices.

Modern Portfolio Theory, introduced by Harry Markowitz in 1952, has provided the lens for the way investments have been viewed for more than 60 years. In its most basic sense, it suggests the most efficient portfolio is one that maximises the return at a set risk level.

Currently controlling more than US$110 trillion (more than 20 times the US federal budget), the power the asset and wealth management industry has in shaping the future is unparalleled. With global assets under management projected to grow by up to 5.6% per annum to US$147.4 trillion by 2025, it can shape a future which is better for investors, shareholders, the economy and the wider society.

You’ve heard about the wonders of property as an asset class and you have made a commitment to get into it. The most obvious way to enter the market is to buy property directly – as in when you buy a home, the whole building as well as the garden belongs to you (well, it will do in 20 years’ time when you have paid off the bond).

Investors’ appetite across the globe for exchange-traded funds (ETFs) was strong in 2019 and shows little sign of slowing. I share some of the themes and trends that I see ahead in 2020. The tailwind for ETFs going into not only a new year but a new decade couldn’t be stronger. Last year, global ETF assets under management (AUM) surpassed US$6 trillion, and in Europe we broke US$1 trillion in AUM.1