Global investing is evolving as geopolitical and economic shifts reshape markets. Curate Investments highlights the importance of blending data-driven discipline with human insight, using diversified global strategies and specialist managers to build resilient portfolios and unlock long-term opportunities beyond local markets.
Allianz Trade has appointed Luke Morawitz as Country Manager for South Africa, effective 1 February 2026, while he retains his role as Head of Credit. A 14-year veteran of the business, Morawitz succeeds into the leadership role reporting to Luca Burrafato, Head of MMEA.
The Allianz Risk Barometer 2026 highlights cyber incidents as the top global risk for a fifth year, with AI surging to second place amid rapid adoption, while geopolitical tensions, regulation, and business interruption continue reshaping the global risk landscape.
As festive foot traffic surges, slip-and-fall risks rise, highlighting recent case law on liability in malls. A key judgment confirms that cleaning contractors aren’t liable for hazards they aren’t contracted to monitor, placing primary responsibility on mall owners and managing agents.
AI’s explosive growth is reshaping the physical world, sparking a massive global data center construction wave. Discover the forces driving this expansion, the risks and rising costs involved, and whether the boom can be sustained in the years ahead.
Mark MacSymon, Wealth Manager at Private Client Holdings (PCH), explores why diversifying financial advice is not the same as diversifying your investment portfolio
Customer complaints, while often overlooked, are a powerful tool for improving financial services. When handled effectively, they enhance trust, reveal valuable insights, and strengthen customer relationships, enabling institutions to refine processes, improve products, and deliver better client experiences.
Amid rising economic uncertainty and cost pressures, households are urged to seek professional financial advice rather than act alone. Strategic use of tax relief, prioritising debt reduction and savings, and regular financial reviews can help improve resilience and long-term financial stability.
Financial resilience is key to personal freedom, enabling individuals to navigate uncertainty and make empowered life choices. By building emergency savings, protecting income, setting boundaries, and planning intentionally, people can strengthen financial security and safeguard their independence over time.
Global investing is evolving as geopolitical and economic shifts reshape markets. Curate Investments highlights the importance of blending data-driven discipline with human insight, using diversified global strategies and specialist managers to build resilient portfolios and unlock long-term opportunities beyond local markets.
The World Gold Council has unveiled a “Gold as a Service” initiative to advance digital gold adoption. By creating shared, standardised infrastructure, it aims to improve accessibility, interoperability, trust, and scalability, enabling gold to integrate more effectively into modern financial systems.
Escalating Middle East tensions are driving market volatility, with oil prices and inflation risks central to the outlook. While global and South African markets have reacted with caution, diversified portfolios and a long-term investment approach remain key to navigating uncertainty and capturing future opportunities.
South Africa’s increased offshore allowance simplifies moving capital abroad, but structuring remains critical. Offshore trusts offer estate planning, asset protection, and legacy benefits, though they require careful compliance and long-term strategy. Professional advice is essential to align global investments with financial goals.
While Easter road safety has improved, risks remain during busy travel periods. Santam urges homeowners to secure their properties by testing alarms, arranging check-ins, and reviewing insurance, ensuring peace of mind and protection against common threats like housebreaking over long weekends.
Old Mutual Insure has appointed Tandiwe Cimela as Executive: Elite, effective April 2026. With extensive industry experience, she succeeds retiring co-founder Tarina Vlok, whose leadership helped establish Elite as a trusted high-net-worth insurance offering.
If your insurance could speak, it would ask whether your cover still matches your life. From updated assets and addresses to accurate risk details, regular reviews are essential to avoid underinsurance and ensure your policy truly protects you when it matters most.
iTOO Special Risks and Munich Re launch aiSure, Africa’s AI performance insurance, covering losses from non-malicious AI errors. The solution enables businesses and developers to adopt autonomous AI confidently by mitigating risk, guaranteeing model performance, and supporting innovation across industries.
Tavaziva Madzinga, CEO of Santam Group, highlighted the insurer’s strong 2025 performance, driven by disciplined underwriting, double-digit premium growth and progress on the FutureFit 2030 strategy. Santam strengthened its market leadership while expanding internationally and investing in capabilities and partnerships.
Ahead of the Cape Town Cycle Tour, now part of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series, Marius Kemp of Santam urges cyclists to insure high-value bikes and gear, highlighting risks linked to transit, theft and accidental damage.
S&P Global Ratings upgraded Africa Re’s long-term issuer and financial strength ratings to Full “A” with Stable Outlook, recognising its strong performance, robust underwriting, risk management, and pan-African footprint, marking a historic milestone for the African-led reinsurance company.
Jordaan Burger, Managing Director for Sage Africa and Middle East, says the rollout of Sage AI will help businesses reduce administrative burdens, strengthen compliance and improve productivity. The human-first AI tools aim to support SMB growth by automating accounting, payroll and finance tasks while maintaining trust, security and user control.
John Mc Loughlin, CEO of J2, warns that shadow AI is becoming a major cyber risk, explaining how unseen AI tools, bots and non-human identities expose organisations to faster, more dangerous attacks.
Sean Neethling examines whether surging AI investment signals a market bubble, concluding conditions are not extreme. Using valuation, sentiment and capital-supply signals, he urges investors to prioritise diversification and caution, avoiding overvalued AI and crypto segments while targeting resilient global opportunities.
Personalisation is evolving but remains underutilised. Andrew Solomon, Client Strategy Director at Achievement Awards Group, explores its challenges—data complexity, AI integration, and resource constraints. Despite these hurdles, businesses can start small, refine strategies, and gradually enhance customer engagement through tailored experiences.
Complaints are an inevitable aspect of running a business. Handling these customer grievances effectively is crucial, not only for maintaining a good relationship with the complaining customer but also for safeguarding your business’s reputation - especially in an era where social media can amplify an individual’s voice
Janeesha Ragubeer, Area Manager at Business Partners Limited, foresees a promising season ahead for South African small businesses, offering her insights on three actionable strategies to help them flourish this spring.
