OIG

14/10/2026

Everyone is talking about the risks of El Niño, from drought and food inflation to pressure on household budgets. But is the story really all negative? Our latest Hot Topic explores why some industries, companies, and investors could benefit from this weather cycle, and why South Africa may be better positioned than many expect thanks to record grain reserves and low food inflation.

Every challenge creates opportunities. The key is looking beyond the headlines, says OIG Director: Chief Investment Officer, Francois Botha:

El Niño is expected to bring hotter and drier conditions to South Africa, with potential implications for crops, food prices, household spending and interest rates. But the impact will not be the same everywhere. With South Africa entering the season with strong maize stocks and relatively low food...

09/10/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰!

Despite the rain and the resulting traffic, you showed up, engaged with the discussions and made the morning a memorable one. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us, asked questions and actively participated. And feedback like this makes it all the more worthwhile:

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦; 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 – 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘰𝘧 2026 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯… 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭” – IFA

A special thank you to our guest speaker, 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐣𝐞, whose presentation, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐢𝐧 2026: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬, explored the latest developments, risks and opportunities shaping our future, offering fresh perspectives and valuable insights.

𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧? Stay connected and be the first to hear about upcoming events by signing up here: https://bit.ly/4i8L54K

21/09/2026

More investors are turning to AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude and Copilot for financial information, investment ideas and financial planning guidance. But accessibility is not the same as advice.

While AI can make financial information more accessible, successful financial planning still relies on context, behavioural insight and informed judgement.

As AI increasingly sits between people and information, important questions arise around how AI-generated answers are formed, which sources are prioritised, whether commercial relationships can influence what information is surfaced, and ultimately, what role human judgement should play in financial decision-making.

Read our latest Hot Topic here:

AI will undoubtedly change financial advice – and in many ways, it should. It can make information more accessible, help advisers work more efficiently and give people a starting point when professional advice feels out of reach. But financial advice has never been just about information. It is ab...

07/09/2026

Few investment themes have captured the market's attention quite like Artificial Intelligence.

The companies supplying the chips that power this innovation have delivered remarkable returns, but history reminds us that transformative technologies and successful investments are not always the same thing. As valuations rise and concentration risks increase, investors are being challenged to distinguish between excitement and opportunity.

In our latest Hot Topic, Estian Storm, Senior Investment Specialist at OIG, discusses whether semiconductor shares are entering a period of recalibration and what this could mean for portfolios positioned to benefit from the AI revolution.

Read our latest Hot Topic:

AI may still be one of the most powerful investment themes of our time, but after two extraordinary years of semiconductor gains, expectations are running high. As chip stocks begin to weaken, the question is no longer whether the AI revolution is real – but whether valuations have already priced ...

12/08/2026

Identical asset allocations do not always produce identical outcomes.

Two portfolios can hold the same mix of equities, bonds, property and cash, yet deliver very different risk and return experiences. Why? Because manager selection plays a critical role in how investment views are implemented.

In our latest Hot Topic, Marilize van Zyl, Head of Manager Research, explores why diversification should extend beyond asset classes to include investment styles, philosophies and managers.

The result? More resilient portfolios designed to navigate changing market environments.

Read our latest Hot Topic here: https://bit.ly/beyond-asset-allocation

Where asset allocation determines where you invest, manager research determines how you invest. The strongest portfolios don't rely on a single investment view; they combine multiple specialist perspectives to build more resilient outcomes.

06/08/2026

Markets have remained resilient through the first half of 2026, but beneath the headline numbers, the investment landscape is becoming increasingly complex. Growth is slowing at different speeds across regions, inflation risks remain elevated, and investors can no longer rely on rising valuations alone to drive returns.

In our latest Hot Topic, Francois Botha, Director: Chief Investment Officer at OIG, explores where opportunities may emerge in the second half of the year.

From the evolving AI investment theme and shifting global equity leadership to opportunities in fixed income and South Africa's improving outlook, the focus is on staying selective in a changing market environment.

Read our latest Hot Topic here:

The first half of 2026 confirmed that this is not a standard late-cycle environment. Growth is slowing unevenly, inflation risk is elevated following the Middle East energy shock, and fiscal space is more constrained than in prior cycles.

23/07/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐓𝐚𝐱-𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭?

A TFSA is one of South Africa's most tax-efficient investment vehicles, yet many people still treat it like an emergency fund.

This National Savings Month, we're unpacking why a TFSA deserves a place in every long-term investment conversation - and why leaving it untouched could be one of the best financial decisions you ever make.

Read our latest Hot Topic here:
https://oig-invest.com/this-savings-month-remember-your-tax-free-savings-account-is-not-a-savings-account/

A Tax-Free Savings Account is often misunderstood, not because of what it does, but because of what it’s called. Despite the name, it is not designed for short-term saving or everyday access, but as a powerful long-term investment tool.

20/07/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions about saving is that it can only begin once we reach a certain income level. In reality, financial resilience is built through consistent habits, not perfect circumstances.

Our latest Hot Topic, crafted for National Savings Month, explores:

• Why waiting for a "better time" to save can be costly
• The impact of compound growth over time
• How small, regular contributions create momentum
• The role of automation in building sustainable savings habits
• Why saving should be viewed as protection rather than restriction

The most important step is often the first one.

Start where you are. Save what you can. Let time and consistency work in your favour.

Read the latest Hot Topic here:

Saving often feels like something to start later, but that moment rarely comes as expenses rise with income. The difference is not how much you earn, but the habit of saving consistently, even in small amounts. Starting now builds momentum and turns saving from a sacrifice into essential financial p...

15/07/2026

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧!
Join us at OIG’s On the Move 2026 Roadshow in Cape Town
𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫: 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐣𝐞, Independent Political and Economic Analyst
6 October 2026 | 08h30 – 11h00 | Venue D'Aria, Durbanville

𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝. 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞: https://tinyurl.com/On-the-move-Cape-Town

The world in 2026 is being reshaped by geopolitical uncertainty, economic change and rapid technological advances. In his keynote “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔– 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬”, Frans Cronje will explore what these global forces mean for South Africa, unpacking the latest scenarios, risks and opportunities.

You'll also hear from OIG's investment team as they explore this year's On the Move theme: 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - Positioning portfolios for what comes next.

𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: Tuesday, 6 October 2026
𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 08h00 for 08h30 registration | Ends 11h00
𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞: Venue D'Aria, Durbanville, Cape Town

𝐓𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚: https://oig-invest.com/events-cape-town-seminar/

13/07/2026

Saving and investing are not competing priorities. They play different roles in building financial security and long-term wealth.

In South Africa's inflationary environment, relying on cash alone can make it difficult to grow your purchasing power over the long term. That's why a strong financial plan should include both an emergency fund for life's uncertainties and a long-term investment strategy for future goals, says OIG Head of Distribution, Michelle Parker, in the latest Hot Topic available on our website.

A practical approach:
• Save for emergencies and short-term needs
• Eliminate high-interest debt
• Take advantage of tax-efficient investment structures
• Start investing as early as possible and let compounding do the heavy lifting

The greatest driver of long-term wealth is not chasing the perfect investment. It is giving your money enough time to grow.

Saving is essential, but on its own it is not enough to build real wealth. While saving protects your money, inflation and tax can quietly erode its value over time. Investing, by contrast, allows your money to grow meaningfully, especially over the long term, where compounding becomes a powerful ad...