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Is investing offshore just for people who've given up on South Africa? I get some version of this question a lot, and the honest answer is no. It's really just about not keeping all your eggs in one rand-denominated basket. And it got a lot more relevant this year, because in April 2026 the Reserve Bank doubled the Single Discretionary Allowance from R1 million to R2 million per person, per year. That's a meaningful jump, and it's worth understanding properly before you use it. Here's how the allowance system actually works. Every South African resident over 18 gets a Single Discretionary Allowance of R2 million a year. No SARS approval, no tax clearance, you just instruct your bank and off it goes, for travel, gifts, or offshore investing. On top of that sits the Foreign Investment Allowance, up to another R10 million a year, but that one needs a SARS Approval for International Transfer first, which comes off your tax compliance status on eFiling. Between the two, that's R12 million per person, per year, without needing special Reserve Bank sign-off. A couple, or a family with adult kids, can add that up quickly. Worth knowing too, this is different from the rand-denominated offshore funds most people already hold through their local platforms. Those use asset swap or feeder structures, and your allowance never actually leaves the country. Direct offshore investing means the money physically converts to dollars, pounds or euros and sits in an account in your own name, offshore. Different animal, different mechanics. Side note: if you've got a retirement annuity, you already have some offshore exposure, Regulation 28 lets retirement funds hold up to 45% offshore. That's real diversification, but it's locked inside a retirement structure with its own rules on access and estate treatment. Using your personal allowance is a completely separate lever, money you actually hold in your own name, offshore, that you can access, restructure or leave to whoever you want without waiting for retirement age. Who actually uses this in practice? Families with kids studying or working abroad. People planning to retire partly offshore, or just wanting a foreign currency buffer for when they travel. Business owners who've built most of their wealth locally and want a real counterweight sitting outside the country. It's rarely about chasing better returns, it's about not having every asset you own exposed to the same risks at the same time. So why bother with the direct route? Two reasons come up in almost every conversation I have about this: currency, and geography. On currency, if your salary is in rand, your house is in rand and your whole portfolio is in rand, your entire financial life rises and falls with one currency. Holding some of your wealth in hard currency doesn't mean you think the rand is doomed, it just means you're not betting your whole future on one outcome either way. On geography, the JSE makes up less than 1% of total global stock market value. Some of the biggest growth stories in the world right now, in tech, in healthcare, aren't listed here at all. Investing offshore isn't a vote against South Africa, it's just access to the other 99%. Now here's a case worth knowing about, because it shows how badly this can go if someone tries to get clever with the rules instead of just following them. In Singh v South African Reserve Bank, decided by the Pretoria High Court in 2023, an attorney and businessman moved R80 million between local accounts, with about R20 million of it headed for a UK bank account. The problem wasn't the amount, it was how it moved, in R1 million chunks, each one apparently using someone else's Single Discretionary Allowance instead of his own. His bank picked it up and reported it to the Reserve Bank, who placed a blocking order on the remaining R40 million sitting in his account back home. He went to court arguing his bank had approved the transfers, so it must have been fine. The court didn't agree. A bank can't lawfully approve something that breaches exchange control in the first place, and the blocking order stood. If you genuinely need to move more than R2 million a year, that's exactly what the Foreign Investment Allowance is for. It just takes proper paperwork, not creativity.  A few practical things that catch people out: Your allowance resets every calendar year, it doesn't carry over if you don't use it. A clean SARS record matters. Outstanding returns or disputes will delay your approval, and it can take up to three weeks even when everything's in order. Financial institutions want proof of where the money actually came from, especially as the amount grows. Moving a big amount in one go means you're stuck with whatever the exchange rate happens to be that day, that's a separate risk from the compliance side, and worth thinking through. One more thing, since estate planning is where I spend most of my time. Assets held directly offshore, in your own name, usually fall under the estate administration rules of wherever they're held, not just South Africa's. That can mean your executor needs a foreign grant of probate before anything can be dealt with, on top of the local process. It doesn't mean don't do it. It just means the structure deserves as much thought as the decision to invest offshore in the first place. This is general information, not advice tailored to your situation. Ruvan J Grobler FSA® PGDip (Financial planning)

Die immigrantekwessie het die afgelope paar jaar een van die mees omstrede politieke en sosiale onderwerpe in Suid-Afrika geword. Openbare debat word dikwels aangevuur deur kommer oor werkloosheid, misdaad, druk op openbare dienste en die teenwoordigheid van ongedokumenteerde immigrante. In dieselfde asem waarsku navorsers dat 'n groot deel van die debat deur wanopvattings en emosies beïnvloed word eerder as deur feite. Kom ons kyk na die bekommernisse en die feite. Eerstens is daar opvattings oor die getal immigrante in Suid-Afrika. Volgens die jongste data het Suid-Afrika tussen ongeveer 2,4 en 2,6 miljoen buitelandsgebore inwoners. Dit verteenwoordig sowat vier persent van die totale bevolking van ongeveer 63 miljoen mense. Die grootste groepe kom uit Zimbabwe, Mosambiek, Lesotho en Malawi. Werkloosheid vorm 'n tweede bekommernis. Suid-Afrika het een van die hoogste werkloosheidskoerse ter wêreld. Baie Suid-Afrikansers ervaar dat immigrante werksgeleenthede wegneem, veral in die informele sektor, kleinhandel, konstruksie en landbou. Die oorsake van werkloosheid lê waarskynlik veel dieper en hou verband met swak ekonomiese groei, onvoldoende vaardighede, korrupsie en beperkte belegging. 'n Derde bekommernis is druk op openbare dienste. Hospitale, skole, behuisingsprojekte en munisipale dienste verkeer reeds, soos dit is, onder groot druk. Waar immigrante hierdie dienste gebruik, ontstaan die persepsie dat skaars hulpbronne verder uitgedun word. Dit is moeilik om die impak werklik te meet. 'n Vierde bekommernis hou verband met ongedokumenteerde immigrasie. Daar bestaan wydverspreide kritiek dat die staat nie sy grense doeltreffend beheer nie. Selfs mense wat positief teenoor immigrasie staan, erken dikwels dat beter administrasie en grensbeheer nodig is. 'n Vyfde bekommernis is misdaad en veiligheid. Sommige politieke groepe verbind immigrasie met misdaad. Statistiese bewyse toon egter nie dat immigrante as groep vir die meeste misdaad verantwoordelik is nie. Tog bly die persepsie sterk, veral in gemeenskappe wat reeds deur misdaad geteister word. Die debat word verder bemoeilik deur die verskil tussen wettige immigrante, vlugtelinge, asielsoekers en ongedokumenteerde persone. Hierdie groepe word dikwels in die openbare debat saamgegooi. Die immigrasievraagstuk gaan dus oor veel meer as net die persentasie immigrante. Dit raak die ekonomie, staatskapasiteit, grensbeheer en die publiek se vertroue in die regering. Die onderliggende probleme van werkloosheid, armoede en swak dienslewering bly waarskynlik die grootste drywers van die huidige spanning. 'n Volhoubare oplossing sal daarom waarskynlik beter immigrasiebestuur en sterker ekonomiese groei vereis. Geksryf deur Koos van die Waterberge vir Bovest

Dear Client, Tax season is here again, and many South Africans will receive an auto-assessment from SARS. Auto-assessments can be very convenient. SARS uses information from employers, medical schemes, retirement funds, banks and investment providers to pre-populate your tax return. In many cases, this makes the process quicker and easier. However, easier does not always mean correct. We have already seen cases where auto-assessments were not fully accurate or where important information still needed to be checked. That is why our message this tax season is simple: don’t just accept your SARS assessment without reviewing it properly first. Between 1 July and 12 July 2026, SARS will notify selected taxpayers by SMS or email if they have been auto-assessed. The notice will show whether you are due a refund, whether you need to pay SARS, or whether there is no amount payable or refundable. If you receive an auto-assessment and everything is correct, you do not need to submit a separate return. But before accepting it, you should still log in to SARS eFiling and check the details carefully. If something is incorrect or missing, you should update and submit your tax return through eFiling. A few practical tips for tax season Before accepting or submitting anything, make sure you have the correct supporting documents on hand. These may include your IRP5, medical aid tax certificate, retirement annuity contribution certificate, investment tax certificates, tax-free investment certificate, donation certificates, rental income records and any other relevant supporting documents. Do not only look at the refund or amount payable. It is tempting to focus only on whether SARS says you are getting money back, but the more important question is whether the information behind the assessment is correct. Check that your personal details and banking details are up to date. Incorrect banking details can delay refunds, while outdated contact details may mean you miss important communication from SARS. Keep your supporting documents for at least five years from the date of submission, as SARS may request them later to verify your return. What to look out for on your investments Investment income is an area where clients should be especially careful. SARS may receive information directly from financial institutions, but you should still compare the information on your return with your tax certificates. Here are a few important items to check: Interest income Check whether all local and foreign interest has been included correctly. Even small interest amounts from bank accounts or money market investments can form part of your taxable income. Dividends and foreign dividends Local dividends are generally subject to dividends tax, but they may still appear on your tax certificate. Foreign dividends can have different tax treatment and should be reviewed carefully. Capital gains and losses If you sold or switched investments during the tax year, there may be a capital gain or loss. This can happen even if you did not withdraw the money into your bank account. For example, switching between funds can sometimes trigger a disposal for capital gains tax purposes. Retirement annuity contributions Make sure your retirement contributions are correctly reflected. If your contributions were more than the amount allowed as a deduction for the year, the excess amount may be carried forward and used in future years. Your notice of assessment, known as the ITA34, should reflect this. Tax-free investments Although growth and income in a tax-free investment are not taxed, your contributions still need to be monitored. Make sure your tax-free investment certificate is correct and that you have not exceeded the annual or lifetime contribution limits. Living annuity income If you receive income from a living annuity, check that the income and PAYE deducted are correctly reflected. It is also important to keep your tax affairs up to date, as SARS can recover outstanding tax debts directly from certain third parties, including income providers. Two-pot retirement withdrawals If you made a withdrawal from the savings component of your retirement fund, this amount is taxed at your marginal income tax rate. Your fund administrator should issue an IRP5 or IT3(a) certificate showing the withdrawal and any tax withheld. Be careful not to assume that the tax deducted at the time of withdrawal fully settles your final tax position. If you also earned other income during the year, such as a bonus, rental income or investment income, you may still have additional tax to pay when your return is assessed. A simple checklist before you accept or submit Before finalising your tax return, ask yourself: Have I checked my SARS auto-assessment in detail? Have I compared the SARS information to my actual tax certificates? Are all my sources of income included? Are my investment certificates reflected correctly? Are my retirement contributions correct? Have I checked whether any capital gains or losses apply? Have I included medical aid, donation or other allowable deductions where relevant? Are my banking and contact details correct? Have I saved my supporting documents? Tax season does not need to be stressful, but it does require care. SARS has made the process more automated, but the responsibility to ensure your return is complete and accurate still remains with you. Taking a few extra minutes to check your assessment properly can help you avoid delays, unexpected tax bills or corrections later. PJ Botha CFP ® CA(SA)

Comrades... what an experience. Not just the race itself, but the entire 10-month journey. Life is simply more fulfilling when we step beyond our comfort zones—when we take on something that requires effort, discipline, and commitment. The race itself was somewhat of a blur, and somehow those 9.2 hours went by remarkably fast.  What stood out most was the incredible support along the route and the camaraderie among fellow South African runners. People from all walks of life, united by a single goal. It's difficult to put into words. As I reflected on the journey, I couldn't help but notice how much running the Comrades is like Long-term investing . Both are marathons, not sprints. The following 3 things almost Guarenteed my Comrades success, even before I started the race, following the same guidelines in investing and you will achieve your goals: Get a coach.. The first thing I did after I entered for the Comrades was to get a reputable, experience coach. Someone who knows exactly what it takes and what I will need to do to cross the finish line. He knew my strengths and weaknesses, gave me a personal week by week plan and was always there for feedback and advice. The role of an advisor/coach/ mentor can not be understated. There is a reason why all the gold and silver winners have a coach and personal plan, while the last batch try to wing it and do it themselves. 2. Surround yourself with like-minded people. The 2 nd thing I did was to get a “running parter” by convincing someone to do it with me. The road to Comrades requires discipline and dedication. There’s going to be times when you are ‘gatvol’ and want to sleep in and skip sessions – that’s when you need an accountability partner. Someone who understands your experience and that’s working towards the same goal, and you are. People will I push you down or lift you higher – make sure you have the right people in your corner 3. Consistency over everything else. Getting ready for the Comrades requires consistency and discipline over an extended period. You cannot start training for the Comrades in March and say you will to twice as much as the other runners, it doesn’t work that way. Success in fitness and in finance doesn't come from one great day— it comes from consistently showing up, taking small steps, gradually laying the bricks, even when you don't feel like it. If you incorporate these 3 key steps into any ambitious goal you might have, you eliminate the chances of failing and you will be guaranteed success over the long term. Geo Botha CFP ®

In ’n veranderende Suid-Afrika leef moderne afgetredenes anders as die geslagte voor hulle. Die veranderinge in lewensomstandighede oor die afgelope paar dekades het veroorsaak dat afgetredenes nuwe uitdagings moet trotseer. Dit is daarom nodig dat afgetredenes aanpassings maak om tred te hou met hierdie nuwe uitdagings. Om persone te help om gemaklik af te tree en om as afgetredenes gelukkig te leef, sal inligting oor hierdie belangrike fase in ’n mens se lewe bespreek word. Hierdie fase verteenwoordig ongeveer een derde van jou lewensiklus. Die praktyk het gewys dat persone hierdie belangrike fase in hul lewens verskillend beleef. Die volgende lewensomstandighede het verander: Die getal persone in die 60+-ouderdomsgroep het van 3,6 miljoen in 2002 tot 6,6 miljoen in 2025 gegroei en verteenwoordig tans ongeveer 10,5% van die Suid-Afrikaanse bevolking. Dit plaas groter druk op beskikbare nasionale hulpbronne. In bogenoemde ouderdomsgroep is daar in 2025 ongeveer 65 ouer mans vir elke 100 ouer vroue. Hierdie wanbalans in geslagte veroorsaak addisionele finansiële druk op families. ’n Groot gedeelte van die huidige geslag afgetredenes is afhanklik van staatspensioene. Oor tyd verminder die koopkrag van hierdie pensioene, aangesien die jaarlikse verhogings nie altyd tred hou met inflasie nie. Weens die hoë werkloosheidsyfer in Suid-Afrika is daar minder werkende persone wat aktief bydra tot pensioen- en mediese fondse. Dit veroorsaak onsekerheid oor toekomstige aftree- en mediese versorging. Die getal huishoudings wat deur ouer persone gefinansier word, het vermeerder omdat jonger persone nie altyd werk in Suid-Afrika kry nie en dikwels oorsee moet verhuis om ’n inkomste te verdien. Afgetredenes leef langer en daarom moet inkomste uit pensioene oor ’n langer tydperk as in die verlede voorsien word. Mediese kostes vir chroniese medisyne word ook oor ’n langer tydperk benodig  Om genoemde veranderinge ten beste te bestuur, beveel Bovest die volgende finansiële praktyke aan: As afgetredene moet daar, vir so lank as wat dit persoonlik moontlik is, ’n inkomste deeltyds of voltyds verdien word. Betrek die familie by gesamentlike familie-finansiële beplanning. Die voordele hiervan is dat daar gesamentlik vir die toekoms beplan kan word, terwyl kostes ook moontlik bespaar kan word. Adviseurs van Bovest sal families in hierdie beplanningsproses bystaan. Moderne afgetredenes beleef tans ’n opwindende tydperk in hul lewens en kan, met die regte finansiële advies, bestaande geleenthede ten volle benut. Moet dus nie huiwer om jul Bovest finansiële adviseur by die proses te betrek nie.

Dit is nou reeds etlike jare wat gesinne in Suid-Afrika blootgestel word aan emigrasie, (tydelik of permanent) na die buiteland. Daar is vele redes hiervoor: veiligheidskwessies, werkloosheid, beperkte beroepsgeleenthede en beter salarisse en lewensomstandighede elders. Hierdie tendens het verreikende implikasies vir die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie en vir die gesinne wat agterbly. Die statistieke oor emigrasie uit Suid-Afrika is nie altyd betroubaar nie. Ramings dui wel daarop dat miljoene Suid-Afrikaners in lande soos die Verenigde Koninkryk, Nieu-Seeland, Australië, Kanada en die VSA woon en werk. Die migrasie is nie net slegs meer deur professionele mense nie, maar ook ambagslui, landbouwerkers, tegnici en universiteitsgegradueerdes. Die grootste dryfveer is natuurlik die werkloosheidsvlakke in Suid-Afrika. Vir die ekonomie het hierdie uitvloei beide voordele en nadele. Die grootste nadeel is natuurlik die sogenaamde ‘breindrein’. Opgeleide jongmense verlaat die land en sodoende verloor ons waardevolle vaardighede, belasting betalers en toekomstige entrepreneurs en dit kan sodoende ekonomiese groei vertraag. Daarteenoor stuur baie emigrante geld terug na hul families in Suid-Afrika. Dit help met die finansies van plaaslike huishoudings. Ander keer terug met nuwe vaardighede, internasionale kontakte en kapitaal wat weer tot ekonomiese ontwikkeling kan bydra. Jong Suid-Afrikaanse mans wat in die VSA se landbousektor jaarliks gaan werk is ‘n interessante tendens. Hier is daar weerens nie betroubare statistieke nie, hoewel die ramings wel indrukke weergee. ‘n Artikel in die Landbouweekblad dui aan dat jong Suid-Afrikaanse boere reeds só gewild is dat hulle naas Mexico, die tweede grootste groep van seisoenale landbou-arbeid in die VSA verteenwoordig – en dit neem jaarliks toe. In 2023 was daar na raming reeds meer as 9,000 Suid-Afrikaanse boere werksaam in die VSA. Ramings oor verdienste is nie betroubaar nie, maar dui tog aan dat hierdie werkers jaarliks R1,2 miljard en selfs soveel as R5 miljard uit verdienste na Suid-Afrika terugbring. Die sosio-emosionele implikasies van hierdie migrasie is dikwels minder sigbaar, maar nie minder belangrik nie. Daar onstaan fisiese afstand tussen famililede en ouers sien hulle kinders minder gereeld. In baie gevalle ook tydelike afstand tussen huwelikmaats. Grootouers mis die geleentheid om by kleinkinders se lewens betrokke te wees en gesinsbyeenkomste word skaars. Vir baie jong emigrante bring die verhuising ook gevoelens van eensaamheid, kultuurskok en identiteitsverwarring mee.  Die uitdaging vir Suid-Afrika is om ‘n ekonomiese en sosiale omgewing te skep waarin jongmense nie noodwendig hoef te kies tussen professionele sukses en hulle verbondenheid aan hulle vaderland nie. Geksryf deur Koos van die Waterberge vir Bovest

A living annuity is a post-retirement income product available to South Africans who've exited a retirement fund — typically a pension, provident, preservation, or retirement annuity fund. Instead of taking the full benefit as a cash lump sum (subject to the usual tax-free and taxable limits), a retiring member can use some or all of the remaining capital to buy a living annuity from a registered long-term insurer. A traditional life annuity pays a guaranteed income for life in exchange for handing over the capital permanently. A living annuity works differently — more like a structured drawdown account. The contract sits with the insurer, not a fund, so once the policy is in place the member is no longer part of a retirement fund at all; the relationship becomes a contractual one between annuitant and insurer. The underlying investments also belong to the insurer rather than the annuitant, even though the annuitant chooses how the money is invested, usually from a range of unit trusts or similar portfolios on offer. Income is flexible, within limits — annuitants must draw between 2.5% and 17.5% of the remaining capital each year, reviewable annually. That flexibility is useful, but it cuts both ways: there's no pooling of longevity risk the way there is with a life annuity, so drawdowns that are too high, poor investment returns, or simply living longer than expected can deplete the capital. Whatever's left on the annuitant's death goes to the nominated beneficiaries on the policy. It doesn't form part of the deceased estate, and it isn't divided under intestate succession unless no beneficiary was nominated. It's this combination — contractual rather than fund-based, insurer-owned assets, flexible but unguaranteed income — that creates particular complications when a marriage ends in divorce. Living annuities vs "pension interest" It's worth separating a living annuity from "pension interest" as defined in the Pension Funds Act 24 of 1956. Since 1 September 2024, pension interest has meant a member's individual account or minimum individual reserve, calculated under the fund's own rules as at the date of the divorce order — this replaced the older definition that used to sit in the Divorce Act 70 of 1979. Timing is the key issue. Pension interest only exists while someone remains a member of a retirement fund. Once they retire and use the benefit to buy a living annuity, fund membership ends, and what they're left holding is a contractual right to annuity income — not a fund interest. A divorce order simply can't divide or assign a living annuity to a non-member spouse the way it can an active retirement fund benefit. What the Courts Have Said The Supreme Court of Appeal has dealt with this directly, in ST v CT 2018 (5) SA 479 (SCA) and again in Montanari v Montanari [2020] ZASCA 48. Both confirm that a living annuity is fundamentally contractual: the insurer owns the underlying assets, and the annuitant's entitlement is limited to drawing income within the permitted range, with anything left over going to nominated beneficiaries on death. That means a living annuity doesn't form part of the annuitant's estate for accrual purposes the way a share portfolio or property would, and because it isn't pension interest, it can't be divided through a divorce order either. Montanari did add a useful nuance, though: while the capital itself stays out of reach, the right to future annuity income can still count as an asset for accrual purposes. So the annuity can't be split, but its existence — and the income stream it represents — can still shape the overall settlement. That income is also relevant when maintenance is being worked out, which is reason enough to factor it into broader divorce planning. Why Valuation is Tricky The legal principles are reasonably settled at this point, but putting a number on the right to future annuity income is a different problem altogether — the courts haven't prescribed a methodology for it. The value depends on drawdown choices, investment performance, life expectancy, and inflation, none of which are fixed. Different actuaries working off the same annuity can land on meaningfully different figures, which makes negotiations harder and can leave clients with mismatched expectations going into a settlement. Conclusion The annuity itself can't be split or transferred, full stop — this is probably the most common misconception clients arrive with. That doesn't make it irrelevant, though: the right to future income can feed into the accrual calculation and into maintenance discussions. Valuation itself sits outside the scope of financial advice, so where a number is genuinely needed, referral to an independent actuary or other suitably qualified expert must be done. This article is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal, financial, or actuarial advice. Ruvan J Grobler RFP™ (PGDip Financial Planning)

Die uitdrukking “Twee koppe is beter as een” is welbekend en dui daarop dat samewerking voordelig is. Is daar voordele vir lede van ’n familie wanneer hulle gesamentlik familie-finansiële beplanning doen, asook inkomstevoorsiening deur middel van familiebesighede? Familiebesighede in Suid-Afrika, waar gesamentlike finansiële beplanning plaasvind, is ’n belangrike deel van die ekonomie. Talle Afrikaanssprekendes is afkomstig van die platteland waar hulle in ’n familiebesigheidsomgewing op plase grootgeword het. Weens ’n verskeidenheid van redes verander die landbou-familiebesigheidsomgewing, en sommige van hierdie families verskuif hul familiesakebelange met groot sukses na ander sektore van die ekonomie. Entrepreneursvaardighede word egter benodig om vir jouself ’n inkomste te skep. Bovest is behulpsaam om die nodige entrepreneurskundigheid deur middel van die TV-program “Welvaartskeppers” aan die kykerspubliek bekend te stel. Bykomend hiertoe word finansiële advies aan families gegee om sodoende maksimum finansiële voordeel te verkry. Indien die voordele van familie-finansiële beplanning met dié van persoonlike finansiële beplanning vergelyk word, bestaan die volgende voordele: Laer gesamentlike fooie vir familielede kan beding word; Meer effektiewe belastingskale kan benut word deur beleggingskapitaal tussen gades te verdeel; Die oordrag van welvaart na die volgende geslag kan vergemaklik word deur familietrusts te gebruik; Gedeelde verantwoordelikheid bevorder dissipline om by langtermyn-kapitaalbouplanne te hou; Verskillende lewensiklusse en risiko-aptyte help om die familie se beleggingsportefeulje te balanseer; Die verskille in ouderdom en lewensfases ondersteun die uiteenlopende eiendomsbehoeftes van familielede. Aangesien die finansiële beplanning van families meer kompleks is, benodig dit samewerking tussen die verskillende geslagte om behoeftes en verwagtinge te verwesenlik. Die rol van die Bovest-adviseur in hierdie proses kan nie onderskat word nie.

This past weekend, Bovest Wealth Management had the privilege of being part of something truly special: a race, a journey, and a family of runners who took part in the MUT - the Mountain Ultra-Trail - in the breathtaking beauty of George. Together with my close friend Scotty, I ran the marathon. But as is so often the case with endurance events, I walked away with far more than tired legs and a medal. I walked away with lessons. Lessons about faith, finances, discipline, consistency, community, fellowship, and perspective. Ultra trail running has a unique way of stripping life back to the essentials. Out there on the mountain, there are no shortcuts. You cannot fake preparation. You cannot outsource endurance. You cannot buy resilience at the final aid station. You have to show up, step by step, climb by climb, kilometre by kilometre. In many ways, our financial lives are no different. Discipline: The Foundation of the Journey No marathon is completed by accident. It requires discipline long before race day. Early mornings, training runs, strength work, nutrition, rest, and preparation all form part of the unseen investment. Financial success works the same way. Building wealth is rarely about one dramatic decision. It is about the daily discipline of living within your means, saving consistently, avoiding unnecessary debt, planning for tax, protecting your family, and making wise investment choices over time. Proverbs 21:5 reminds us: "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty." Discipline is not always exciting, but it is deeply powerful. It is the quiet commitment to the right things, even when nobody is watching. On the mountain, discipline gets you to the next checkpoint. In your finances, discipline carries you toward long-term freedom. Community: We Were Not Created to Run Alone One of the most beautiful parts of the MUT weekend was the sense of community. Runners encouraged each other. Families supported from the sidelines. Friends waited, cheered, prayed, laughed, and pushed one another forward. With Scotty alongside me, the journey became lighter. The difficult moments became bearable. The experience became richer. The same is true in our financial lives. We need people around us who encourage wisdom, accountability, and growth. A good financial adviser, tax specialist, fiduciary expert, family member, spouse, mentor, or trusted friend can help us make better decisions and remain focused on the bigger picture. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says: "Two are better than one; because they have a good return for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow;..." No one builds a meaningful legacy alone. Wealth is not only about numbers on a statement. It is about people, purpose, stewardship, and responsibility. Perspective: Seeing the Creator Through His Creation Perhaps the greatest takeaway from the weekend was perspective. Running through the beautiful mountains of George, surrounded by the majesty of creation, one cannot help but become aware of the greatness of God. The fresh air, the views, the silence, the strength to continue, and the people alongside us all point to something far bigger than ourselves. There were moments on the route where the mighty Name of the Lord could change the entire atmosphere. A prayer, a word of gratitude, a moment of worship, or simply lifting one's eyes to the mountains reminded me that we are not alone. This perspective is essential in life and in finance. Money is important, but it is not ultimate. Planning is important, but God remains our provider. Wealth can create comfort, but only Christ gives true peace. A well-structured estate can leave an inheritance, but a life of faith leaves a legacy. When we see our finances through the lens of faith, everything changes. We become less anxious, more generous, more intentional, and more aware of the responsibility we carry. The Finish Line Matter Every race has a finish line. So does every financial journey. The question is not whether we will reach a finish line, but whether we are preparing wisely for it. Are we disciplined? Are we consistent? Are we surrounded by the right people? Are we walking in fellowship? Do we have the right perspective? Ultra trail running teaches us that endurance matters. Preparation matters. Community matters. Faith matters. The same is true when building, protecting, and transferring wealth. By Godfried Kotze BCom Accounting, MCom Taxation (UP), SAIPA, FISA Member