Pain vs Pleasure

Francois Le Clus • August 1, 2025

The date was 26 October 2007 and the S&P 500 index was gaining some momentum after a couple of years of sluggish growth. The index was at $1535. The housing crisis hit, and the index fell off a cliff. On the 31st of January 2020, the world started panicking because the corona virus started spreading like wildfire. On the 10th Dec 2021 markets started getting shaky with the rumours of a Russian-Ukraine invasion.

 

All these events had a big impact on the S&P 500 index, some more than others. Markets took close to 6 years to recover from the housing crisis. It took close to two and a half years to recover from the Covid crisis and a year and a half to recover from the impact of the Russian-Ukraine invasion.

 

What was the pleasure from holding on to your investment?

 

  • If you invested 2007, your return is 315%.
  • If you invested in 2020, your return is 97%
  • If you invested in 2021, your return today is 35%.

 

These investments assume that you were unlucky enough to have invested at the top of the index and right before the decline.

 

Always remember this. One cannot time the market, but given time, your investment will generate returns. It is up to you how much you can stomach.

 

Don’t wait for markets to recover before you invest, as the opportunities present themselves during times of unrest and uncertainty.

Why a financial plan is more than an investment portfolio

By Bovest • October 7, 2026
When most people start thinking about their financial future, they go straight to the products. Which index fund is performing best right now? Should I put money into a tax-free savings account or property? What about offshore tech stocks? Those questions feel natural. But they won’t necessarily get you where you want to go. This article explains why the financial products you choose matter far less than the plan they serve. Learn how to craft a clear, holistic financial plan — not just a well-diversified portfolio — and discover what really determines whether you build lasting wealth. The importance of a holistic financial plan Selecting quality investments matters. That said: choosing products without a broader blueprint is like buying building materials before you have drafted the architectural blueprint. Because in the end, it is not simply a matter of creating wealth for the short run, it is about creating wealth for life. At Bovest, our foundation rests on a simple principle: an investment portfolio is merely the engine, but a holistic financial plan is the GPS that directs you on your route. What are the 5 components of a financial plan A holistic financial plan does not start with market performance or product features. It begins with context. A comprehensive plan connects five distinct areas of your life into one cohesive strategy:

GESPREK OOR WELVAARTSKEPPING IN SUID AFRIKA

By Agulhas Besprekingsforum: Dr. Riaan Botha • October 1, 2026
Die gesprek het plaasgevind in Struisbaai se rolbal klubhuis en is bygewoon deur 35 persone. Die aanbieding wat ek gedoen het, het die persoonlike uitdagings van ’n welvaartskepper beskryf. Punte wat uitgelig is: Wat is jou passie? Kies ’n strategie om jou passie uit te leef. Kennis is die sleutel tot suksesvolle welvaartskepping. Leer goeie geld gewoontes aan. Positiewe uitkyk op die lewe - Beheer wat binne jou vermoë is. Bou ’n netwerk van goeie mense wat jy vertrou. Bou jou persoonlike handelsnaam. Welvaartskepping is ’n lang reis. Geen kitsrykdom nie. Bovest sal jou help met finansiële advies: Om persoonlike finansiële doelwitte te stel. Om ‘n monitor program op te stel vir beplande finansiële doelwitte. Daar het ’n goeie gesprek na die aanbieding gevolg. Die huidige werkloosheid situasie in SA is bespreek en dat veral jong mense hul eie besighede moet begin om persoonlike welvaart te skep. Aangesien die ’n ouer gehoor was in welvaart bewaring ook bespreek. Die voorsitter, Danie Schutte, het ten slotte sy dank uitgespreek dat daar ’n positiewe situasie vir welvaartskepping in SA uitgebeeld is. Dit is veral vir jong mense bemoedigend om nie oorsee te gaan werk soek nie maar hier plaaslik ’n inkomste te skep.