Medical aid scheme increases and the anticipated ‘return to normal’ from 2023
15 September 2022 Jill Larkan, Head of Healthcare Consulting was interviewed on Classic Business regarding medical aid scheme increases and the expected ‘return to normal’ increases from January 2023… Listen to the podcast here
SA unrest impulsive investment decisions
23 July 2021 Financial advisory business GTC cautions against making impulsive investment decisions in wake of South African unrest Alongside the vast majority of South Africans, financial advisory business GTC is stunned and deeply saddened by the scenes of unrest witnessed over the past few days. It is an understandably emotional period, though director, and head of Asset Management at GTC, Manty Seligman says this is precisely when a balanced approach to financial management should be prioritised. Seligman encourages all South African investors not to make financial decisions that are based on short-term, emotive issues. In particular, disinvestment from balanced funds structured precisely to mitigate risk and weather economic impacts is seldom in the best interest of those looking to ensure their long-term financial health. “Professionally constructed portfolios are built strategically to include a wide and diverse range of asset... Read More
Responsible Investing… your fund manager has a duty to act in the interests of the investors as well as society as a whole
22 July 2021 Recently Elon Musk retracted Tesla’s commitment to accept Bitcoin as a transaction currency for purchasing one of their electric vehicles. He cited the enormous power requirement for the mining of Bitcoin, and the fact that clean energy wasn’t being used in this process, stating that once Bitcoin energy use was cleaner, Tesla would re-introduce the currency. This is but one example of investors and consumers taking on stance on matters beyond just the financial results achieved. Increasingly we’re hearing about ESG criteria being adopted. Investors globally, are increasingly demanding that Environmental, Social and Corporate governance be applied to their portfolios, and measured against this. The last eighteen months have brought changes to the sustainable fund industry. Market commentators claim that incorporating ESG factors makes funds more resilient, and the rapid rise in flows to ESG funds and... Read More
Coronavirus pandemic prompts individuals to ensure affairs are in order amid growing fears of untimely death
08 December 2020 GTC Holdings As the number of COVID-19 infections in South Africa spikes again, a trend mirrored around the world, and everyone eagerly awaits the vaccine, people are more focused than usual on their own mortality. Quite rightly we are all concerned about the possibility, and then the consequences of our untimely death. This reality check has prompted many individuals to hurriedly update their last will and testament and finalise their estate planning, ensuring that their financial affairs are in order with their personal wishes confirmed. During March 2020, US-based online estate planning company Gentreo stated they experienced a 143% week-on-week increase in the number of individuals completing online wills. Another American online wills business, Trust & Will recorded a 50% growth in users over the same period. Whilst any large-scale health issue, such as the Coronavirus pandemic... Read More
JSO celebrates young soloists at Junior Concerto Festival Performance
Proud sponsors GTC commit to continued sponsorship of musical talent Sunday 7 June, Linder Auditorium, Johannesburg The Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra (JSO) celebrated its 127th Young Artists’ Junior Concerto Festival this afternoon as nine young soloists performed alongside the 40-person orchestra at the Linder Auditorium. In the JSO’s ongoing commitment to developing musical talent in South Africa the nine young soloists that performed were all under the age of 14 years. Of the nine young soloists who performed with the JSO, key performances were: 13-year old Roxanne van Oudtshoorn playing Zigeunerweisen by Sarasate; 11-year old Leo Huan playing Kabalevsky’s Piano Concerto; Fantastic Baroque music by 11 year old violinist Pendo Masote; and 12-year old violinist Linique Lawrence playing Kabalevsky. The youngest performer was the 7 year old pianist Nika Meiring “We are delighted to welcome such young aspiring musical talent to... Read More
GTC wins 2024 PMR Diamond Arrow Award of Excellence
August 2024 GTC has proudly secured the PMR Africa Diamond Arrow Award of Excellence for 2024, continuing a remarkable streak as the top-ranked company in its category. This marks the seventh consecutive year that GTC has been honoured with this prestigious award, further solidifying our position as a leader in South Africa’s employee benefits industry. This achievement is more than just an accolade – it’s a powerful recognition from our clients and industry peers of GTC’s unwavering commitment to excellence and our significant impact on the employee benefits landscape. For many consecutive years, GTC has been awarded the PMR Diamond Award, and we are honoured to once again be voted the top-rated retirement fund management company in our category. Notwithstanding the past seven consecutive awards, we at GTC approach each year with a sense of humility and a drive to... Read More
GTC wins 2023 PMR Diamond Arrow Award of Excellence
August 2023 GTC clinches PMR Africa Diamond Arrow Award of Excellence 2023 GTC has once again been recognised by PMR Africa, awarded the Diamond Arrow Award of Excellence for 2023, being the highest-ranked recipient in its category. This achievement marks the sixth consecutive year that GTC has received this prestigious award, cementing its reputation as a leader in South Africa’s employee benefits industry. This award is not only a recognition by users and industry peers of GTC’s performance, but also a testament to GTC’s positive impact and contribution to the employee benefits landscape.
JSO conducts itself in noteworthy manner
For a long time the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra has been this city’s lesser-known orchestra, but that’s a thing of the past. They have just celebrated their 80th concert, in collaboration with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra. We all know that Confucius was spot-on when he declared that “music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.” Pop icon Bono went further by saying: “Music can change the world, because it can change people.” The JSO was, since its inception in 1934, an amateur orchestra, led by their first conductor, Austrian-born Joseph Trauneck. Trauneck had studied composition under the legendary Arnold Schoenberg, and received tuition in conducting from Alexander Zemlinsky in Prague. He’d arrived in South Africa in 1934 after Hitler’s anti-Semitic laws had driven him out of Germany. Following the end of the Trauneck era in 1955, ten... Read More
JSO celebrates 80th birthday
JSO celebrates 80th birthday with Festival Concerto performance Proud sponsors GTC unveil new brand identity at the auspicious event The Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra (JSO) celebrated its 80th Birthday as the 33-person orchestra performed alongside the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra at the Linder Auditorium this afternoon. In the JSO’s ongoing commitment to developing musical talent in South Africa eight young soloists performed classic concertos with the JSO. In addition, the JSO performed with the Wits trio at the celebration. The trio includes Zanta Hofmeyr and Malcolm Nay both of whom played with the JSO when they were young soloists themselves. “We are proud and very excited to celebrate the 80th birthday of the JSO. For 80 years we have touched and changed lives through music,” says Gerard de Villiers, Chairman of the JSO. “The JSO has been instrumental in the development of over... Read More
GTC’s sponsorship of JSO – A sound platform to foster musical talent
November 2014 GTC, one of the country’s leading financial advisory businesses, is the main partner and sponsor of the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra primarily because the group is strongly committed to fostering the musical talent of present and future generations. The JSO is one of the oldest orchestras in South Africa, with its first concert held 80 years ago in the Wanderers Hall in Johannesburg on 30 September 1934 under the baton of Viennese born conductor, Joseph Trauneck. “Sponsoring the JSO is a sound platform for our business,” says Gary Mockler, Group CEO at GTC. “Supporting the arts in general and the JSO in particular, is the right thing to do. GTC easily identifies with the importance of this social responsibility, particularly when youngsters are involved and are empowered to be in a position to improve themselves and the orchestra overall.”... Read More
