Considering offshore investment amid rand and JSE performance

The rand has improved against the US dollar over the past year.

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Is this a good time to move money offshore?This is a really relevant question. The rand is trading at about R16.50 to the dollar, down from R18.50 a year ago. However, against this must be weighed the performance of the JSE, which delivered 37% last year.

So, does it make sense to move your funds offshore at this attractive exchange rate or should you rather invest it in the local market?

There is no simple answer. A lot depends on your personal circumstances and your broader investment plan. I will take you through some of the issues that I would consider when making this decision.

Your offshore investment needs to be part of a broader investment plan. A proper plan must achieve two things: provide long-term growth as well as protection against risks you cannot control. These risks would include currency, political and regulatory risks.

A question I often ask my clients is if you lived in the UK, would you invest 100% of your assets in South Africa?