By Maria Smit, CFP®*
It is one thing to say take your savings offshore, but what if you have been invested in South African assets for years or even decades? Is it still worth looking offshore in hopes of greater returns? Or does the grass merely look greener?
So … where do you start?
The first thing the average South African investor needs to realize is that investing offshore comes with its own set of unique risks. This is exacerbated by the returns (or lack thereof) available from foreign income investments. The low dollar return on foreign cash and bonds is often negated by platform and advisory fees, giving you a small chance of a positive dollar returns. In this instance your capital would likely be better deployed in South African money market or Fixed Income funds.
What are the alternatives?
It leaves the average South African investor with foreign shares and real estate. Even if we assume that these assets currently offer good value for money, a portfolio consisting of only foreign equities and property can be far too complicated for investors to construct, let alone manage. It is daunting. Take online shopping as an example. You have to buy products without physically seeing or touching it so there is trust needed that the product will be adequate in quality. Now imagine choosing 10 to 25 companies for your portfolio out of thousands of potential investments, most of which you’ve never heard of.
Information overload!
Yes, there is a plethora of wonderful tools and information sources at your fingertips and information has never been so accessible. Entering the market has also never been simpler with powerful investment vehicles such as share portfolios, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and unit trust funds.
However, this mountain of information can likely harm rather than help as investors heap precious time into unnecessarily detailed money matters when they could be spending it on other priorities like their families and other personal goals.
Although many helpful online platforms exist for direct investments in shares, local and international, it presents a challenge as there are often too many shares and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) to choose from. A Share Portfolio is certainly a powerful and cost effective tool, but it must be utilized properly and should always fit the investor’s overall financial plan.
We are here to help…
The ideal way to approach having your own share portfolio is to consult a qualified, experienced advisor in conjunction with an integrated share-trading service. That way the myriad of choices can be navigated to suit the investor’s personal goals.
Quality wealth managers partners with share portfolio specialists to offer investors a combined service that can be tailored to the investor’s financial goals and in accordance with their financial strategy. The key is crafting a close working relationship between the advisor and their Discretionary Fund Manager (or DFM). Investors then receive a holistic, professional, and customised service for their unique needs. This way plan meets execution, especially for offshore investing. An integrated solution provides the investor with real-time information flow, and it is devised to fit the investor’s overall strategy.
Investing in shares or ETFs directly on a stock exchange could also result in significantly lower fees for the investor. The investment is registered in the investor’s name and there is complete control and transparency.
What’s holding you back?
The process of investing offshore is easier (and cheaper) than expected and assistance is provided in every step of the process. Investors are often hesitant to open a new share portfolio or make changes to their current portfolios, mostly afraid of the unknown and not willing to ask the necessary questions, or they are simply not prepared to face the potential tax implications involved with implementing future changes. This is exactly where an experienced financial advisor can step in, creating a detailed plan of action.
OK, I’m ready for offshore investing, can I use my existing local share portfolio?
Using the proceeds of an existing investment is possible. Once the investor has decided to sell their Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed shares and allocate the proceeds towards international shares, aiming to achieve better returns or as part of a diversification strategy, capital gains may be realised.
A capital gains event is triggered only when the investor sells shares currently held (realised gains). If the price of the units has risen since the investment was made, this increase in value is known as a capital gain (or a capital loss if the value has declined). The resulting tax liability may not be as bad as initially feared. Currently, only 40% of this capital gain (not the total gain) is included in the investor’s annual income. This makes the maximum Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rate for individuals with a 45% marginal tax rate, 18% effective rate (40% x 45%). Individual taxpayers also enjoy an annual capital gain exclusion of R40 000 every year, so CGT is only applicable to realised gains exceeding this amount.
This may be a difficult decision to make. But if the goal is long-term investing, then this is a small price to pay for well-structured goals.
Let’s look at an example
The following fictional portfolio is based on the macro-observations of the market and conditions in which we currently find ourselves.
If you invested into the following indices, 10 years ago, the investment would have looked like this:
- Johannesburg Stock Exchange All Share Index
- S&P 500 Index
- MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI)
Let’s now assume that a local investment of R1 million will be liquidated to invest in an offshore share portfolio. In this example the portfolio has R500,000 accumulated gains. Using the R40,000 annual capital gains allowance result in R460,000 taxable gains at a maximum rate of 18%. The calculated Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is therefore R82,800.
Using the annualised returns shown in the chart above, let’s see what the long-term impact will be for the following choices:
Option 1: The investor does not want to pay the CGT and keeps the investment unchanged in local shares.
Option 2: The investor pays the CGT and invests the proceeds offshore.
| Information | Option 1 | Option 2 |
| Share Portfolio | Local | Offshore |
| Benchmark | CPI+ 5% | CPI + 5% |
| Investment value | R 1,000,000 | R 1,000,000 |
| Capital Gains Tax | R – | R 82,800 |
| Net value | R 1,000,000 * | R 917,200 |
| Motivation | JSE All Share Index | MSCI ACWI |
| (1) Returns | ||
| Performance | 11.60% | 19.66% |
| (2) Fees | ||
| Total annual costs | 2.50% | 2.50% |
| No of years before breakeven | 1.5 |
* Note: Option 1 still carries a CGT liability while Option 2 already paid the tax and starts off a higher CGT Cost price for future purposes.
Regardless of the investor’s risk profile and time frame, it is advisable to diversify the total portfolio to include exposure to asset classes not available in South Africa.
This is important for these reasons:
1. Diversification
The South African market represents less than 1% of global investment opportunities, which means investors who restrict themselves and only invest in domestic assets misses out on more than 99% of available investment opportunities presented by listed assets all around the globe. The investor would also gain access to industries that are not present in South Africa (e.g.: information technology, biotechnology, electronics, and pharmaceuticals, to name a few) that have been identified as key investment themes.
In addition to a much wider opportunity set, a widely used and preferred global equity benchmark, the MSCI All Country World Index [ACWI], currently comprises of approximately 2 500 investable companies compared to roughly 120 that drive the returns of the local market. By diversifying an investment portfolio to include offshore assets, the investor gains access to growth regions that benefit from mega-drivers such as industrialisation, urbanisation, digital advances, and growing infrastructure and consumerism.
2. Optimisation
An offshore allocation provides the attractive feature of reducing the level of risk required to achieve a specific rate of expected return. Studies on optimal portfolios recommend a minimum offshore allocation of 20% to 30% through the cycle for long-term investors requiring a return of inflation plus 4% to 5% in Rand terms. This is the classic recommendation for retirement savers aiming to optimise outcomes for their future pension with which they would need to buy a basket of local goods and services. Investors with more diverse spending requirements, including a larger share of foreign currency denominated spending, or bequest motives (where multiple generations may live on different continents), can typically justify a larger offshore allocation.
Whatever the decision regarding a strategic asset allocation “range” or weighting is, it is recommended that investors have an offshore allocation at the higher end of their appropriate strategic weighting, given the elevated level of economic and political risks facing South Africa at present.
It starts by taking the first step, towards a new angle to approach an investment strategy. This involves detailed analysis and discussions with an adviser and implementing the carefully crafted plan in a professional and cost-efficient manner.
Brenthurst has partnered with DFM Global to enhance its share portfolio product service provided to investors. Additional information provided by JC Louw, CEO of DFM Global.
Megan joined the Brenthurst Wealth team in March 2026 as an Administrative and Fiduciary Services Assistant at our Val de Vie Office in the Western Cape. Prior to joining Brenthurst, Megan gained three years of experience in the retail sector, where she developed management and client service skills.
I obtained my National Diploma in Financial Information Systems from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 1999 and have worked in the wealth management industry since January 2000. Over the years, I have gained extensive experience in various roles, including Portfolio Manager Assistant, Planner Assistant, and Paraplanner.
Esmarelda Isaacs-Andreas joined the Brenthurst Wealth Stellenbosch office in October 2025, taking on the dual role of Receptionist and Fiduciary Administrator.
I obtained my National Diploma in Financial Information Systems from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 1999 and have worked in the wealth management industry since January 2000. Over the years, I have gained extensive experience in various roles, including Portfolio Manager Assistant, Planner Assistant, and Paraplanner.
Ashley joined Brenthurst Wealth in January 2025 as Office Administrative Assistant and Receptionist for the Stellenbosch Office.
René Heystek joined Brenthurst Wealth in November 2023, as receptionist and administrative assistant in the newly established George/Garden Route office.
Michelle Heystek has built a career in the financial services over the last two decades, after obtaining her B.Com degree in Financial Management in 2005. Once she joined Brenthurst in 2006, she continued her academic journey, obtaining her Certificate in Wealth Management from INSETA in 2007, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning from the University of the Free State. In 2008, she earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation.
Anelle joined Brenthurst Wealth as a Receptionist and Administrative Assistant to Brian Butchart in the Cape Town office in December 2023. She has a wealth of knowledge from working as a liaison between Financial Advisers and clients at TMA and Absa Investment Management Services (Aims) since 1998. She obtained her B. com degree from the University of Port Elizabeth in 1997.
ADMITTED ATTORNEY | FINANCIAL PLANNER & HEAD OF BRENTHURST FOURWAYS
Sanet was appointed in April 2020, joining our Cape Town team as an Executive Administration Assistant to Renee Eagar. She has been in the financial services industry since 1990. Her previous experience includes positions at Sanlam, BJM and ABSA. She spent her last 12 years working at Alexander Forbes Private Client Wealth as a Senior Wealth Management Assistant. She has received numerous accolades over the years which include but not limited to, Alexander Forbes Client Service Excellence – Silver award in 2014,2015 and 2017. Sanet has also obtained her Certificate in Wealth Management (NQF 5) in 2012 and achieved “Best Student of the Year” from Moonstone.
Maria Smit is a Certified Financial Planner® with over 10 years of experience in the financial planning industry.
