Contributing factors for growing number in HNW individuals

More impressively, the report points to Africa having the fastest growing high net worth (HNW) individual market in the entire world; the number of African individuals classified as HNW has increased by 145% over the past 14 years, compared to worldwide HNW growth of 73% over the same period.

Against this backdrop, South Africa has the highest number of wealthy individuals on the continent and, despite a steadily weakening local currency, it is not excluded from these stellar individual wealth growth figures, with the number of dollar millionaires in this country rising by 9% since 2007.

Given that this growth is not showing any signs of slowing down - with 2017 growth forecasts at 19%, or around 55,500 dollar millionaires in SA - the obvious question is what is fuelling the wealth of so many South African individuals and, possibly more importantly, can this 'formula' be replicated to raise the living standards of all members of SA society?

Investment gateway

Luke Martins

According to Luke Martins, a financial planner at Old Mutual Private Wealth Management, the continued growth in numbers of high net worth individuals in South Africa can be attributed to a combination of factors, including the country's continued position as a business and investment gateway into Africa, its appeal as a global investment destination, and its robust physical and financial infrastructure.

"While these factors alone obviously don't automatically translate into wealthy individuals," Martins explains, "they do mean that South Africans with the will, and means, to grow their personal wealth have enjoyed, and will continue to enjoy, significant opportunities to do so."

Lesego Monareng, also of Old Mutual Private Wealth Management, agrees with Martins, but believes that the success of South Africa's BEE policies over the past 20 years has also added fuel to the wealth growth fire in this country.

"In South Africa, the political will to drive economic empowerment of previously disadvantaged persons has been a major contributor to wealth creation for many," Monareng points out. "It has both built the middle market as a feeder into individual wealth achievement and allowed many individuals to position themselves to take advantage of the resulting opportunities."

Calculated risks

However, Monareng and Martins agree that there is much more to the continued increase in the number of HNW South Africans. They point to education opportunities, entrepreneurial spirit, and a willingness to take calculated risks as some of the key characteristics shared by the country's independently wealthy.

So, can this combination of factors be replicated by a broader cross-section of South African society to enable more South Africans to achieve significant personal wealth or, at least, a greater measure of financial security and independence? Martins and Monareng believe so, and explain that aspirant HNW South Africans have the added advantage of being able to learn from the experience of those who have already succeeded.

"While every individual's path to personal wealth will differ according to their circumstances, opportunities and objectives," Martins says, "there are enough similarities in the success stories of the country's currently wealthy to justify considering these as being something of a blueprint for wealth accumulation."

Clear vision

He points to the main success similarities being a clear vision of what success comprises, a thorough, goal-oriented plan to serve as a map to that success destination, a diversity of income streams, and a dogged determination to avoid short-term, high-interest debt.

Monareng concurs, but also adds the need for a strong network of financial and business experts to the mix. "Nobody is an expert in every aspect of business and finance, and more often than not, it's the person who admits this early on, and outsources key functions to professional consultants, who achieves financial success the soonest."

But irrespective of how individuals set about growing their personal wealth, both Monareng and Martins emphasise that protecting that wealth is equally important.
Based on their extensive experience advising HNW South Africans, they agree that the main considerations in this regard are to stick to your investment plan, avoid being swayed by emotions and, most importantly, keep on diversifying.