Wealth preservation is a priority for everyone, especially as we approach or enter retirement. However, it’s often misunderstood. Many associate wealth preservation with low-risk, low-volatility investments, believing this conservative approach will protect their capital. Unfortunately, this strategy often leaves one vulnerable to a far greater enemy: inflation.
Inflation erodes purchasing power over time, making a conservative portfolio an inadequate defence. The real way to preserve and grow wealth is through significant exposure to equities, even—and especially—during retirement. Equities provide the growth necessary to outpace inflation and sustain long-term financial independence.
The idea of “de-risking” investments as retirement nears is outdated and counterproductive. While it might feel safer, it ignores a crucial fact: your investment horizon doesn’t end at retirement. With life expectancy increasing, many retirees could spend 30 to 40 years in retirement. A portfolio overly weighted in low-risk, low-return investments may not generate the growth required to support such a long period of withdrawals.
Yes, markets can be volatile. But consider the bigger picture: markets go up far more than they go down. However, bad news sells, so the financial media often focuses on declines, creating unnecessary panic. This “financial porn” clouds judgement and leads to short-term decisions that can derail long-term goals.
Since World War II, there have been 26 market corrections, with an average decline of 13.7%. Despite the temporary dips, the average recovery time was just four months. Additionally, a 10% market decline occurs roughly every two years. These downturns, while unsettling, are part of a healthy market cycle. What matters is the long-term upward trend, which transforms temporary declines into permanent gains.
Wealth preservation is not about avoiding volatility; it’s about ensuring your investments outpace inflation over time. Stay focused on your long-term lifestyle and financial goals. Trust in a strategy that includes equities to protect your wealth, grow your purchasing power, and secure the retirement of your dreams. Ignore the noise, stay the course, and preserve your wealth the right way.
Dirk Groeneveld, Certified Financial Planner.
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As the season approaches, we, the locals, prepare for the influx of visitors and tourists and the benefits and drawbacks associated with that. We brace ourselves for longer queues, more noise, and different driving habits from what we are accustomed to in our village. At the same time the economic impact of tourism on our community is significant through the creation of hundreds of employment opportunities.
This week, we did some investigating to see the impact on the pricing of certain food items over the festive season and if the retailers capitalise on this.
A post on social media suggested that the price of Apples had increased significantly in preparation for the festive season, with the retailer preparing to “fleece” the holidaymakers and, as a consequence, the locals.
We found that apples were retailing at the price mentioned in the post. But as we looked further into the matter, we discovered that these apples were a new variety to the store and that they had not been in stock the previous week, so in fact, apples were compared with apples, just not the same apples.
When we looked on the shelves, we found that the prices for apples varied from R45,99 for a 1,5kg packet of Top Red Apples, a different variety to the normal Red Starking Apples, to as little as R20,99 for a kilogram.
There are always good deals if you look out for them. Being part of the retailer’s reward programs is free of charge but can lead to 10 to 15% savings on a trolley of goods. Keep an eye out for the combination packages, which are often only applicable if you are a Rewards card holder.
Many residents came to the area to retire, so pensioner discount is a real thing! If you don’t already have a pensioner discount card, speak to the management and complete the necessary documentation.
Wednesday is Market Day at the SUPERSPAR Village Square & Village Main, so this is a good day to look out for specials on fruit, veggies, eggs, poultry and butchery items.
Specials and deals are regularly posted on social media pages (links above), so be vigilant, and you will find good deals!
Mickey Lindsay, SUPERSPAR Village Square General Manager, shared the following insights with us: “All Supermarkets are at the mercy of supply and demand. Our prices are dependent on what the supplier pays for the produce at the market. If there is a surplus of a certain item, when that item hits the shelf, the retail prices will reflect that. We are very aware of the support we get from our community throughout the year, and as such, we are sensitive to our pricing structures.”
Lindsay confirmed, “Be, the Fruit & Vegetable Manager, procures from 5 different suppliers to secure the best combination of price and quality.”
If the queues over the festive season are a cause for concern, it may be worthwhile taking the short trip to the Humansdorp SUPERSPAR Village Main or make use of Trolley Dolly for your large shops or SPAR2U for the essential items.
SUPERSPAR Village Square will be extending their trading hours over the festive season to alleviate the additional foot traffic. The hours will be as follows:
13th–31st December:
1st January 2025 onwards:
So, as the season approaches, lets be aware of the fact that many of the small businesses in town only have three or four windows of opportunity throughout the year to make their enterprises sustainable.
Support local where possible!
Read more: Keeping St Francis Safe This Season with SUPERSPAR, and some Massive Savings This Weekend!
The “Study Well Learn Well” series included 2 workshops hosted at the Sea Vista library during the school holidays. Students from the Sea Vista community were invited to register. There was no fee for the sessions conducted between 11:00 and 13:00 each day; all materials and a light snack were provided.
For the “Improving Concentration” and “Building Memory,” eight female students were registered.
In the Improving Concentration workshop, we covered the following: “What is concentration?” – “How can you improve it”? – “What takes you away from focusing and what can you do about it”?
Two key points were “A wandering mind (daydreaming) and focusing (paying full attention) cannot live together – you have to choose?” “Social Media is a major challenge that MUST be well managed”!
In the session on Building Memory, we covered the 3 R’s required to strengthen memory, that is: (1) Registering Information – taking it in, (2) Retaining Information – keeping it in and (3) Retrieving information – getting it out!
“The importance of a positive attitude and creating an interest in what is being learnt is crucial”.
“If you think you can or if you think you can’t – you are right”!
Both sessions were rated “very helpful” by 6 students and “helpful” by 2 students.
Some comments from the grade 11 and 12 students.
“To stay positive even when I make mistakes and keep believing in myself”.
“Repetition and testing myself will help me to be more confident.”
“I need to plan – to know what I want to study in each session and stick to my plan”.
“Being disciplined is very important for study success.”
Spending time with these enthusiastic and committed students was an absolute pleasure. Having a quiet place to study at home seems to be a challenge for all of them. They mostly arrive home late in the afternoon, so their time to work in the Sea Vista Library is limited. The students literally “begged” to have the library open on a Saturday morning to have a quiet place to study and access the Internet.
In conclusion, the students committed to supporting each other where possible and rising above the obstacles they encounter in order to be successful – We can do it!
The article was submitted by Darryl Smith, a Study Well Learn Well Mentor and Sea Vista School Leavers Project team member.
A brand-new beach wheelchair was officially deployed at Kabeljauws Beach last Friday. This thanks to a collaborative effort between the Quadriplegic and Paraplegic Charitable Trust, Kouga Municipality, and Pili Pili Restaurant. Pictured are (back from left) Willem Gertenbach (Kouga Ward 3 Councillor), Neels Swanepoel (Pili Pili Restaurant), Timothy Jantjes (Kouga Executive Deputy Mayor), Dawie Diedericks (Pili Pili Restaurant). Front is Tom Bouwer (Jeffreys Bay Tourism Deputy Chairperson).
Jeffreys Bay – In a step towards accessibility for all, a brand-new beach wheelchair was officially deployed at Kabeljauws Beach last Friday. This thanks to a collaborative effort between the Quadriplegic and Paraplegic Charitable Trust, Kouga Municipality, and Pili Pili Restaurant.
This innovative addition offers individuals with mobility impairments – as well as the elderly or frail who dream of feeling the sand beneath their feet and the waves around them – a chance to enjoy the beach with ease.
Kouga Executive Deputy Mayor, Timothy Jantjes, expressed his pride in the initiative. “As a municipality, we are committed to innovation and making our beaches accessible to all.
“We are incredibly proud to launch this wheelchair. It is about providing opportunity, mobility, and freedom to those who need it most.”
Jantjes added that with this launch, Kabeljauws Beach joins Dolphin Beach, which already boasts two amphibious wheelchairs. “This is a significant step in ensuring accessibility not only to our beaches but also to our municipal buildings, tourism areas, parking, and ablution facilities,” he said.
The municipality has also upgraded the parking area to enhance the overall experience for visitors with mobility challenges.
Pili Pili Restaurant has taken on the responsibility of managing the wheelchair’s maintenance and promotion, ensuring it remains available for everyone. To access the wheelchair, visitors can fill in a registration form and receive the combination lock code from Pili Pili Restaurant.
The wheelchair is free to use. Donations to the Quadriplegic and Paraplegic Charitable Trust are welcomed to support future initiatives.
Founded in 2012, the Quadriplegic and Paraplegic Charitable Trust was established to address a critical gap in support for quadriplegics and paraplegics. Particularly those from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, who have entrepreneurial talents but struggle to secure funding for their business ideas.
The trust actively raises funds to support the establishment of start-up businesses for quadriplegics and paraplegics. Additionally, it provides scaling capital to help existing businesses grow when needed. What sets this initiative apart is that the funding provided is not a loan but a gift. There is an optional mentoring available to ensure sustainable success.
Over the past 12 months alone, the trust has empowered at least eight businesses with start-up capital. This has enabled them to thrive and make a meaningful impact in their communities.
The trust is also committed to identifying other avenues to empower quadriplegics and paraplegics. This dedication led to the launch of the beach wheelchair project, an initiative embraced wholeheartedly by the trustees to further promote inclusion and accessibility.
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