How global pension funds have been investing in private markets Having spent the last 12 months in the United Kingdom as head of defined contribution investments at a large pension consultancy in London, I was surprised at the striking similarities between...
The escalating debt in two of the world's largest economies, China and the US, is pushing investors to seek value in unexpected places. In addition to the usual safe havens like gold, the Japanese yen and German Bunds (Bonds) are gaining attention as global...
South African investors have necessarily limited their exposure to global fixed interest bonds over the past several years for two primary reasons: unattractively low yields and the 25% offshore asset restriction for retirement portfolios under Regulation...
The quote “What gets measured gets managed” is attributed to the celebrated American management consultant Peter Drucker. By quantifying tasks or goals individuals can better understand their performance, set clear objectives and track progress. In this...
When most South African retirement fund trustees think of a custodian bank, a set of standard criteria comes to mind. Custodian banks hold and safeguard financial assets, protecting them from loss. Custodians facilitate the settlement and clearing of trades,...
The 2023 National Blue Drop Report, put together by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), found that 46% of our water systems have an unacceptable microbiological water quality status, meaning that the water in these systems poses a serious acute...
It's considered common knowledge that including fixed income instruments in your portfolio adds stability and a can generate a regular income. Fixed income investments primarily involve debt instruments—most commonly bonds—issued by governments,...
Retirement funds, whether a pension, provident or retirement annuity before retirement and living annuities after retirement, have a general lack of appeal due to their perceived complex nature and inflexibility. However, the advantages can often far...
It's been just over two months since the South African retirement fund system underwent its most significant transformation: the introduction of the two-pot system. After years of regulatory reforms, this change has finally brought compulsory preservation...
Trust, usually underpinned by transparency, is a key pillar of good relationships. This is especially true in the relationship between a financial services provider and their clients. Education has an important role to play in this relationship too, and it...