23 Investment Tips for 2023

Investing can be overwhelming, especially if you're new to the game. But don't worry, we've got you covered. We've collected 23 investment tips from our community to help you take control of your finances and grow your wealth in 2023. These tips come from a diverse group of people, including business leaders, social media influencers, and financial journalists.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced investor, you're sure to find something valuable in this all-star lineup. So, buckle up and get ready to learn from the best because these tips are absolute gold!

1. Michael Jordaan, Bank Zero founder, respected SA business leader and successful venture capitalist
@michaeljordaan

My one tip: Start early. Investing early is one of the best ways to grow your wealth over time. Starting to invest even small amounts in your 20s can have a big impact on your financial future as you will learn from markets and compounding will work in your favour.

2. Fikile Mbhokota, Chief Executive Officer, Satrix Investments

Investing is a long term strategy and given the current volatility of the markets, diversification of investments will be crucial to an investment strategy. Diversification is the technique of spreading your money across different local and offshore asset classes, such as equities and bonds to reduce your risk. One should consider having money invested in different asset classes as they behave differently during certain markets, bearing in mind that the higher the allocation to equities, the higher the expected returns over the long term.

3. Anna Machaka, Author of Little Money Egghead
@palesa_machaka

Set clear return on investment goals. 

Having clear return on investment (ROE) goals means having a clear investment strategy. Understand your risks, regularly stay on trends and take advantage on markets that bear great returns

4. Hylton Kallner, CEO Discovery Bank
@Discovery_SA

We are experiencing unprecedented levels of volatility and uncertainty – and I’m naturally risk-averse - so diversification by asset class and region is important to minimise risk - and currency diversification can be particularly valuable in the current environment. I’ll be investing a portion of my monthly savings in a mix of USD, GBP and EUR. It avoids the temptation to try and time the market, provides Rand-cost averaging, and is as seamless and simple as transferring funds between bank accounts in the Discovery Bank app, which also has a real time forex allowance tracker.

5. Carel Nolte, Chief Enablement Officer at Purple Group
@carelnolte

Start! Trust yourself. Stay the course.

6. Ryk van Niekerk, Editor of Moneyweb
@Ryk_van_Niekerk

Start with researching the underlying investments and individual funds in your existing portfolio. Try to understand the risks and relative performance of the funds. For example, if you are invested in a particular balanced fund, compare its performance with similar funds from other asset managers. Also, compare the fees and the experience of the fund managers. The key is understanding your investment portfolio and gauging relative performance.

7. Christelle Colman, CEO of Ami Underwriting Managers (Pty) Ltd
@AmiInsure

Money should be mastered not served. Think wisely about buying those status symbols: do not serve money - rather be the master of it. Read her story to discover how a simple decision to sell her car and master her finances opened up a world of possibilities for Christelle.

8. Tshepo "Dj @ Large" Kgapane, Easy Does It Podcast
@uTshepo_K

The secret ingredients to building a well diversified portfolio (Wealth) are incredibly simple. It's all about patience, consistency and having the ability to control your emotions. You don't need to have a PHD to understand investing and personal finance. You don't have to give in to the pressure of buying or selling a share because it's trending. You don't have to complicate things when ETF's exist. Keep it simple. Be patient, wealth creation requires that. Be consistent. Control your emotions.

9. Stefano Marani, CEO of Renergan
@StefMarani

If you pick stocks based on research, focus on no more than five and invest in no more than three. There is a good deal of research that shows professional traders who focus on a portfolio of only a small number of stocks are better able to outperform the market over someone who invest in a large number. It boils down to time allocation and focus. A person only has so much.

10. Betsie Schaap, Winner of Crystal Challenge 2021, Pianist and Passionate Retail Investor
@betsieschaap

Be consistent. Know why you plan to invest in 2023, then stick to that plan. If you decide to set aside a certain amount every month in your RA or your TFSA, then do it every single month. Even if it is a small amount. What's important is that you never ever skip a month. Investing and saving must be a lifestyle and a habit. Keep at least 3 months of living expenses in cash. I also like to apply the 120 minus your age principle. Read to stay informed as often and as much as possible, and try to do your own research! If the markets go up, sit on your hands. If everything tanks, sit on your hands! Advice from my late dad. It is never too late to start investing. But the earlier, the better! Just start!

11. Anet Pienaar-Vosloo, Host of Mooi on Via

Follow your intuition. If you believe in what a company does, what they produce, how they govern their company and if they make a positive social contribution, go for it.
 
One should look at companies with a solid growth pattern and consider a balance between local and international stocks. The people involved are also important to me. I want to invest my funds with a management team with a good reputation - as trustworthy partners.

12. Henno Nel, One of EasyEquities' Passionate Young Investors
@NelHenno

Do not panic sell, think long term. Despite loadshedding and other extremely challenging economic circumstances there is still hope, do not write off shares of South African companies on the JSE, there are still a couple of good investments to be made. 
#DYOR

13. Sibusiso Ngwenya, Managing Executive, Telkom Financial Services

First, when it comes to expert stock picks rather take Mama’s advice, “Take time to know her: its not an overnight thing.” Second, asset allocation, trend and momentum along with fundamentals should be considered when buying a share and always set your exit points before you buy a share. Third, follow the market if you are working for a reasonably sized company or have a unit trust or RA: you are in the market so investing directly should not scare you. ETFs are also a good start for those not so familiar with individual companies. And lastly, pay attention and observe what’s happening in the market; it is always better to buy the share of a company than the very popular items they  produce.

14. Mohammed Nalla, Magic Markets
@MohammedNalla

Investing is a journey. First invest in yourself! Investment research and education is key. So is getting to know your own investment psychology. Once you master these, markets become a lot less scary and a lot more navigable. Be deliberate, be patient and persevere.

15. Earle Loxton, CEO of EasyCrypto
@earleloxton

As a long term Crypto bull, I like to add to my holdings in the downtimes and I do this by DCA-ing (“dollar cost averaging”). Since I don’t know which Crypto will be the ultimate winner, I prefer to diversify by buying the bundles like the EC10 and others.

16. Rupert Finnemore, CEO at EasyProperties
@rupert_f

It's easy to panic when one sees falling share prices, one should try resist the urge to sell off in a downturn. Good idea to look at some of the more stable investment asset classes, those that are less susceptible to market fluctuations, ie property.

17. Giulietta Talevi, Money and Investing Editor Financial Mail
@GTalevi

I guess my top investing tip for 2023 would be the same as for any given year: don’t buy shares on FOMO! Generally, the minute I think I’ve missed the boat, and everyone else is doing spectacularly well in any given stock and I really should get in, is when I need to take a deep breath and close my laptop, and not go anywhere near my trading account. Still, the other tip I’d give, which maybe sounds somewhat contradictory is: just start. Ten years flies by faster than you think and if you’re disciplined enough to just keep on regularly putting money into an investment or savings account, you’ll be amazed at what you can build up.

18. Cay-Low Mbedzi, Brand Manager at EasyEquities
@caylow_SA

The K.E.Y is to keep educating yourself during your investment journey! Be consistent and learn from your mistakes and remember that where there are cents, rands can be made.

19. Alec Hogg, Founder Biznews
@alechogg

Steve Jobs implored us to "Stay hungry, stay foolish".  My suggestion for 2023 is to apply that to your own investing. Keep looking and when disappointed, dust yourself off and go back into the arena. Do your own homework, and follow your intuition, even though 'experts' are advising differently. Staying hungry and foolish guarantees lifelong learning. And soon enough, that translates into superior returns because you kept away from the road most travelled.

20. The Finance Ghost
@FinanceGhost

The world is a big place and most of it doesn't have load shedding. This is a good year to think about diversifying your wealth and looking beyond our borders for opportunities, especially well-priced ones that are trading at reasonable forward dividend yields. Cash is so important in tricky times and companies with strong balance sheets are probably the best choice!

21. Charles Savage, CEO of Purple Group
@CharlesHSavage

Automate paying yourself first – it's all too easy to find 100 reasons to spend the money you have in your bank account after payday, and it’s even harder now with the inflationary pressure on all of us to have anything left over to invest at month end. That’s why I recommend paying yourself first by automating a recurring Investment from your bank account into EasyEquities on the day after payday.

Choose an amount that you know you’re comfortable with that still allows you to pay the pressing bills but might mean one less nail bar day or a meal out or one less coffee a day.That way you’re committed and invested and don’t have to rely on your monthly discipline to have money left over for investing at month end. What’s more its as easy to withdraw your money as it is to deposit so it's always there if you need it but like every good piggy bank I’ve ever filled, the commitment to getting the money in almost always means its out of mind and out of sight and stays saved. 

22. David Shapiro, Long time SA Investment Guru
@davidshapiro61 

Everyday I read forecast after forecast, and in the present mood the forecasts are universally bearish. Yet, although I am cautious, I don’t feel that overwhelming sense of misfortune. So rather than being influenced by these prophecies, I am following my own instincts, and looking for good companies, with attractive prospects at reasonable prices. So my tip to readers is question anybody who makes claims to know about the future. No one knows what’s going to happen tomorrow. Be careful of putting too much importance on forecasts, regardless of their noble source. Rather base your outlook on your own thinking, analysis and study. If you’re wrong - ok, get out. If you’re right, stay the course. 

23. Nonhlanhla Kunene, Ms. Universe Africa finalist

I'd say the past two years have shown us that nothing in life is guaranteed. So, my opinion is nothing new - make sure you have enough emergency funds to cover you for at least 6 months or longer. Plus, investing/saving is a habit. If you can't do it while you're still starting out in your career, chances are you won't do it even when you're earning good money. You need to develop the habit from early on.