Money Matters

January 2025

Welcome to our first newsletter of 2025. As the world navigates major global shifts, such as the return of Donald Trump to the White House, many are questioning: is this the beginning of a brighter era or the onset of turbulent times? South Africans face an uncertain path forward with our Government of National Unity (GNU). Markets have shown positive momentum, yet investors remain cautiously optimistic, awaiting concrete progress to bolster their confidence.

In this environment, our first newsletter of 2025 focuses on retirement income strategies and the broader investment challenges and opportunities facing South Africa.

In “Avoid These Blind Spots When Structuring Retirement Income”, Jaco van Tonder from Ninety One highlights key considerations for retirees. He explores balancing offshore equity exposure (too little or too much can lead to retirement failure). He then highlights the importance of managing inflation risks and maintaining flexibility with living annuities.  Jaco provides practical strategies for building resilient income solutions.

The second article, “Investment – Pulling It All Together”, by political analyst JP Landman, examines South Africa’s efforts to transform into a construction powerhouse. With R1 trillion invested in 2023, JP explores the critical balance between public and private sector contributions, public-private partnerships, and the efficiency challenges that could make or break these efforts.

We hope you find these insights both relevant and thought-provoking as we begin the year. As always, our team is here to guide you—please don’t hesitate to reach out for tailored advice.

Most retirees unknowingly set themselves up for failure by ignoring hidden risks in their income plans. Are you putting too much faith in offshore exposure? Underestimating the crippling power of inflation? Or locking yourself into rigid strategies that can’t adapt to life’s curveballs? This article cuts through the noise with hard facts, practical insights, and proven strategies to avoid these costly mistakes. If you care about protecting your retirement, you can’t afford to skip this read.

South Africa stands at a crossroads as it works to transform into a construction powerhouse, with R1 trillion invested in 2023 alone. But is this enough to drive the economic growth we need? In this insightful article, political analyst JP Landman explores the delicate balance between public and private sector investments, the efficiency challenges in public spending, and the growing influence of public-private partnerships. From infrastructure projects to energy development, discover how these efforts could shape the country’s future and why efficiency and collaboration are the keys to unlocking South Africa’s true economic potential.