Tag: investing

Investors often turn to alternative investments. They seek something that listed markets cannot always provide. For instance, they want a different return profile. They also want less exposure to daily market sentiment. In addition, they want better portfolio risk management when conditions become more volatile.

I write this from London on the eve of England’s first game at the FIFA World Cup. Before a ball is kicked, the airwaves already fill with debate. Has Thomas Tuchel made a mistake by leaving out star names such as Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold? While some people call for a public inquiry, I can understand Tuchel’s choices as an investment manager.

The concept of delayed gratification – resisting an immediate reward or temptation to receive a bigger or better reward later – is not a new one. However, modern life makes discipline harder than ever. We now live in a world shaped by on-demand convenience, algorithm-driven marketing, relentless social pressure and easy access to short-term credit. In this environment, ignoring fleeting trends becomes difficult.

Nobody likes a know-it-all. In Shirley Valentine, the British cult classic, a headmistress asks her class, “What is man’s greatest invention?” Answers fly - Sputnik, the Hoover, the aeroplane, the internal combustion engine. Shirley knows the answer but is ignored in favour of the usual teacher’s pets. Only when no raised hands remain does the headmistress relent: “Oh, very well, Shirley. You might as well get it wrong along with everybody else.”

Read our exclusive cover story titled Elevated innovation – the brakes that accelerated wealth? by Jason Spilkin, Co-Portfolio Manager, Credo, plus a host of other topical management articles written by professionals, consultants and academics.

South African bond markets rewarded fixed-income investors with exceptional calendar-year returns in both 2024 and 2025. The All Bond Index (ALBI) returned 17% and 24%, respectively. These returns significantly exceed the norm. Therefore, we anticipated moderating performance in 2026.

The amount South African residents can send offshore without South African Revenue Service (SARS) clearance has remained unchanged since 2011. However, that is about to change. On 25 February, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced that the Single Discretionary Allowance (SDA) will increase from R1 million to R2 million per person each calendar year.

From ceasefires to blockades, the world continues to feel increasingly unpredictable. Headlines remain dominated by conflict in the Middle East, rising geopolitical tension and markets reacting in real time. When the world feels uncertain, people naturally ask one question: Should I stay, or should I go?

Retirement planning is often framed as a question of how much you save. Most people contribute to a Maximising. However, very few understand how to use it strategically. For many investors, retirement annuities function as a routine savings vehicle. People contribute consistently without considering the structural role these products play in a broader wealth strategy.

Despite the private capital industry’s proven track record, many investors still view Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC) as inherently risky investments. However, this perception does not fully reflect how private capital markets actually function. This conversation around risk in private capital markets is long overdue for reframing. Risk in private capital markets differs fundamentally from that experienced in public markets.