Frequently asked questions

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A unit trust is a type of investment that provides easy and affordable access to financial markets. Your money is combined with the money of other investors and our investment managers use the pool of money to buy underlying investments, such as equities, bonds, cash and property, depending on the unit trust objective. The unit trust is split into equal portions called “units” that are allocated to you according to the amount of money you invest and the price of the units on the day you buy them.

Unit trusts are beneficial as you buy units in the unit trust of your choice, you decide when and how many units to buy, and you own the units until you decide to sell them.

 

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Your investment growth depends on the return your unit trust earns, which comes from the performance of the underlying investments that the investment manager chooses. There is no set return that you earn as the value of your units fluctuates. Some unit trusts offer stability and low risk, such as the Allan Gray Namibia Stable Fund, where others, like the Allan Gray Namibia Balanced Fund, offer a higher potential long-term return, but you have to be comfortable with taking on greater risk.

No. When you invest in our unit trusts, you do not have to commit to a monthly debit order or a set investment period. You decide how much, when and how you would like to invest.

You can start with either: 

  • A combination of a minimum debit order of N$500 and a minimum initial lump sum investment of N$20 000, or
  • A minimum lump sum of N$20 000.

No. There are no penalties for withdrawing from your investment. You can change, stop and reinstate your debit order at any time, at no extra cost.

Yes. You can open this investment in the name of a minor (below the age of 18). It is important to note that the minor will gain full control of their investment when they reach the age of 18.

We will require the following supporting documents: 

For an adult investor: 

  • A copy of your ID or valid passport
  • Proof of bank account details (e.g. a bank-stamped confirmation letter or bank statement) not older than three months

For a minor (younger than 18): 

  • A copy of the parent or legal guardian’s ID or valid passport 
  • A copy of the minor’s unabridged birth certificate
  • A completed Acting on behalf of the investor form
  • A completed Third-party contributor details form
  • Proof of bank account details (e.g. a bank-stamped confirmation letter or bank statement) not older than three months

In certain instances, we may contact you to request additional documents.

Your debit order will either be collected on the 1st or 15th of the month, depending on your selected preference.

Your decision should depend on how much return you want to earn and whether you are comfortable with experiencing ups and downs or prefer stability.

Thinking about how long you have to invest for and how quickly you might need to access your money can help you weigh the return you want against the stability you need.

If you are not comfortable making your own investment decisions, consider using the services of an independent financial adviser (IFA). Email us at info@allangray.com.na to request a list of IFAs to consider.

While your money is invested, the overall value of your investment is likely to go up and down as market prices move. These ups and downs are known as fluctuation or volatility. The level of fluctuation you can expect when invested in a particular unit trust will depend on the underlying assets the unit trust invests in.

You can securely view your investment details as well as generate tax certificates and statements (e.g. account balance, transaction history) on your Allan Gray Online account. Not sure if you have an online account?

No. You cannot directly nominate beneficiaries on a unit trust investment. Unit trusts will be treated as part of your estate and administered by an executor.

If the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of a minor child dies, the unit trust stays in the minor’s name but will be managed by the legally appointed guardian until the child becomes an adult (at the age of 18).

Yes. Once your investment has started, you can contribute additional lump sums of N$500 or more at any time:

  • To make an additional lump sum contribution, complete the Unit trust additional contribution form and email the completed document to instructions@allangray.com.na  
  • You can either choose to make an electronic transfer payment (we will send you our bank account details via email once we have received and validated your instruction) or request Allan Gray to make a once-off lump sum collection from your bank account

Please note that our cut-off time for receiving instructions is 14:00 between Monday and Friday. Instructions received on a weekend or public holiday will be processed on the next business day.

Yes, you can withdraw from your investment at any time. To submit a withdrawal, please complete the Unit trust withdrawal instruction form and email it to instructions@allangray.com.na before our cut-off time, which is 14:00 from Monday to Friday. It takes up to three business days for the money to reflect in your bank account.

You may change the following personal details as they relate to your investment by completing the Change in investor details form and emailing it to instructions@allangray.com.na:

  • Name and/or surname
  • Residential and/or postal address
  • Contact details
  • Banking details
  • Tax information 

An independent financial adviser is a professional who offers their clients advice covering a range of services, such as financial planning, tax and estate planning. They are independent of any service provider, and should have the objectivity and experience to help you make decisions that are right for and tailored to your individual financial circumstances.

This is different from a tied financial adviser who is employed by a specific service provider and may be incentivised to sell their employer’s products.

We are not licensed to give advice. However, we believe in the merits of good, independent advice. We do not employ financial advisers but rather encourage you to work with an independent adviser to meet your investment goals.

A good IFA can help improve your financial outlook by:

  • Creating a financial plan that is based on your financial goals, investment time frame and risk appetite
  • Helping you select products and underlying unit trusts that are aligned with your personal circumstances
  • Ensuring that return objectives take inflation into account and that portfolios are sufficiently diversified
  • Providing guidance in times of uncertainty to help you avoid acting on your emotions and ensure that you remain committed to your goals
  • Rationally reviewing your finances and personal circumstances to ensure that your investment plan is tailored to your changing needs 
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The financial services, products or investments referred to on this website are not available to persons resident in jurisdictions where their availability or distribution would contravene local laws or regulations and the information on this website is not intended for use by these persons. This website is for information only and does not in any way constitute a solicitation or offer by Allan Gray Proprietary Limited or any of its associates or subsidiaries (collectively “Allan Gray”) to buy or sell any financial instruments or to provide any investment advice or service.

By selecting one of the countries below I confirm that I have read and understood the above and that:

(a) I am not a South African citizen; or 
(b) I do not reside in the Republic of South Africa; or 
(c) I am not otherwise a person to whom the communication of the information contained in this website is prohibited by the laws of my home jurisdiction; and 
(d) I am not acting for the benefit of any such persons mentioned in (a),(b) and (c) and 
(e) I confirm that any investment with Allan Gray is based on my own initiative and not due to any offer or solicitation by Allan Gray.