Editor's Thoughts.

Today’s news feed is jam packed with great content. Miranda Rasehala’s (FNB) look at the Maako case underlines how important it is that members read fund correspondence in time, or risk losing the protections that are available to them. Lebogang Mogashoa’s (Pension Funds Adjudicator) pension-backed home loan determination makes a related point: a member’s retirement value is not an open cheque book for Builders Warehouse. While I 100% agree with the principle, the case brought me back to what I always think about fund home loans: Why promise a great retirement at some point in the future, when a member can’t house and protect their family today?

At Old Mutual Wealth Investival 26, the conversation was around the changing advice relationship. AI can help clients research and interrogate ideas, but it cannot replace human context, accountability or a properly uncomfortable question at the right time. It’s THE CURRENT conversation in financial planning right now. But, what about the EB consultants? I don’t see any discussions around how they are pivoting advice models and delivery taking into account that a trustee/manco might arrive at a meeting fully prepped by their favourite AI agent. Is it because the consultants don’t take the time, or because the trustees/manco’s don’t? Mmm …

Along those lines, I asked AI whether my retirement fund should invest in hedge funds. Now I won’t share everything it “advised” me to do, I will point you to today’s episode of the Art of Manager Fusion, with Bruce Thistlewhite, Chief Investment Officer at Oakhaven Capital. Hedge fund managers are not cowboys. A hedge fund may earn a place in a retirement portfolio, but it should solve a specific portfolio problem, like diversification or drawdown management, rather than be bought because it sounds sexy or promises protection. I’ll let you decide whether that’s from Bruce or from AI.

Upcoming Events.

Most Recent Reads.

Quick Links.