Optimum Investment Group (OIG) invests in Obsidian Capital, securing a 40% ownership stake
The Optimum Investment Group (OIG) is pleased to announce that, effective 1 October 2025, it has secured a 40% ownership stake in Obsidian Capital.
Global growth and outlook: A more positive path ahead
Global growth and outlook – A more positive path ahead – The world economy has weathered tariffs, trade tensions, and fragile recoveries. Now, fiscal stimulus, monetary easing, and structural reforms are reshaping the path forward. Francois Botha, OIG’s Chief Investment Officer, unpacks expectations for the last quarter of 2025.
Living annuity or life annuity – unpacking the differences
Living annuity or life annuity – unpacking the difference – Deciding between a living annuity and a life annuity is not simply about comparing products – it’s about aligning your retirement income strategy with your lifestyle, values, and long-term financial security. When planning for retirement, one of the most crucial decisions is how to structure your income during retirement…
Ubuntu investing
Ubuntu teaches that collective strength is greater than any single part -and investing works the same way. By diversifying across asset classes, geographies, and strategies, portfolios become more resilient and less dependent on one outcome. OIG supports advisers through active management, customised solutions, and the inclusion of alternatives like hedge funds, ensuring clients are well-positioned for both stability and long-term growth.
Bread, cheese, tomato… and inflation: the real price of living in SA
The official 3% inflation rate in June 2025 doesn’t reflect the true cost pressures many South Africans face. Essentials like food and electricity push inflation much higher for lower-income households, pensioners, and certain regions. Tools like the “Braaibroodjie Index” highlight these gaps, showing why financial planning should focus on each client’s personal spending patterns rather than national averages.
Not all investments are created equal – The role of regulation in protecting South African investors
In South Africa, investors can choose between regulated and unregulated investment vehicles – each with its own level of protection, transparency, and risk. This article unpacks the role of regulation in protecting investors, the key differences between these two categories, and what to consider when evaluating investment opportunities.
Hedge Funds: Why this often-overlooked investment strategy could be your portfolio’s game-changer
Hedge funds may not get as much attention as shares or bonds, but their strategic flexibility makes them a powerful addition to any well-diversified portfolio. Unlike traditional investments, hedge funds use a broader toolkit – including long and short positions, derivatives, and risk hedging – to deliver returns in both rising and falling markets. Thanks to Regulation 28, South African retirement investors can allocate up to 10% to hedge funds, offering an opportunity to reduce volatility, enhance diversification, and protect capital in times of market stress.
South Africa faces fresh trade headwinds as U.S. imposes 30% tariff amid BRICS tensions
As geopolitical tensions intensify, South Africa is facing a formidable challenge to its trade and economic stability. The U.S. government’s decision to impose a 30% tariff on South African imports, effective 1 August, underscores growing friction between Washington and BRICS-aligned nations.
Does South Africa have a statistics problem?
A growing narrative suggests that South Africa may have a statistics problem, particularly in how it measures unemployment, productivity, and household income. Central to this debate is the country’s large informal economy and extensive social grant system, which together complicate traditional definitions of labour market participation and income.
How to stay invested when markets get loud
In today’s hyperconnected world, we’re bombarded with investment noise – market updates, breaking news, expert predictions, social media threads, and sensationalist headlines. But as an investor, reacting to short-term events can do more harm than good.