Reflections on the Start of the Year

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2026! We hope you enjoyed a relaxing December. It has already been an eventful start to the year. The Mossel Bay fires, which spread both up and down the coast, were deeply concerning. With many of our clients living and travelling along this route, we sincerely hope that none of you were directly affected. More recently, devastating floods have impacted the Kruger National Park and the surrounding areas. Having often sat at Skukuza looking at the 2000 flood line and wondering how a river could ever reach such levels, it is sobering to see the Olifants River exceed that historic mark. The damage to camps and staff accommodation has been significant, with the impact now extending into Mozambique. These events serve as powerful reminders of how quickly circumstances can change, and of the importance of family and community.

Keeping Perspective in a Changing World

Beyond natural events, there is also much unfolding on the economic and political fronts, which seem to escalate each year. As Victoria highlights in her accompanying article, these forces can easily distract investors from their long-term goals. Your financial plan is exactly that, a long-term plan, designed to adapt as you move through different life stages and transitions. This is why the annual review process is so important, as life is rarely linear. While financial security matters, it is never the end goal. What matters most is living purposeful lives with the confidence to focus on what truly matters. Our role is to help provide that foundation through thoughtful, long-term planning for you and your family.

Looking Ahead: Events and Provisional Tax Season

We look forward to seeing some of you at our regional Jeremy Gardiner Roadshow events in February, with an online session to follow in March. This period also marks provisional tax season. For clients who work with Chartered Tax, our team will be in touch soon. We encourage you to engage with them early to avoid missing the submission deadline.

We look forward to partnering with you throughout the year. As always, please contact your Financial Planning Specialist should you have any concerns or require any support.

Warm Regards,