Using the right investment manager is crucial to achieving your long-term goals. How much of the success is skill versus luck? We look at what makes a good investment manager, which will make a massive difference to your investment success.

The JSE All Share Index is down 14% this year and flat over the last five years. The past few years have been extremely testing times for investors. However, market pain brings opportunities. At Investonline we have been cautioning investors over market risks, but now local valuations are looking far more compelling as we reach cycle lows. Now is not the time to flee and disinvest.

Yes, you should invest offshore. But, timing and the where and how is worth investigating. The biggest mistake is making an emotional “knee -jerk” decision. This often leads to taking on inappropriate risk and at the worst time, often after the horse has bolted. It’s important to make a rational decision and to take your money offshore for the right reasons.

A few critical questions to consider before investing offshore include: what percentage of assets, direct or indirect, where, what product, which investments, what asset allocation, taxation effects, estate planning /duty implications, timing?

We answer these questions with our 18 frequently asked questions.

Over the last three years, the JSE All Share Index has moved sideways as it continues to fluctuate within a 10% band, wearing investors’ patience thin. Unfortunately, volatility is implicit in investing and over the long-term, this volatility often provides good buying opportunities. However, if one finds it difficult to remain calm in these volatile / low-return periods, an investment in a more stable income fund will provide an 8% to 9% return, but at the risk of missing higher returns when the market recovers.

The surprise announcement of an “economic recession” and the recent collapse of the Rand raises many questions. But mostly, how does this affect my investments? We’ve drawn from a recent Old Mutual Wealth article that supports our views as we provide insights into these issues and explain the effects.