Avoid Probate on Offshore Investments

While we are waiting for Greece to exit the EU, we might as well discuss something important regarding your death. Did you know that, if you've got investments Offshore (as a South African), the executor of your estate will have to request an authorized person in the country your investment is registered in, to release the investment to the estate. This is called Probate.

This can take months, if not years to happen and the fees will be sky high. Now imagine the nightmare if you have got 10 different investments in 10 different countries! Property in the UK, shares in the USA, Unit Trusts in Guernsey etc. The easy solution is to invest in products where you can nominate a beneficiary or where you can nominate a joint owner. In such a case probate will be avoided.

One product that can actually do all the probate avoidance tricks as well as consolidate a portfolio consisting of a number of different assets like bank account, shares, unit trusts etc, is the new Old Mutual International Investment Portfolio. This product not only allows the sophisticated investor with the means to invest in a range of assets under one admin roof, but also allows for tax free returns (no Capital Gains Tax, no tax on Dividends or Interest, nothing).

The only drawback is that the minimum investment is $150 000.


As a South African, investing in a country outside the political grasp of the SA government, investing in a market offering products and services not offered in SA, investing in countries where the assets are cheap compared to similar assets in SA, one has no choice but to do it, if not for your own wealth diversification, then for your children and grandchildren's.