way expedition will aim to settle humans on Mars by 2030. ... 2. Impossible goals may just be achievable â if you work
SPECIAL REPORT Lessons from an (aspiring) astronaut Marilize Lansdell CEO PSG Wealth
We hosted our annual Virtuosi investment conference in early September this year. This elite session is a dedicated learning opportunity for our top supporters of the PSG Wealth investment and trading platform. The theme of this year’s conference was Winning Strategies in an Uncertain World and one of our guest speakers really got me thinking about the benefits of seeing the bigger picture.
Lessons can be learnt in unexpected places Our guest speaker was Dr Adriana Marais, Head of Innovation for SAP Africa. She is also hoping to be one of the first humans to settle on Mars as part of the Mars One project. This oneway expedition will aim to settle humans on Mars by 2030. Now, this may seem like an odd choice of guest speaker for an investment company, but her inspiring talk certainly helped us see the bigger picture when it comes to getting a better understanding of uncertainty. Here are a few of the things I learnt from her talk. 1.
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Risk is not always what you think it is We tend to view an undertaking like the Mars One project as extremely risky – but the reality is that many settlers in the 1600s left their homelands for foreign countries like South Africa, knowing much less than what we know about Mars today. Information is power. There have been a number of rovers, probes and scientific studies that have sought to learn about conditions on Mars and we are well equipped to assess and quantify the risks of trying to settle on Mars. When it comes to investments, understanding, quantifying and managing risk is not negotiable and is a necessary first step in the process of achieving long-term success. Avoiding an investment like equities because this asset class is volatile in the short term, can be a very poor decision from a long-term perspective. Impossible goals may just be achievable – if you work at it The Mars One project faces real hurdles, of which having the right technology in place is just one. Funding is another hurdle, with the cost of putting the first four people on the planet estimated as US$6bn. This has not proven to be a deterrent to those involved with the mission though – rather, it has inspired them to consider some novel fundraising strategies. Financial goals may sometimes seem unattainable. The reality is that achieving any plan, no matter how grandiose or unlikely it may seem, starts with quantifying how much you’ll need and by when. Often, seemingly impossible targets just mean we have to try harder and work harder at it. In the long term, the power of markets and compounding work in your favour and can help you achieve your goals – provided you have the patience to remain invested.
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Seeing the bigger picture always pays off Dr Marais’ talk inspired me to reconsider my own preconceived notions about what is possible and what is not. When viewed in the context of the entirety of the universe, Mars really is quite close in astronomical terms. It probably makes for a sensible starting point in our journey of space exploration – no matter how infeasible it may seem now. When it comes to investing, it is our job as investment professionals to step back, rise above the noise, and advise clients on the best possible longterm investment course. This is especially true at times like these, when the world seems to be an increasingly uncertain place. Having a team of experts on your side can really make all the difference to the investment outcomes you achieve.
PSG Wealth helps you see the bigger picture We see our role as an enabler – helping investors in reaching their goals. We focus on bringing you sound investment options that have been carefully screened and researched, and that can be used with confidence. We dedicate ourselves to constructing PSG Wealth solutions for advised clients that have proven their mettle in delivering consistent returns over time, and offering direct solutions for those who like to do it themselves. The real winning strategy in an uncertain world might just be selecting a partner that offers you choice and the ability to see the bigger picture.
THIRD QUARTER 2017
