Welcome to the latest edition of The Wealth Perspective

Welcome to the latest edition of The Wealth Perspective
Welcome to the first edition of The Wealth Perspective for the year, and what a start it has been! The first three months of the year have been eventful, punctuated of course by the Russia-Ukraine war. It is still the most unexpected development to have emerged and, much like the pandemic, indications thus far are that it will have farther-reaching ramifications than we’re able to appreciate at present.

Keeping emotions in check is key in times of volatility
On the local front, early signs (the oil price for one) suggest that we will not escape the war entirely unscathed – a consequence of being part of a global community. Current market conditions have many investors concerned about their investments, and rightfully so. However, one axiom about the markets, war or not, is that they do – and will – recover.

It’s often at such times of heightened volatility that we must remember not to make investment decisions based on emotions, but rather remind ourselves that financial freedom can be realised with a long-term investment strategy.

Financial freedom has different meanings for each individual
Financial freedom is a concept that is hard to pin down, yet poignant given the times we find ourselves in. It means different things to different people, depending on where you are in your life and what your needs are. For some it means having enough cash on hand to afford the lifestyle they want, for others it is having adequate savings and investments to provide for their families.

Some will want enough to invest in their careers and pursue their studies without impacting their family’s quality of life, while others wish for a growing nest egg that will allow them to retire comfortably.

Have a long term goal and review it regularly
The common thread in all these scenarios is that having a long-term focus to your investment goals, and the ability to stay the course, is important. Further to that, having the right team in your corner cannot be emphasised enough – people who have the right set of skills and insights to help steer the conversation in the right direction and to be your guide every step of the way.

Defining your investment goals is one thing, but having a clear path to achieving those goals which is thoroughly planned out will help you remain focused as life’s occurrences make their inevitable turns in your life. That is why I encourage everyone to seek guidance from an adviser who will help steer them through the turbulence and reach their end goal of financial freedom.

Plans are only as good as the structures that support them
Advice should be underpinned by a solid product range, specialist skills and superb systems and processes to empower you on your journey. A solid plan to financial freedom should be able to withstand many a storm.

I hope you’ll find the insights in this edition useful in helping you put together a robust investment plan that will make your goal of financial freedom a reality.

A Word from our CIO - Adriaan Pask

Industry Views - Nirdev Desai

Investing and trading - Wendy Myers

Estate Matters - Mariska Comins

Quarterly Insight - Jan van der Merwe

Employee Benefits Insight - Mariska Comins

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