How to find the upside to a downtime

<strong>By: GCI Wealth</strong>

<h2>GCI Wealth Tour shows how to build wealth successfully in tough times</h2>

This year, GCI’s annual Wealth Tour tackles the thorny question of how to invest sensibly at a time when the South African economy looks like it’s in trouble and the global economic and geopolitical situation is not much better.

“South Africans have been here before, but that doesn’t make things any easier. How we see the present influences our strategies for the future,” observes Alex Cook, CEO of GCI Wealth. “Our powerful line-up of speakers will help you to make sense of a present that is complex and volatile, to say the least, and to see that tough times can present an opportunity for future prosperity.”

The keynote speaker on the Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Hillcrest and Umhlanga legs of the tour will be Michael Avery, presenter of Classic Business and editor of <em>Catalyst</em>, the leading private equity magazine. Entitled, “The end of the rainbow”, his presentation will synthesise optimism and pessimism to develop a realist’s view of our situation – and the potential that is often hidden by bad news.

“Would you also believe that weak GDP growth and a weak currency predict superior stock market returns? That’s Credit Suisse Global historical research, not my opinion. Dow Theory – as developed by Charles Dow – tells us to fill our boots while others are using theirs to flee. It’s important to keep this thought in the back of your mind as we embark on some speculation about what happens over the next five years in the beloved country,” Avery says.

The Bloemfontein keynote will be delivered by Igno van Niekerk, a leadership trainer for Liberty Life and a part-time lecturer at the University of Free State’s Business School. His talk, “Change your lens, change your life”, will address the challenge of how to navigate unpredictable and uncertain times that cause significant emotional and financial stress.

Natasja Hart, Head of Wealth at GCI and a former Financial Planner of the Year, will also present. Hart will offer practical insights into how to navigate successfully through these troubled waters.

“The first thing to bear in mind is that we must acknowledge the good news there is – for example, the cranes looming above the Sandton skyline show that there is investment into the country,” she says. “While there is much that is out of our control, we must take steps to control what we can. This is definitely the time to have a budget, and to have a plan for dealing with expensive, short-term debt.”

Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear Windall Bekker, the newly appointed head of distribution and business development at Cinnabar Asset Management. He will speak on “The upside of irrational behaviour and investment”.

The GCI Wealth Tour will take in Deneysville, Bloemfontein, Hilton, Hillcrest, Umhlanga, Port Elizabeth, Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria. For more information and to book, contact <a href="mailto:info@gci.co.za">\info@gci.co.za</a>.

<strong>Tour dates:</strong>

23 July – Deneysville at Brentwood Lodge – 10h00

23 July – Bloemfontein at Protea Hotel at Marriot – 17h30

25 July – Hilton at Protea Hotel at Marriot – 10h00

25 July – Hillcrest at The Venue at Cotswold – 15h30

26 July – Umhlanga at Protea Hotel – 15h00

30 July – Port Elizabeth at Discovery Ascot Park – 14h30 and 17h30

31 July – Knysna at Knysna Hollow Country Estate – 11h00

31 July – Oudtshoorn at Buffelsdrift Game Lodge – 16h00

1 August – Cape Town at J&J Conference Centre – 18h30

6 August – Johannesburg at Randpark Golf Club – 15h30

7 August – Pretoria at the Pretoria Country Club – 17h30