THE VALUE OF RETIREMENT ANNUITIES (RA)
As you do every year, I include here the 10th edition of my article “The value of an RA”. It is just so valuable that I have to speak to everyone I see about the benefits. Below is a quick summary; after that, I’ve attached the full article for your perusal.
1. INCOME TAX DEDUCTION😀
You are getting a guaranteed return of 45% on the money you put into the RA on day one!
2. ONGOING INCOME TAX BENEFITS
Retirement Funds pay 0% income tax (and capital gains tax by virtue) within the buildup of the fund, just like the very popular Tax Free Savings Accounts.
3. ESTATE DUTY BENEFITS:
If you have an estate of more than R7million (between you and your spouse), by adding these funds to a RA, your Estate can save:
· 20%-25% on estate duty
· 4,025% on executorship fees
· 18% Capital Gains Tax (only on the growth of the asset)
For the full article, click here:
OMIG Investing in a Hard Power World
Earlier this week, well-known local financial journalist Maya Fisher-French interviewed the Old Mutual Investment Group (OMIG) Chief Investment Officer Siboniso Nxumalo, alongside Portfolio Managers Meryl Pick and Jason Swartz, on what the evolving global order means for portfolio positioning – from commodities and currencies to global equities and emerging markets.
For the recording of this interactive session, you can click on the link below;
When many of us were still away on leave in the first week of January, we saw the strong military US intervention in Venezuela, followed by further events in Iran, together with the Russia/Ukraine, as well as the Israel/Palestinian conflicts evolving.
This session answers many questions investors have, and includes;
The return of hard-power geopolitics
How a more openly contested global order is reshaping currencies, risk premia, and the assumptions investors rely on.
Real assets in a hard-power world
Why commodities and other real assets are regaining a strategic premium – and how this affects asset allocation.
Included, from minute 20, the OMIG Gold views, where Meryl Pick today manages the OM Equity Fund - yet her previous background was more around Mining, managing several Mining funds, and today she still also runs the Old Mutual Gold Fund.
The next morning, this section of the interview quickly received a write-up via Citywire that you can read via this link; Gold’s sharp pullback reflects transition, not exhaustion – Omig’s Pick
The evolution of the Magnificent 7
What rising capital intensity and expanding debt issuance mean for valuations in the world’s most influential tech companies.
South Africa’s standout 2025 performance
How commodity exposure and currency dynamics supported local returns – and what this means for 2026.
Where we are positioned now
The rationale behind our underweight in US mega-caps, overweight in real assets, and selective opportunities in emerging and frontier markets.
And then from minute 32, the team share why they prudentially expect last year’s outperformance from Emerging Markets over Developed Markets, to continue.
Isak Via the Daily Investor | What We Have No Control Over
South Africa is facing a significant threat from the increasingly tense relationship between the United States and its major trading partners, China and the European Union. While this tension does not directly impact South Africa, it will feel the consequences of a potential decline in global trade and growth.
As a small, highly open economy, the country is highly vulnerable to external shocks. This is exacerbated by the fact that it is heavily reliant on trade with those three economies.
Our chief investment strategist, Izak Odendaal, via the Daily Investor last Saturday, outlines how South Africa has benefited from increased uncertainty in global markets and how it could face severe negative consequences in the long run.
“The grass is greenest where it is watered, Odendaal said, adding that South Africa has the potential to make its own economic destiny. If South Africa can create a business-friendly climate, investors will want to be here irrespective of the geopolitical noise, he said.
Geography also still matters, even in this high-tech age. Deepening trade integration in South Africa’s own neighbourhood, the African continent, should therefore remain a priority.
For his full explanation, you can view this article here: Major threat to South Africa it has no control over – Daily Investor
What Your Planner has Been Up to Lately
I enjoyed my latest quarterly session with Marcus Prevel, Director at Suntera Global.
Marcus is Guernsey born and bred, and has provided us with specialist Offshore Trust services for many years now, on many longstanding offshore trusts we manage. Some of these Trusts today are now well into their second generation.
Visiting SA regularly, he is in a unique position to understand the interrelationship between the UK, SA and Guernsey (and the Isle of Man).
With him coming from a Private Banking investment background, it’s always a delight for me to enjoy his insights.
We Have Been Here Before
After a good start to this year for investment markets, here is a look at the result of the local JSE using an extremely long-term graph over the last 50 years and 1 month.
While there have certainly been many tremors and geopolitical shocks along the way, the local market over the last 50 years (and 1 month) has returned 12,9% per annum.
FRIDAY FINISH LINE
