Preserving Wealth For Future Social Change Motivates Africa’s New Wealthy
Johannesburg, 31 August 2016: Africa’s 2620 Ultra High Net-Worth Individuals – with a collective value of US$200bn in assets - plan to increase their contribution to philanthropy in 2016.
As the number of Ultra High Net Worth Individuals burgeon around the world, particularly in emerging markets - it is encouraging that this highly influential segment is so passionate about preserving wealth for the long term, especially considering their increasing commitment to philanthropy, says Standard Bank.
“Increasingly, we observe the wealth concerns of many of our clients in Africa is accompanied by a huge desire, reflected in many philanthropic projects and plans, aimed at driving more inclusive growth to improve the lives of all,” observes Phillip Faure, Head of Philanthropy for Standard Bank Wealth and Investment.
These and many more, data-driven insights into the world and concerns of the wealthy appear in the 2016 Wealth Report published by Knight Frank, Standard Bank Wealth and Investment’s global property consulting partner.
As Africa rises in importance as a wealth investment destination, 65% of wealth managers’ report that philanthropy has become more important to their clients. Driven mainly by a sense of duty, personal fulfilment and the desire to leave a legacy, Africa’s philanthropists are on the lookout for sustainable ways of using their wealth to solve social problems plaguing the continent.
“Leaving a legacy for broader society, beyond the family or the immediate business, is an increasing concern of Africa’s HNWIs – especially newer entrepreneurial money created in the digital age,” adds Faure.
Mirroring global trends, African philanthropists are becoming increasingly sophisticated in how they structure their giving and investing, with social impact emerging as a key dimension along with risk and return in every investment decision. Standard Bank Wealth and Investment’s Wealth Quotient helps contextualise how UHNWIs can manage, grow and protect their wealth. This provides support to clients through each life stage, giving shape to the clients’ passions and purpose to their wealth.
Preserving wealth over time or using wealth to leave sustainable social legacies, “requires a mind-set far-removed from the often highly entrepreneurial instincts of many of Africa’s HNWIs,” explains Faure.
For example, externalising half of your wealth in safe haven investments generating up to five percent premium per annum over 30 years – compared with, say, a 25% return on a two-year infrastructure project in Tanzania – is difficult for many of the continent’s HNWIs to accept.
Utilising the fourth, quadrant of the Wealth Quotient, Standard Bank Wealth and Investment introduces the capabilities associated with leaving a legacy. By helping high net worth individuals define their aspirations and goals, facilitating the necessary education and preparation for future generations, Standard Bank’s insight and guidance ensure that a tradition of philanthropic giving is built by high net worth individuals.
At the same time, there are considerable legal and tax issues relating to cross-border giving that require in-depth specialist knowledge, as well as a landscape of causes and issues that is complex and vast – necessitating the need for comprehensive advice.
Whether giving back through signature projects, incubation or quasi-commercial models, philanthropists are becoming increasingly strategic and formal philanthropic structures, such as trusts and foundations have structuring implications would also require ongoing financial management and reporting.
“Cross-border regulatory complexity can hinder the development of global philanthropy services. We have responded to increasingly complex cross-border transactions and a demand for value from UHNWIs grappling with challenged and rapidly changing domestic market conditions on the continent by employing global specialists able to assist the continent’s UHNWI’s achieve their goals through their investments,” added Faure.
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About Standard Bank Group
The Standard Bank Group is Africa’s largest bank by assets. Standard Bank Group reported total assets of R1.98 trillion (about USD128 billion) at 31 December 2015, while its market capitalisation was R184 billion (about USD11.8 billion).
Standard Bank’s Corporate & Investment Banking division offers a comprehensive range of wholesale financial services, including transactional, trading, investment, risk management and advisory services. . Standard Bank’s Global Markets business has a physical presence in 18 countries across sub-Saharan Africa.
Wealth Management solutions are offered through the Group’s Wealth division. Wealth and Investment is the high net worth wealth management division of the Group, and serves clients with the potential for net investable assets in excess of USD1million. With offices throughout South Africa, and in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Mauritius, London and Jersey they provide a seamless solution to clients’ on-and offshore financial planning needs.
For further information go to www.standardbank.com