Long-Term Gain over Short-Term Pain: Lessons from life and investing

Geo Botha • December 3, 2024

"I'm never doing this again"

This is what I said last Saturday afternoon as we started to climb the last 5 hills in the last 30 of the 200km cycle race called the Double Century.

 

It was the 3rd time I have said it, in 3 consecutive years

Only to come back and compete again the next year.

 

Challenging ourselves physically is about a lot more than just pushing to what we think our physical limits are.

It's about creating the discipline to train, the perseverance to push through and silencing those inner voices when you want to quit.

It's also strange how we quickly forget about the pain and suffering and only remember the positive accomplishment and memories.

 

I’d like to share an article I recently read from Siobhan Simpson, Head of SA Unit Trusts at Ninety one, who shared a similar experience this year. 

She went through the exciting yet uncertain phase of giving birth to her daughter and shared the lessons she learned throughout and how we can apply these insights into managing our own investment portfolio.

 

She also shares some interesting stats on how investing over different time periods can greatly influence the outcome and why it’s never a good idea to wait for the right moments

Read the article here

 

Enjoy the festive season with your loved ones and stay safe out there.

Geo Botha

Marketing Director

Chart of the month: 5 Largest stocks dominate

By Geo Botha • October 3, 2025
In this month’s chart we can see that over the last 60 years, top five stocks now make up nearly 35% of the US market — the highest concentration on record. They include: Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple , Alphabet (Google) and Amazon. Market leadership is becoming increasingly narrow, leaving investors more exposed if these giants stumble. At Bovest we take this into consideration when constructing our client’s portfolios and it serves as a reminder of the risks of concentration and the value of diversification. Although almost every investor will have exposure to these large tech companies in one way or another, it is important to limit the level of exposure and not get caught into investing in themes or falling in love with a certain stock. At a recent event, hosted by pour partners at Ninety-One asset managers, many of the talks still revolved around the impact of AI, not only in the workplace, but investment opportunities as well. This boasts the idea that these stock might still have room to grow, but at a certain point valuations move across the tipping point, and we will see a correction in prices. Kindly contact our team if you have any questions.

Protecting the Inheritance of Minor Children

By Ruvan J Grobler • October 3, 2025
In many instances, spouses choose to bequeath their whole estate to each other and the surviving spouse will look after the children. This is also good estate planning. But what will happen to the children and assets should both parents pass away? Underage children can inherit these assets but should be managed through a testamentary trust. A short video summary of the below can be watched here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPOqkx3DP1S/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== What Is a Testamentary Trust? A testamentary trust is a legal entity created in terms of a person’s Will, which only comes into effect upon their death. Unlike inter vivos trusts, it is not operational during the testator’s lifetime. The Will serves as the trust instrument, and the testator is the founder. How Is It Created? Drafting the Will: The Will must clearly state the intention to create a trust, name the beneficiaries, identify the assets to be placed in trust, and outline the terms and conditions. Activation: Upon death, the nominated trustees apply to the Master of the High Court for Letters of Authority to manage the trust. Trustees: It’s advisable to appoint at least one independent trustee with fiduciary expertise to ensure proper governance. Why Should Clients Consider It? Protection for Minor Children: Minors cannot legally inherit until age 18. A testamentary trust ensures their inheritance is managed responsibly until they reach maturity. Special Needs Planning: A Type A Special Trust offers tax-efficient support for beneficiaries with disabilities. Asset Preservation: Prevents reckless spending by beneficiaries. Trustees manage and distribute assets according to the testator’s wishes. Managing Indivisible Assets: Useful for assets like farms or holiday homes that cannot be easily split among heirs. Tax Efficiency: Testamentary trusts may offer tax advantages, especially in the case of special trusts. Important Considerations Validity of the Will: If the Will is invalid, the trust cannot be established. Professional drafting is essential. Trustee Selection: Trustees must be trustworthy, capable, and ideally include an independent party to avoid conflicts. Costs & Complexity: Testamentary trusts involve legal and administrative costs. Clients should be made aware of ongoing compliance and management responsibilities. Family Dynamics: Clear communication and transparency in the Will can help prevent disputes among beneficiaries. Contact me at ruvan@bovest.co.za for more information. Ruvan J Grobler RFP™ (PGDip Financial Planning)