Whether a president declares war, an aircraft flies into a building, or global markets collapse overnight, the monthly return does not move. 12.8% per annum, paid as 1.07% every month. My clients sleep knowing exactly what arrives in their account.

As advisors we are not permitted to make fund selections on behalf of clients — yet many products implicitly ask us to do exactly that. Everest removes that burden entirely. No fund switches, no quarterly portfolio decisions, no rebalancing conversations.

Traditional portfolio management demands quarterly reviews, performance discussions and ongoing repositioning. With Everest, once the investment is placed it does precisely what it promises. That frees up meaningful time for both advisor and client.

Every rand the client invests goes to work in the fund from day one. Not a cent is deducted at entry. Our commissions are paid by Everest — not from the client's capital. I encourage every prospective client to check what their current advisor is taking at entry.

Returns are declared as dividends, attracting Dividend Withholding Tax at 20% — not marginal income tax rates. For high-net-worth retired clients in the 41–45% tax bracket, this is a material difference in what actually reaches their account each month.

Clients who hold for the full five-year term receive an additional 10% special dividend — a built-in hedge against purchasing-power erosion. It rewards patience and long-term thinking, which is exactly what sound financial planning should encourage.

Why is a fixed income so valuable when I retire from a voluntary fund?

When you retire from a voluntary investment — not a pension or living annuity — there is no regulated drawdown structure protecting you. A fixed income product removes the guesswork entirely. You know on the first of every month exactly what is arriving in your account. My clients stop watching markets. They stop calling in a panic when the JSE drops 8% in a week. The money still arrives. That peace of mind is worth more than most people realise until they experience it.

Why does it matter that the return is not linked to markets?

Everest's returns come from the underlying performance of private-equity businesses, not from a share price. A president declaring war does not change what a mining company, a franchise group or a medical practice earns that month. The 1.07% still arrives. This product has been in operation since 2016 and has not missed or varied a single monthly payment — through COVID, load-shedding crises, rand volatility and global market corrections.

Why is dividend tax better than income tax for a high-income retiree?

South Africa's top marginal income tax rate is 45%. Income from interest is taxed at your marginal rate. Everest's returns are structured as preference share dividends, attracting Dividend Withholding Tax at a flat 20% — deducted before the money reaches you, nothing further to pay. On a R1,000,000 investment, the difference between 20% DWT and a 45% income tax rate is over R25,000 in tax saved annually. Over five years that compounds into a material benefit.

What does 100% fund allocation actually mean — and why should I care?

Many products charge upfront fees — sometimes 1% to 3% of your capital — before a single rand is invested. On R500,000 that is up to R15,000 gone on day one. With Everest, your entire investment goes into the fund from the first day. Our commission as advisors is paid by Everest separately — it does not come out of your pocket. In 27 years of practice, I have found that when clients ask their current advisor where the fees come from, the answer is often a surprise.

Why are there no fund choices and no quarterly meetings — isn't that a red flag?

Not at all — it is one of the product's most underappreciated strengths. As a licensed advisor I am not permitted to make ongoing fund selection decisions on a client's behalf without very specific mandates. Everest is a single, structured product. The investment is made, the dividends are paid, and there is nothing further to decide. In 27 years I have learned that simplicity and transparency in financial planning are genuinely valuable — and this product delivers both.

What is the five-year bonus and does it actually protect against inflation?

At the end of the five-year term, clients who held for the full period receive a 10% special dividend net of DWT. On R1,000,000 that is an additional R80,000. The 10% bonus is a deliberate partial offset to inflation erosion over the period. More than 90% of my first clients who reached maturity chose to roll their investment over — which tells you everything about whether that trust was well placed.

What happens if I need my money before the five years are up?

This is the most important question to ask before investing, and I always raise it myself. Early withdrawals are only considered in special circumstances, subject to a notice period of up to 120 days and potential penalties. If you exit within 36 months there may also be adverse tax consequences. I only recommend this product for clients who have sufficient liquid reserves elsewhere so this capital can sit undisturbed for the full term. If you cannot confidently say you will not need this money for five years, this is not the right product for you at this time.

• Market-independent fixed return since 2016
• 100% capital deployed — zero entry fees
• Monthly income between 1st and 8th
• 20% DWT vs high marginal tax for retirees
• 10% five-year bonus for full-term investors
• No fund choices or quarterly review obligations
• Regulated FSP under FSCA oversight
• R2.17bn AUM — established at scale

• Unlisted — less public disclosure than JSE funds
• Returns fixed annually, not guaranteed in perpetuity
• Illiquid — up to 120-day notice for early exit
• Adverse tax implications before 36 months
• Private assets require thorough due diligence
• Minimum R100,000 — not for smaller investors