GIB Investment Summit 2025

The Investment Summit cantered on the theme “Investing Through the Noise: What Matters Most.” In a world saturated with information, market volatility, and global uncertainty, the ability to focus on what truly matters is more important than ever.

Guided by Bruce Whitfield, our speakers and panellists offered valuable insights on harnessing positive sentiment, identifying real opportunities, and navigating today’s financial landscape with confidence. Industry experts and thought leaders came together to share forward-looking strategies and perspectives on staying agile amid shifting market dynamics.

Sanisha Packirisamy, CFA, FRM, CAIA (Momentum Chief Economist), delivered an economic outlook titled “Anchoring Growth in a Geopolitical Tempest”, offering key insights into both the global and South African economic landscapes.

Global Overview: The world economy remains under pressure from escalating geopolitical risks and renewed protectionist policies. Tensions involving nuclear powers—such as India-Pakistan, China-Taiwan, and Russia-Baltics—pose potential threats to global stability, though full-scale conflict is still considered unlikely due to economic and diplomatic constraints. In the U.S., policy uncertainty has intensified under a second Trump presidency, particularly around tariffs. Despite this, equity markets have remained resilient, while bond markets have reacted more cautiously in response to inflation and fiscal concerns. Trade policy uncertainty persists, but improved financial conditions and fiscal support have helped shift expectations back towards a “soft landing” scenario for the global economy.

South African Outlook: Locally, political uncertainty continues to hinder fixed investment, yet momentum is building through structural reforms under Operation Vulindlela. Progress in critical areas such as energy, water, transport, and digital infrastructure is laying the groundwork for improved long-term growth. Consumers are beginning to benefit from lower inflation and healthier credit dynamics. Looking ahead, aligning the South African Reserve Bank’s inflation target with those of emerging market peers could help lower borrowing costs.

The State of the Nation Economic Panel, moderated by Bruce Whitfield, featured an insightful discussion with a distinguished panel: Chiedza Madzima (Senior Director at Fitch Solutions), Raine Adams (Infrastructure Analyst at Allan Gray), and Sanisha Packirisamy (Chief Economist at Momentum). While all panellists shared a broadly optimistic long-term outlook for South Africa, there was clear consensus that the path to sustainable growth will not be without significant challenges.

The discussion explored both differing and complementary perspectives on South Africa’s economic trajectory. Progress in key infrastructure areas—such as energy, water, transport, and digital systems—was highlighted as essential to unlocking long-term potential. Encouraging signs, including easing inflation and improving consumer credit health, point to positive momentum. However, the panel also emphasized the importance of structural reforms and policy stability. Aligning the South African Reserve Bank’s inflation target with emerging market peers was suggested as a potential lever to reduce long-term borrowing costs. Overall, the panel painted a picture of cautious optimism, grounded in both current reform efforts and the opportunities presented by a more stable global economic backdrop. 

The Local Equity Manager Panel, moderated by Bruce Whitfield, featured a distinguished lineup of not only the Destiny underlying local equity managers but industry leader: Tim Acker (Portfolio Manager, Allan Gray), Sarah-Jane Alexander (Portfolio Manager, Coronation), Cor Booysen (Portfolio Manager, Fairtree), Simon Fillmore (Chief Investment Officer, Independent Securities), and Tumi Loate (Portfolio Manager, 36ONE).

Bruce opened the session by exploring the similarities and differences in the managers’ investment strategies. As the conversation evolved, each panellist’s distinct approach to portfolio construction and market positioning came to light.

While all participants expressed a broadly positive outlook on South African equities—citing attractive valuations—their views on timing and areas of opportunity varied. Fairtree highlighted their confidence in gold and platinum holdings, which delivered strong performance in 2025, while ISEC emphasized the value they see in retail and financial stocks, driven by expectations of stable economic conditions.

The discussion provided valuable insight into the strategic thinking of some of South Africa’s top equity managers, shedding light on both the opportunities and the complexities facing local equity markets.

"The Health Portfolio: The Investment Principles of Longevity and Performance" by Denis Cronson presents a compelling framework that treats health as a strategic, long-term investment rather than a reactive expense. Drawing parallels between financial portfolio management and personal well-being, Cronson outlines principles that prioritize consistent, evidence-based habits—such as nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, and preventive care—as the "assets" in one's health portfolio. He argues that just as diversification and compound interest drive financial wealth, balanced health investments and daily routines yield exponential returns in vitality, longevity, and performance. With a data-driven yet accessible approach, Cronson redefines the pursuit of health as a disciplined, proactive endeavor essential for sustaining both peak physical capacity and mental clarity over a lifetime.

Darren Berman officially introduced GIB Fiduciary, marking the launch of a revolutionary service built on three principles: Simple. Fair. Transparent. Positioned as the missing piece in GIB’s client offering, GIB Fiduciary empowers individuals to plan with confidence. It will operate under GIB Financial Services, alongside Health & Wellness, Private Clients, and Retirement Fund Services, reinforcing GIB’s evolution into a full-service financial partner—not just an insurer or broker. The launch adds significant value for existing clients and opens new cross-divisional opportunities with GIB Insurance Brokers.

At the heart of the offering is a smart, secure, and user-friendly digital will be drafting platform. Clients benefit from an AI-powered agent that provides plain-language guidance, reminders, and support throughout the process. The system includes a digital vault for secure storage, automated legal checks, and seamless retrieval, ensuring wills are never lost and always verifiable. Importantly, it links clients directly to GIB Fiduciary as executor, ensuring continuity. Going beyond documentation, GIB Fiduciary bridges planning and protection through tools like the Cost of Death Calculator, which projects fees, taxes, debts, and liquidity needs—converting estate planning into clear, actionable steps tied to protection products that preserve wealth and prevent financial hardship.