
‘Happening at the speed of light’: AI’s impact on portfolios and advice
Jennison’s Mark Baribeau outlines a three-phase AI cycle reshaping markets. Dispersion between the winners and losers will widen – and flexibility will be critical.

Jennison’s Mark Baribeau outlines a three-phase AI cycle reshaping markets. Dispersion between the winners and losers will widen – and flexibility will be critical.

John Stopford says future market returns may be shaped by different forces than those of the past decade, with implications for South African assets.

Regulatory initiatives across payments, digital assets, open finance and embedded finance are expected to progress this year.

As AI reshapes workplace decisions, legal experts and insurers warn that professional indemnity and D&O exposure is rising fast.

While local risk rankings align with global patterns, infrastructure fragility, business interruption, and cybercrime leave SA firms particularly exposed to cascading disruptions.

Small and mid-sized businesses face heightened AI risks, but targeted support from insurers and advisers can help bridge the gap.

Ryk de Klerk links Bitcoin’s slump and hyperscalers’ pain to a jump in Big Tech bond spreads, arguing the market has priced in heavy capex and financing needs.

Updated ethical guidelines give South Africans clearer control over end-of-life choices and tighten safeguards around the use of AI in healthcare.

The regulators will issue a discussion paper to clarify governance, disclosure, and consumer-protection expectations.

Ryk de Klerk’s focus has shifted from picking AI ‘winners’ to identifying future ‘survivors’ – and balancing portfolios with undervalued, lower-risk Healthcare and Consumer Staples.

The new Integrated Regulatory System will deliver a single, unified view of entities and support an activity-based supervisory model aligned to COFI’s principles.

The industry is moving beyond sales models towards relationship-led, purpose-driven engagement built on trust, transparency, and technology.

Sanlam Studios’ upgraded AI Coach now offers guidance on medical aid, primary care and gap cover.

Advisers can highlight their human edge by spotting common gaps in AI-generated DIY plans, from overconfidence in returns to blind spots in risk protection.

Santam’s Thabiso Rulashe on how insurers are adapting to stay resilient – and profitable – in an era of rising risks.

Experts warn that AI tools may quietly drive price-fixing and collusion, posing a new threat to competition law.

From early-warning systems in liability cover to behaviour-based motor premiums, local insurers are adapting AI tools to South Africa’s unique risks.