Catch-up on August's best-read insights

Welcome to Citywire South Africa's new LinkedIn newsletter, sharing the previous month's top content!

August saw fund managers and financial advisers navigating strategic repositioning and evolving industry structures, with the overall message that now is not the time for inaction. The month also saw several strategic leadership moves, from Ninety One to Laurium, as well as regulatory developments, including the Constitutional Court’s key ruling on death benefits.

These were our top-read articles for the month. Click on the links to read more:

1. PSG Asset Management warns SA investors to reposition portfolios

Deep structural changes are underway, says PSG Asset Management CIO John Gilchrist as he leans into local fixed income and overlooked #equities.

2. Ninety One appoints new client director and head of corporate business

Debra Slabber, CFA will join Ninety One from Morningstar , while Quaniet Richards will transfer from Nedgroup Investments .

3. What made Sanlam Investments change benchmarks for two of its flagship funds?

Manager of Sanlam Investments ' Core Income and Tactical Income funds, James Turp , says the need for simplicity has prevailed, though he now faces a new South African Reserve Bank #inflation target.

4. Stanlib’s Oberholzer calls current market ‘one of the most misunderstood moments’

STANLIB Asset Management's multi-asset head Marius Oberholzer sees structural shifts and selective sector upside, urging #investors to stay invested but nimble.

5. Granate hires three new staff, including veteran fixed income PM

With the hire of Melanie Stockigt , Nsovo Muzambi and Georgia H. , Granate Asset Management has brought its total number of staff to 21.

6. New IFA sets out to attract ‘career-focused’ advisers

The three founders of Synergy Financial Planning - Kyle Bosman, Certified Financial Planner® , Dino Spolidoro and Sean Holmes - aim to attract ‘the right advisers’ through cost transparency and professionalism.

7. These are the 14 SA-registered managers with a Citywire top rating

#Citywire Platinum Group Rating asset managers are in the top 2% of their category.

8. Editor’s note: Could it be the end of big asset managers’ dominance?

As discretionary fund managers gain ground, the old retail playbook of brand-name funds could be on the brink of collapse, and #financialadvisers may be the ones pulling the trigger.

9. Laurium promotes fixed income analyst to PM of R2bn fund

Shwebi Gqosha has taken over the running of Laurium Capital 's Laurium BCI Strategic Income fund following the departure of Melanie Stockigt .

10. ConCourt rewrites death benefit rules

The Constitutional Court has overturned a decade-old precedent on death benefit distributions, fixing the point of dependency at the date of death and reinforcing #trustees’ investigative duties.