The 2025 Chronicle

INVESTORS’ SOCIETY

PRACTICAL LEARNING INITIATIVES We encourage members to open an Easy Equities account, with parental support, alongside a tax-free savings account, allowing them to gain practical exposure to low-risk, diversified ETFs. Ad ditionally, we explored participation in a JSE trading challenge, where boys can actively trade with simulated funds and compete for prizes. This initiative will be further developed in 2026. GUEST SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS JUSTIN PEARSE – EASY EQUITIES AND COMPOUND INTEREST We commenced the year with an exceptional presentation by Justin Pearse (Farfield, 1990), Chief Operations Manager at Purple Group, who oversees the share trading platform Easy Equities. Justin’s mission aligns closely with ours: to simplify investing and make it accessible and affordable for everyday South Africans. Justin emphasized the power of compound interest and the im portance of starting early rather than delaying investments. He shared his personal journey towards financial freedom and dis cussed how he structured his family’s investment strategy to pro vide long-term security for his children’s future. His insights reso nated deeply with our members and set a strong tone for the year. Mr Lydon Gruijters, a Michaelhouse intern with a degree in invest ment banking, delivered an informative presentation on forex trad ing and its inherent risks. The foreign exchange market offers high potential for quick returns on small investments; however, this form of investing carries significant risk and can resemble gambling. Lydon discussed the high liquidity of the forex market, various currency instruments such as cable (USD/GBP), his personal experiences, and charting techniques to improve success rates. LYDON GRUIJTERS – FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND RISK MANAGEMENT

Staff Member in Charge: Mr Lwando Saunders Chairman: Brent Tayengwa, Thomas Wayne Deputy Chairman: Otto von Clear, Matthew Longmore

MISSION AND PURPOSE

There is a significant gap in practical finan cial education at schools in South Africa. Young men at Michaelhouse are eager for opportunities to discuss stocks, derivatives and in ternational exchange news. Although boys will be well positioned to earn income in their futures, the challenge lies in their unfamiliarity with effective strategies to grow and manage wealth. The Investors’ Society bridges this gap by providing the finan cial knowledge necessary for pupils to make informed deci sions. We inspire them to conduct independent research and share insights on various investment topics with their peers, exploring what investing means to them personally and pro fessionally. ACHIEVEMENTS AND GROWTH The year 2025 built on the strong foundation established in 2024, marking continued growth and engagement within the society. We witnessed an increase in boys eager to present and participate in thought-provoking discussions about money, fi nance and investing. This year, we were privileged to welcome several distinguished speakers, including Mr Gordon Emmott, Mr Lydon Gruijters, Old Boy Justin Pearse and members of the school’s leadership team. The increased collaboration among members and the introduction of external speakers reinforced our mission to bring financial literacy to younger pupils.