Dear Clients,

Last week, I had the privilege of travelling to London to attend the annual Nedgroup Investments and Ninety One conference. Although this event has been running for the past 16 years, it was my first time attending, and it proved to be a valuable experience.

It was especially impressive to spend time at the Ninety One offices, home to 480 employees, and a remarkable reminder that this global business started right here in South Africa.

As expected, two of the major topics that dominated discussions were geopolitics, in particular, the significant economic and political shift from West to East (which Kevin Lings also touched on in his recent presentation to us), and Artificial Intelligence. The conversations around AI highlighted not only how dramatically it will reshape our lives and careers, but also the investment opportunities it presents.

From a financial planning perspective, two wealth management surveys were presented, both underscoring the importance of holistic financial planning, with a particular focus on retirement, estate, and tax planning. The world of tax has never been more complex, and with so many clients investing globally, it’s crucial to have the right structures in place to avoid unintended pitfalls. I was proud to note how much of what we practice at Chartered is ahead of the curve when compared to the broader industry.

My family joined me at the end of the week in Munich, where we picked up a campervan and made our way to the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, to attend the Formula One Grand Prix. This was another first for me and a real bucket list experience I won’t soon forget.

Enjoy the newsletter.

Warm regards
John