How to optimise your investments in the current economic climate

Hannes van den Berg, CEO of Momentum Consult.

Comprehensive financial planning can improve the health of your wealth.

Despite the current economic climate in South Africa, comprehensive financial planning can improve the health of your wealth. The weaker rand and the threatening credit downgrade for South Africa to "junk" status, coupled with the current account deficit expected to narrow due to high input costs, weak global demands and increasing food imports has made offshore markets favourable to investors. However, the weaker rand is the biggest factor influencing returns of offshore investments for South African investors.

2016 has become the perfect year to get a financial checkup as the weak rand makes it increasingly difficult to achieve returns on offshore investments. By taking a long-term view to financial wellness, building wealth and accumulating assets, investors can reduce risk by positioning their investment portfolios in a diversified manner. These fluctuations in the South African economy have presented Momentum Consult with an opportunity to extend financial planning services through a growing network of highly specialised intermediary partners using innovation, technological solutions and modern practice to provide advice and solutions to clients across a broad spectrum of financial products and services that enhance financial wellness.

“Most investors understand the importance of investing offshore, however, taking a hard look at the current rand levels against the dollar, understanding your liabilities, budget, debt, retirement savings, investments, insurance and taxes can ensure that people do not position all their investments offshore, but rather match with what is appropriate locally,” says Hannes van den Berg, CEO of Momentum Consult.

With more than 3 000 clients and R6-billion assets under their advice, Momentum Consult encourages lateral thinking that leads to innovative tailormade solutions, including retirement planning, estate and personal risk planning, fiduciary and healthcare solutions to achieve individual wealth creation and the ultimate goal of overall financial wellness. By consulting a team of highly skilled financial advisers, clients can access the best products the market has to offer on business protection, business assurance agreements, tax planning and structuring, trusts and wills.

Financial advice does not cease when initial advice has been rendered – clients continue to benefit from regular financial reviews that are tailormade to suit their unique, individual needs. Through the latest technology solutions and advice tools, Momentum Consult’s financial advisers have access to unbiased, reliable and accurate analysis, professional indemnity insurance and fully comply with the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) Act. Ongoing training ensures that financial advisers are kept informed about and comply with the latest legislative requirements and changes, market trends and product innovations that offer the best protection.