Duncan Lamont, Head of Strategic Research at Schroders, says while global equity markets remain supported by strong earnings growth, increasing concentration in AI-linked technology stocks, particularly in emerging markets, is making diversification and selective value investing increasingly important for managing portfolio risk.
Luke Morawitz, Country Manager of Allianz Trade South Africa, says rising geopolitical tensions and higher global cost pressures are increasing insolvency risks for businesses, making cash-flow resilience and stronger credit risk management more important than ever.
Mpumi Tyikwe, CEO of Sasria, says the insurer’s strong financial recovery and capital growth position it to expand its mandate, strengthen resilience, and better address emerging risks such as climate-related events and socio-economic shocks.
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.
Desiree Raghubir, Associate Director and Certified Financial Planner® at BDO Wealth, says South African families should regularly review trust structures as beneficiaries emigrate, since changing tax residency rules can create unintended tax, compliance and legacy-planning consequences.
Thomas Berry, Head of Sales at PSG Wealth, says financial resilience is driven less by income and more by mindset, habits and emotional awareness, with confidence around money built gradually through consistent financial decisions and a sense of control.
Denise Gabriels, Lead Ombud of the Life Insurance Division of the NFO, says a Severe Illness Benefit claim is triggered by the actual onset of the illness, not the later medical confirmation, reinforcing that insurers cannot rely solely on technical policy timing to reject valid claims.
Joao Frasco, Chief Investment Officer at INN8 Invest, says increasing market volatility and shifting investment dynamics are forcing advisers to adopt more disciplined, outcome-focused portfolio strategies, while deeper collaboration with discretionary fund managers is becoming essential to delivering consistent client outcomes.
Duncan Lamont, Head of Strategic Research at Schroders, says while global equity markets remain supported by strong earnings growth, increasing concentration in AI-linked technology stocks, particularly in emerging markets, is making diversification and selective value investing increasingly important for managing portfolio risk.
Daniel Malan, Founder and CIO of Perspective Investment Management, says long-term shareholder returns ultimately reflect the underlying quality and economics of a business, with companies in the same sector often delivering vastly different outcomes depending on their ability to grow profits and generate sustainable returns on capital.
An analysis of the evolving US-China relationship explores trade imbalances, currency tensions, technological rivalry, Chinese economic weaknesses, equity market valuations and geopolitical risks, arguing that while strategic competition between the superpowers is inevitable, maintaining cooperation remains essential to avoiding conflict.
Khurshid Fazel, Partner at Webber Wentzel, says outcomes-based water bonds could become a critical tool for financing Africa’s water infrastructure by linking investor returns to verified environmental outcomes and unlocking private capital for sustainable water security projects.
CN&CO has launched The Insurance Conference 2026, a new CPD-accredited two-day insurance industry event taking place on 20–21 August 2026 at Plaisir Wine Estate in the Cape Winelands, aimed at fostering meaningful industry conversations, networking and collaboration through conference sessions, gala events and experiential activities.
Kobus Groenewald, Consultant at GIB Insurance Brokers, warns that as rising fuel costs drive more South African businesses to store fuel on-site, they must ensure proper disclosure, compliance and risk management practices are in place to avoid safety failures and potential insurance complications.
Rishai Neerachand, Executive Head of Business Insurance at Miway, says South Africa’s growing entrepreneurial sector must prioritise risk management early, as tailored insurance and support services are essential for protecting small businesses against operational, legal and emerging digital risks.
Kenny Thorpe, Chairman of Price Forbes South Africa, says the launch of the new construction practice, strengthened by specialist appointments and a partnership with the London team, positions the business to better serve construction clients across Africa and global markets.
Wynand van Vuuren, Client Experience Partner at King Price Insurance, says credit shortfall cover protects motorists from having to repay the difference between an insurer’s payout and the outstanding finance owed on a written-off or stolen vehicle.
Andries Wiese, Head of Agriculture at Hollard, says rapid technological advancement and the expansion of agribusinesses beyond farming are reshaping agricultural risk, requiring insurers and brokers to adopt more holistic, tailored risk management and insurance solutions.
The African Insurance Awards (AIA) 2026 will take place on 7 June 2026 in Cairo, celebrating excellence and innovation across the industry. Nominations are open until 13 April 2026 across categories including CEO, Insurance Company, Innovation, and InsurTech of the Year.
Alex Thomson, co-founder of Naked Insurance, says Naked’s launch of a native ChatGPT app capable of generating binding car insurance quotes signals a future where AI assistants will increasingly help consumers compare, manage and personalise financial services on their behalf.
Andrew Russell, Group CEO & Managing Director of Iress, says the partnership with Thoughtworks will accelerate platform modernisation and AI integration, helping wealth management clients improve efficiency, innovation and data-driven advice capabilities in increasingly complex markets.
Webber Wentzel partners, say South Africa’s Draft National AI Policy marks a major shift toward formal AI regulation, urging organisations to strengthen governance, engage in public consultation, and prepare for a multi-regulatory, sector-specific compliance environment.
Lumetrade by Lumepay introduces institutional-grade digital asset infrastructure in Africa, enabling faster, transparent, and compliant cross-border transactions, addressing costly inefficiencies in traditional banking systems and positioning digital assets as a viable rail for value transfer across the continent.
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.
