Tag: investment portfolio

For too long, private banking has been stuck in an outdated transactional mindset, focused solely on expediting daily banking needs for wealthy clients. True private banking needs go far beyond mere transactional prioritisation and convenience; it requires an understanding of the powerful emotions tied to an individual's finances and life goals and a fundamental shift towards a model that provides comprehensive value-adding advisory solutions.

Investing in an offshore retirement fund is one way of growing your wealth in a stable economy over the longer term, or even gaining residency in a foreign country. However, for South Africans, this scenario presents as many challenges as it does opportunities and should only be considered after consulting with a financial adviser and tax expert.

The rise in life expectancy poses a significant challenge for individuals planning for retirement, necessitating a shift in the approach to financial preparedness. As people live longer, the duration of retirement increases, and with it, the financial demands.

Although past performance is not a good indication of future returns, it seems to remain one of the main determinants of investment switching behaviour and consequently the dreaded ‘behaviour tax’. This behaviour tax is calculated as the performance sacrificed after switching between one unit trust and another.

In a world where more young people are unemployed than employed, it has never been more important to ensure our children’s future. Ultimately, you want to empower them to rise above their competitors in the race for the limited jobs that are on offer.

Structured products enable diversification into offshore markets while controlling risk. Any investor worth their salt understands the importance of diversification, particularly in a contemporary economic environment characterised by such volatility and uncertainty.

An early start is at the heart of achieving sufficient financial resources for the lifestyle you desire for yourself and your family. It gives your investments more time to compound and grow. There are rules of thumb for younger investors who want to secure a strong financial future.

A record amount of R1.6 trillion is currently held in South African bank accounts as retail savings deposits. This is a staggering amount of money which is currently conservatively invested. In many ways, this movement of funds reflects the significant uncertainties faced by investors, both in South Africa and globally.

The recent announcement of South Africa’s grey listing has compounded an already volatile market and has introduced more administrative complexity when investing offshore. Onerous due diligence processes and verifiable information may be required creating delays with offshore investments.

Financial advisers need their wits about them when choosing a discretionary fund management (DFM) partner and should undertake a comprehensive due diligence process to differentiate between the ‘mixed bag’ of companies they may encounter in this space.