Back
Investment
June 12, 2019

Why chasing down a cricket total is a lot like investing for an outcome

<strong>By: Rowan Burger Head of Client strategy at Momentum Investments </strong>

South Africa’s hopes of a semi-final place at the 12th edition of the Cricket World Cup is looking dismal after their fixture against the West Indies at the Rose Bowl was washed out on Monday. Needless to say, while South Africans may have to drag themselves back to their TVs, cricket fans all over the world are investing a month and a half of their lives indulging in their favourite sport by watching their national teams set and chase targets for over eight hours each day.

<h3><strong>What do ODIs and OBI have in common?</strong></h3>

Rowan Burger Head of Client strategy at Momentum Investments believes that “chasing down a cricket total is a lot like saving for an outcome”. You need a good balance of chasing runs (returns) to offset losing wickets (risks). In the One Day International (ODI) format, you obviously have a different approach chasing down 200 runs versus 350 runs in a 50 overs match. When chasing a lower total you have the option of pacing yourself by just knocking around the ball for ones and twos and an occasional four here and there, basically, you take fewer risks. But when you chase a large target like 350 runs, you are forced to take riskier shots in order to reach it.

This is similar to investments. While all investments carry some sort of risk whether it is economic downturns, inflation or other factors, the higher the investment risk, the larger the potential return on investment.  Outcomes-Based Investing (OBI) is about maximising the chances of you achieving your investment goals, even through volatile markets and obstacles like inflation.

Saving towards a set outcome is similar to being the team that bats second (chasing).  Unlike the team that bats first (conventional investing) and who has a score in mind but who can live with not reaching or exceeding it, they already know what they have to do to get to their goal in that set timeline. They also have an idea of how to pace themselves and when they just have to go for it. Keeping in mind factors that would influence the game i.e. the weather, injuries, losing wickets

Conventional investment strategies often focus solely on returns or to outperform a group of competitors.

And just like an ODI fan will stay glued to the screen throughout the world cup, so should the OBI investor stay the course and stay invested throughout the term to achieve the desired outcome.

Insurance technology with a difference.

Say goodbye to complex legacy technology, and hello to a different kind of software solution.

Book a demo